Suggestion & Sculpture

If you’ve mistakenly come here, looking for manscaping tips, click away now. I am referring to the creation of enticing images, using low key lighting and nude models.

There is some overlap with the erotic, and to some extent, the boundaries between art and pornography are defined by personal compasses. Upbringing/culture, age, gender, life experience etc all have a hand in this.

As with art nudes, subtlety and graceful, thought provoking shapes are the focus. Genitals can feature but not gratuitously. Captivating, not crass is key. Discuss ideas carefully with your chosen models, prior to shooting. Check potential subjects are experienced, or at least comfortable with the genre, and your assignment, specifically.

Planning and structure are fundamental, but as both parties warm up, spontaneity can strike, with compelling results. As ever, model choice and calibre determine the end results, along with little, practical touches.

Ensure an ambient temperature and suitable surfaces to lay/pose against. Some semi/professional models have underlying health concerns/disabilities, which may prohibit certain poses, or require a more considered approach to shoot-break ratios. These are not things that models are likely to advertise, so if you have any concerns, raise them tactfully, during the discursive/planning phases.  

I shot these with Tania Atherton, using a Nikon D500. Camera choice wasn’t premeditated, rather my Sony Alpha body wouldn’t communicate properly with the studio’s remote trigger-even using a suitable hot-shoe adaptor. A recurrent, though not universal theme, hence I use the A6000 almost exclusively for studio work, and the older A series for location-based assignments.    

The Joy of Second Shooting

Wedding season may well be in full swing, but its’ been almost four years, since I’ve shot one. By choice, rather than lack of opportunity. Second shooting at Punjabi weddings, is familiar territory for me. However, all too frequently, my terms weren’t respected, so, I seldom accept these commissions.

To some extent, managing expectations is pivotal to any trade, though particularly true of photography. I am explicit in my terms and once agreed, won’t be swayed. Family connections can often make enforcement harder. Thankfully this shoot was refreshingly straightforward.

This wasn’t a traditional Punjabi wedding, rather a beautifully executed hybrid of civil ceremony, and celebration reflecting the couple, their respective families, and friends. Though I’d like to feel I’m proficient at shooting formal, posed portraiture, I prefer a more candid, reportage flavour, when it comes to weddings.

So, second shooting is perfect, and presents little risk of me impeding the main photographer/team. I’ll leave that to “Uncle Bob”. Uncle Bob is a slightly contentious, derogatory term, similar but less sinister, than GWC (Guy with Camera).

Uncle Bob may well impede a shoot, by nipping in “photo-bomber” fashion at the least convenient moment, often to mimic the commissioned photographer’s image (Between my thighs, at one event).   

By the same token, I consider it important to appreciate guests’ desires to capture their memories from the day. On a personal note, I’ve never been someone who seeks attention.

Alternating between an 85mm 2.8 prime and 50-200 lenses certainly helps maintain a respectful distance, though thankfully, the mood was buoyant throughout, and most people pleasantly oblivious to me. For portraiture commissions, I prefer a 50, or 60mm 1.8, so was mildly annoyed to discover I’d forgotten to swap the 85mm before leaving home. However, by my reckoning, a blessing in disguise.

S Is For Shibari

Shibari, translated literally, means “To tie” but, in western popular culture, a word synonymous with bondage/BDSM and similar fetishism.

There are connotations, which I am slightly uncomfortable with.

Specifically, undertones of sexualised violence, towards women. That said; life is about questioning and exploring. With this and other “non touch” protocols in mind, the tying was performed by a highly qualified third party.

The shoot started with a fetish theme-our old friend PVC; and became progressively more provocative. Rules are made to be broken, but model comfort and safety (not forgetting my own) must remain intact.

Thankfully, Lauren seemed at ease throughout and I think this shows in the images. Not something I would entertain with an inexperienced model, or without a wealth of clearly established safeguards.

Given the temperamental compatibility between Sony A (Minolta) mount cameras and studio remote triggers, I took the A58 workhorse and 50mm 1.8 prime as a standby. These were shot using my A6000 and 60mm 2.8. prime. F14, 1/125 and ISO 100, in case you were curious...