|
|
|
I believe that
all photographers owe a debt to all the more experienced &
skilled models & photographers who shared their time &
knowledge with the photographer as the photographer was
learning their craft. I am no exception. I also
believe that the best way to pay back that debt is to share
your experience & skill with other less experienced
people.
On the
other hand, I am often asked this question from beginner
models:
Will you photograph me? It's often frustrating
for me, because more often than not, the appropriate answer
is "no" -- the model is not always local, or she's
unsuitable, or she has unrealistic expectations, or negotiations
fall through, or her timing is off, or (frankly) she just
doesn't appeal to me.
Gemini
was an exception -- she was eager, enthusiastic, and sweet,
and she caught me at a good time. We get together
for her first photographic session.
|
|
Gemini is young,
and she is engaged (to a cagefighter). Her thinking
is that she wanted to get some nude photographs done while
she is young and before she starts having children.
It's also possible that she's dipping her toe into the modeling
lake. |
|
|
|
To be honest,
I much prefer working with experienced models.
-
They are typically confident, relaxed, & calm,
-
They know how to move in front of the camera,
-
They usually have a good idea how to best present themselves.
But inexperienced
models do have at least one advantage: they tend to
be more enthusiastic than the more experienced (jaded?)
model.
Gemini
might have needed more direction than a more experienced
model, but I've got to say this: Gemini was always
laughing. She was a lot of fun.
|
|
I'm a big fan
of this window & this light, especially when the sun
is shining brightly. When this picture was made, we
were close to the longest day of the year, and the light
just puddles on the floor under the window. In the
winter, that patch of sunlight stretches all the way across
the floor to the other side of the room. This being
the Pacific Northwest, however, sunny winter days are exceedingly
rare, so I don't have many pictures of that. (See
the light from one of these rare sunny winter days on
this
page of the lovely Leona).
In any
case, there are great composition possibilities, good light,
exposure & post processing challenges, and beautiful
models -- all of which adds up to lots of fun. I'll
be returning to this spot over & over.
(In fact,
I should pull together a page full of images made in this
spot at various times of the year.)
|
|
|
|
I'm beginning
to think that I can't fail making photographs in this corner.
Everything works: just keep the camera low to the
ground with a wide angle lens pointed parallel to the floor
(to minimize distortions), and everything works. These
wide images offer a pleasing composition (that mirror on
the wall is essential). Closer in images also work.
When the sunlight isn't so bright, we can move the model
a bit away from that window wall, or we can put the model
right there in the corner, or we can move the model right
under the window. It all works.
Today,
I particular like how the direct sunlight is concentrated
on Gemini's skin.
|
|
I think of
myself as a shy person, but I don't let my shyness get in
the way of doing the necessary. That's another reason
why I like working with experienced models -- they've done
it before, and quite possibly, they've done it often.
So, it's easy to ask them to get totally nude.
But you
never know how an inexperienced model will react when you
ask them to remove the last bit of clothing.
Gemini
reacted with joy & laughter. What can be better?
|
|
|
|
Gemini blithely
tosses her panties in the air. I like the playful
gesture, and I ask her to keep doing that until she gets
it right. |
|
|
Totally nude &
totally comfortable. Gemini exceeded my expectations. |
|
One last exposure
for this page, with a change of perspective. I've
been enjoying using a low angle for many of my pictures,
as you can see from the previous images on this page.
When
I'm working, there's a little corner of my brain that's
always asking whether I'm done with a particular setup.
Sometimes, when I'm close to done, I think of a specific
element and think to myself, what's the opposite of that?
What's the opposite of the low angle perspective?
A high angle perspective. So, I try the opposite.
I like
how the light forms stripes over Gemini's skin, but this
handheld image is pretty uncomfortable for me. I suppose
I could have gotten up on a ladder to make this image, but
I was holding the camera over my head. I just couldn't
keep it up.
So, we
move on.
|
|
|
