It seems like I keep talking about Chris' Blog, Univers d'Artistes. Well I didn't have an intent to post today, but I read the interview for photog Andrew Kaiser of Absolute Reality Studios (posted 28 August), and could most certainly identify with his sentiments when he wasn't shooting:
"If I go more then three days without doing a photo shoot I normally become a very irritable person. My friends laugh at me about this all the time. I love shooting pictures more then anything else. It can be as relaxing as a trip to a day spa, and as exciting as a rollercoaster. I have a very hard time imagining what my life would be like without it."
When I am shooting, I feel like I am right where I belong. When I am not shooting, I am thinking about shooting. I was talking with one of my models just yesterday. I noticed I had a propensity to direct the conversation toward something dealing with photo. I made a deliberate point to change the topic so as not to dominate the dialogue with photography. It didn't work. I asked her about her trip to LA. She spoke briefly on it, and I was already commenting about how I'd like to do a shoot where she had visited. I realized my fault and apologized. She was gracious enough to make me feel better by claiming that she, in fact, was also going to mention to me about shooting there. Maybe it was the truth or maybe she was being nice. My point remains; I readily identify with Andrew Kaiser's sentiments. Its like a drug and I am waiting for my next fix. Is this a bad thing? Who's to say. I just need to shoot, that's all.
This blog is an extension of my web site PhotoAnthems.com which showcases photographic art on Portraiture, Nudes, and Landscape photography. I am backpacking the world for the next 5 years. Currently touring Southeast Asia. Copyright © 2005-2020, All Rights Reserved.
28 August 2007
26 August 2007
New Gallery coming soon....
I have learned that this is a difficult place to shoot during the summer. I have photographed here before, but it was in March of 2006. The summer temperatures are exceedingly hot, but what else would anyone expect in a desert. My main issue was the intensity of the sun at so early in the morning. Sunrise is at 6. By 8am, I had to consider concluding the session out of concern for my model's pale skin. (I've always hated the end of a shoot). Coming from Tennessee and Kentucky, I am not used to the harsh lighting so early in the morning. As soon as it crests the horizon, its almost unbearable. I may limit my time to sunsets but by the time it cools off you are losing your light.
I just did this shoot with a new model, whom I met randomly while shopping. She had an interesting tattoo around her neck and her expressive nature caught my attention. We had a difficult time arranging schedules so the shoot took some time to coordinate. I did not have any particular goal for this shoot. It was more of an introductory session but I'd like to work with her some more with a specific objective in mind. Many photogs dont want to work with models with tattoos. Thats not me. I'll do them with gladness and would like to conduct a special project showcasing models with interesting tattoos. I'll have these images posted to a new gallery on my website by the end of the week, so be sure to check it out. Feedback is always appreciated.
I will go through these latest images over the next week to edit before I post anymore of them. Anyone who knows of beautiful and interesting places to shoot in the states I mentioned should comment on this post. At present, I want to do one more shoot in the Valley of Fire using a model of a slightly different shape. I have done both the small petite as well as someone tall. I'd like to bring in someone of a voluptuous shape that will work well with the surrounding rocks. Next, I plan on working Zion National Park including the Narrows which was suggested, even though the site says 60% of it is hiking through water. So I will be searching out a model who doesn't mind camping out over a weekend.
24 August 2007
Find a Model
The second thing is knowing who to ask. You increase your chances of success if you don't go up to the preacher's wife in the middle of service Sunday morning and drop the question. You odds of success dramatically decrease. You can, however develop a knack for determining women who have an air of confidence about themselves by the nature of their dress, their conversation, or their overall style. Timing is important. I dont stop someone while they are on their way to their car at night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I also don't ask if I can clearly see she is busy, frustrated, or otherwise in ill-comfort. Get to know women a little bit and one of the best services you can do for yourself is to not ask me this question. Ask a woman. Ask a few women. Ask them, if you (hypothetically), wanted to ask another woman to pose, what would make them feel comfortable to answer you. Go to an university art department and ask someone who is already a model on how to approach women. Personally, I am a black man, yet I have the most problems getting a black woman to do this no matter what I do. Asian women and women who are pregnant are also challenges for me.
As for models I prefer, I dont really have a particular one thing. I have photographed large women as well as sub-one hundred pounders. I have shot from the ages of 18 to 55. I guess the element most important to me is what's on the inside of the model, moreso than without. I hope she is a giving person who lends to the experience by possessing a great attitude and a willingness to take a vested interest in what I am doing. When I have that, I can usually make magic.
Photographers... well, check my links. Spencer Tunick and Jerry Uelsmann have been my original motivators. I follow Helmut Newton, Gordon Parks (recently deceased), Dorothea Lange, Diane Arbus, Marc Baptiste, and Matthew Jordan Smith. I also like Dave Rudin and Michael Barnes, but if I had to chose one person whom I truly ID with, then Edward Weston.
I have recently had a GIGANTIC spike in visitor comments to my site and blog, due to my letter to Domai. Let me say thank you all for your kind words and constructive criticisms. I will get back with each of you who requested so over the next week.
23 August 2007
A Soldier's Story
Guess what, Eolake Stobblehouse of Domai.com just featured my letter of the week on his site. I wrote it a few weeks ago about my first experience with open nudity. Its called "A Soldier's Story" and it details my moment of understanding, an epiphany if you will, of the difference between sex and nudity. I think its a good story and you should check it out.
A whole lot of people must genuinely like the model posted with this entry (and the last two). She now has 8 of the top 12 images on my website! She's a very special person whom I am glad to have became friends with. I had known her more than a year before we finally did this shoot together just before I came to Las Vegas. As a matter of fact, it was requested today that I submit a photo shoot of her to Domai.com which is a complement not to be taken lightly. Does anyone else feel the same about that?
I have to keep this entry short. I promise to get to the model questions tomorrow or the next day at the latest. Its getting late for me and I still have much more work before bed. So check out more of this beautiful girl on my website @ http://www.tlneasley.com/.
22 August 2007
Dark Matter...
20 August 2007
Univers d'Artistes
I have included a couple of images done this past May with a lovely model in the woods of Land Between the Lakes and surrounding areas of Kentucky. You will be seeing more of her on my next few posts. Enjoy!
18 August 2007
Scouting trips
17 August 2007
New Gallery on Better Photo.com
I have attached a couple of my studio nudes using two different models. Enjoy
15 August 2007
I Got Spanked by Eolake Stobblehouse!!
Okay, maybe not spanked, but I got some good criticism. This was like the basketball equivalent of a high school ball player getting schooled by a NBA All-Star. You get no tears here. I take my lumps, suck it up, and drive on! It was too cool...
Overall, he along with several of his blog readers were not fans of the type of website I have that incorporates Flash. Eolake is the author of DOMAI.com. A lot of people are familiar with his sites and work. Several commentors don't appreciate the way Flash applications can take over your browser and usurp control from the user. There were some other comments that were made as well. In the end, I did get some positives from ALEX, who is thusly quoted,
"As for Terrell's site, it is accessible, and the merits of the content outweigh any shortcomings in the pages navigation."
I liked that. Oh, almost forgot, CLICK HERE for a direct link to his blog entry. Well, I have to take away something good from this. First of all, Eolake has been around at this alot longer than I have. Judging from the content of several of his sites, he knows his stuff well and has done much in terms of promoting art nudes in general. He is very intelligent and has bucket loads of value laden content on his sites. We emailed back and forth several times. I got timely advice and I can only illuminate my prospects by listening. Two other benefits was an increase in subscribership to my blog. Just posting my link on his own blog made people at least check me out and some liked what they saw. Also, I got a year's membership to Domai.com. Who can beat that?
For the time being, I have to stick with the use of my site. First and foremost for financial reasons. I've invested cash and time into it. Secondly, I prefer the protective measures of Flash over what I may be missing in promotion and I explain this in my added comments to his thread. I will have to make up on promotion via a different means. I have made sure the site is navigable and friendly or at least done my best at it. It would go against wisdom to not listen to their comments at all, but right now, I have to utilize what resources are available to me. This is knowledge I could have put to better use mayby a few months ago.
Hey, I know the value of good criticism and this was purposed to help me and I DO need it. Keep it coming, Eolake. Thanks.
Overall, he along with several of his blog readers were not fans of the type of website I have that incorporates Flash. Eolake is the author of DOMAI.com. A lot of people are familiar with his sites and work. Several commentors don't appreciate the way Flash applications can take over your browser and usurp control from the user. There were some other comments that were made as well. In the end, I did get some positives from ALEX, who is thusly quoted,
"As for Terrell's site, it is accessible, and the merits of the content outweigh any shortcomings in the pages navigation."
I liked that. Oh, almost forgot, CLICK HERE for a direct link to his blog entry. Well, I have to take away something good from this. First of all, Eolake has been around at this alot longer than I have. Judging from the content of several of his sites, he knows his stuff well and has done much in terms of promoting art nudes in general. He is very intelligent and has bucket loads of value laden content on his sites. We emailed back and forth several times. I got timely advice and I can only illuminate my prospects by listening. Two other benefits was an increase in subscribership to my blog. Just posting my link on his own blog made people at least check me out and some liked what they saw. Also, I got a year's membership to Domai.com. Who can beat that?
For the time being, I have to stick with the use of my site. First and foremost for financial reasons. I've invested cash and time into it. Secondly, I prefer the protective measures of Flash over what I may be missing in promotion and I explain this in my added comments to his thread. I will have to make up on promotion via a different means. I have made sure the site is navigable and friendly or at least done my best at it. It would go against wisdom to not listen to their comments at all, but right now, I have to utilize what resources are available to me. This is knowledge I could have put to better use mayby a few months ago.
Hey, I know the value of good criticism and this was purposed to help me and I DO need it. Keep it coming, Eolake. Thanks.
13 August 2007
Blog vs. Newsletter
12 August 2007
A Brief On Model Poses
Several times now, I have had first-time models ask me about poses. In particular, I have been asked whether or not there is some book, web site, or something that gives examples on poses used by artist's models. I have a few links in my MODEL'S RESOUCE section of this blog, but I hadnt really come across much that is specifically made for models who pose for artists.
I mentioned on my website that I'd be looking for webpages that could give some examples on poses for models. Well, I got to thinking about one artist who's work I followed initially when I started shooting nudes. San Francisco Nudes artist Doug Wade has his site structured perfectly just for this. There are rows of models to choose from and each one has rows of simple, classic poses. So from this point forward, I am recommending models check out his site.
He uses redundant poses for many of the models he shoots. Many of his studio pics start out with full images on a white background and as you scroll down, he will go into a black background shot with a single light source, or he may use two for rim lighting. Either way, he still takes the model through a series of poses that are a good start at least to learn.
In a studio, just to help a model relax when shooting for the first time, I will normally take my models through a series of poses starting from prone position, working my way up to sitting, kneeling and then standing. These are some of the series of positions I would use when I used to pose as a figure model for art classes, fellow students, or for the local art guild. Its been a few months now since I have done that, but I traditionally demonstrate a variety of poses for each of these positions. I might illustrate 3 or 4 poses each in the prone, sitting, kneeling and finally standing. Once the model is comfortable, I can let her use her own creativity and I shoot what she gives me. So unless, I have a specific objective, these are what I would direct an inexperienced model to do during a first shoot. What are you looking for new pics? Well, check out my site...
If you are interested this is Doug Wade's blog address: http://www.san-francisco-nudes.com/blog/. If anyone comes up with some web sites featuring model poses, I'll be happy to post them on my page.
I mentioned on my website that I'd be looking for webpages that could give some examples on poses for models. Well, I got to thinking about one artist who's work I followed initially when I started shooting nudes. San Francisco Nudes artist Doug Wade has his site structured perfectly just for this. There are rows of models to choose from and each one has rows of simple, classic poses. So from this point forward, I am recommending models check out his site.
He uses redundant poses for many of the models he shoots. Many of his studio pics start out with full images on a white background and as you scroll down, he will go into a black background shot with a single light source, or he may use two for rim lighting. Either way, he still takes the model through a series of poses that are a good start at least to learn.
In a studio, just to help a model relax when shooting for the first time, I will normally take my models through a series of poses starting from prone position, working my way up to sitting, kneeling and then standing. These are some of the series of positions I would use when I used to pose as a figure model for art classes, fellow students, or for the local art guild. Its been a few months now since I have done that, but I traditionally demonstrate a variety of poses for each of these positions. I might illustrate 3 or 4 poses each in the prone, sitting, kneeling and finally standing. Once the model is comfortable, I can let her use her own creativity and I shoot what she gives me. So unless, I have a specific objective, these are what I would direct an inexperienced model to do during a first shoot. What are you looking for new pics? Well, check out my site...
If you are interested this is Doug Wade's blog address: http://www.san-francisco-nudes.com/blog/. If anyone comes up with some web sites featuring model poses, I'll be happy to post them on my page.
09 August 2007
Getting to know Vegas
I am still searching for more area in and around Las Vegas to shoot. I am thinking of planning a trip further up north in Nevada as well as Utah. I have visited Zion National Park in Utah already, so I may start there. I'd like to find more rocks to shoot on, but I want to incorporate water. 
I am also searching for indoor areas to shoot. An interesting apartment, house, furniture store, it doesn't matter. I want something uncommon, different...something that will draw you in and make you want to see more. Getting to know Las Vegas and Southern Nevada are my primary missions right now. I am getting to network all the time and am constantly meeting new people with ideas and suggestions. I come across people I'd like to shoot often times as well and many people I talk to have been very open to the idea of modeling for me, which is always a good thing. Come on LAS VEGAS...TALK TO ME!
03 August 2007
For the Model
Aside from bad experiences, this is an endeavor that should not be taken lightly. With a healthy application of wisdom, the experience can prove beneficial. I ask my models to fill out an evaluation form after modeling with me for the first time. I ask questions as to why they choose to model, what the experience was like, as well as how they felt afterwards. Many reasons are given as to why either of them choose to pose, but several seem to agree that the experience has been liberating and gives a dramatic boost to confidence levels. As any woman can attest, an increase in confidence alone is well worth the experience.
Included are warnings from 3 photogs that give guidance on what to do if you are considering modeling. There are two articles which detail experiences of first-time models. Also included are tools for getting into becoming and art model, as well as online model portfolio sites that showcase galleries for you. As always, I am available for questions. I have added some of my portraiture studies to this entry.
02 August 2007
Lets get this show on the road
The purpose of this blog is to keep my viewers updated and informed on my photographic activity, thoughts, and endeavors. This is what I love to do and I am only getting better at it. I study continuously and am always trying to improve what I do. I am open to any comments and will respond to any questions accordingly.
So stay tuned and keep checking back! These images are some of what you can expect to see on my website. Enjoy!
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