Mistress Veronica & Maggie

In my early years as a photographer, I was pretty content to simply emulate past masters, which was basically how I self-taught myself photography— study a style, and imitate it as well as possible. Pictorialism, Hollywood Glamour, f64, Pin-ups, etc. Eventually, though, I became frustrated by my lack of any special distinction in my work— other than that is was always well done. Searching for a singular style, all I was managing was a derivative portfolio. The need to establish a personal style (and to garner gallery and/or book worthy attention) had overridden the sheer joy of simply shooting. I wanted to truly create, rather than just follow in the footsteps of others. I gradually began to develop and refine a particular vision by giving more thought to portraying something contemporary in a way that I was not seeing elsewhere. That is what you are mostly looking at in this blog— current subcultures documented with old techniques, which I find to be a wonderful mash up. Everything really came together when I applied what I learned to a newer subject matter, along with little additions of my own particular way of looking at things— which is in large part getting in (almost) uncomfortably close to my subjects as well as trying to capture genuine emotions. Hopefully, that is what is coming across here...

Autumn

I made the mask myself, picked from a collection of masks that I've made but have not used except for this shot. I've always like the use of masks in photography (especially Ralf Eugene Meatyard), and this is my attempt at it...

Vanessa & Julie

Double trouble.

Autumn

Underwater.

Meira

This is from our last and something like one-hundredth shoot together.

Autumn & Percolate

I believe that I asked them to wrestle— but wrestle slowly, and with precision. My silly directions often lead to the most interesting images.

Natalie

"Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you." ~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Ash

I believe it was Confucius that wisely said: "time spent researching the best camera models on the internet is not time spent learning a craft". 

Ash

My own opinion is that, in photography, the hierarchy of values runs something like this: subject… composition… exposure… focus. I’m certainly not the voice of photographers everywhere— but to me, small flubs can’t wreck a great photo. In the past, if one tried best with what they had and spent some time learning the camera and the fundamentals— then a little out of focus, enlarged grain, blur… won’t wreck it. On the contrary, it makes the photo easier to look at and love. The newest digital cameras are amazing, but they are often too good. Perfection can take the soul out of an image. Ironically, I have lately been purposely messing up my images a bit in order to give them some more organic feel that a perfect sensor doesn't quite give.

Katie

"No object is mysterious. The mystery is your eye."   ~Elizabeth Bowen

Ash

Upside down Ophelia.

Percolate & Kati Kill

A little baby oil never hurt anyone...

Rachael

Non-representational body painting.

Sophia, Kammy & Percolate

"There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept."  ~Ansel Adams

PXE

This image is from a shoot with a model who goes by the moniker PXE. It's pronounced pixie, which is fitting due not only to her petite size but her squeaky voice. Her voice is a dead ringer for Carol Kane's voice (from Taxi). She's definitely one of a kind— a fascinating person, capable of switching back and forth between a bubbly cartoon character and intense sexual persona. Speaking of bubbly versus intense, I think this is one of my strongest images— despite the fact that we were both pretty much laughing hysterically the whole shoot. It seems to visually convey a celebration of female empowerment. "I am Woman, hear me roar".

Sable

Going back in time, rather than forward. I tend to be unstuck in time, Slaughter-House Five style.

Katy

Katy is a rockabilly girl who is obsessed with Henry Miller. It’s something that we have in common, among other things. Pinup images are a genre that I've focused on in the past and continue to occasionally create. There have not been any of my pinup pics represented here since it is a style that is so very different from this work. I'm definitely still channeling Bettie Page, though! Katy, of course, has many tattoos- certainly not very (classic) pinup. In the past, I’ve always strived to be dead on as far as re-creating the looks of yesteryear. I feel as though I've been hitting a stride lately in developing my own distinct style. Now I've been trying to incorporate that when doing the pinups, portraits and Hollywood glamour photographs.

Manchester

By the Sea.

Jade Vixen

My list could go on and on as to what draws me to photography. For the sake of keeping your attention, I'll try to keep it short and brief... I love the process of exploration. I love to experience new things— and examine, scrutinize and record those experiences. I love the doors that photography has opened for me— getting to see things right before me that I otherwise might not have and/or couldn't have seen. Photographic pursuit has been my way to understand things. It has been a good constant in my life. It has been my way of communicating my inner self to others in a way I couldn't imagine otherwise (I actually have a poor imagination). It is my escape. It is my way to love life by embracing and creating my own version of trying to achieve aesthetic perfection. I could not imagine my life or my development as an adult without photography. It is so rewarding to be able to present and give someone else images that represent them in a way that they can cherish, and otherwise would not of had. Perhaps its not as noble as it feels, but it does feel wonderful to bring a little more beauty into the world— and even more importantly, beauty as my mind defines it.

 

Hettie

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~Edgar Allan Poe