PHOTO ANTHEMS BLOG: Inspiration

Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts

23 October 2020

Nude vs. Naked

"Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display. The nude is condemned to never being naked. Nudity is a form of dress."

~ John Berger

I got a chance to talk about my nude art work a few months ago in a pizza shop. The conversation with a couple and their female friend got fairly in-depth as we talked about my art. This picture usually develops often in my travels when I mention I do artistic nudes. And in this case, like several others, it's the women that usually drive the discourse. First, they want to see the pics. I take them to my website (PhotoAnthems.com) or show them some of my latest work on my phone. After that, the questions, discussion, or debate commences.

The absolute most common question I get is... 'Why do they have to be naked?" This comes from a more conservative circle who don't understand why I do this. I get that. My art is not for everybody and I'm not trying to persuade anybody into my court on this. And therefore the answer I give to this question is, THEY DON'T. They do not HAVE to be naked. They are nude because I CHOOSE to photograph them this way.

Other times there is instant appreciation and the discussion turns to inquiry. How do I find models? What do I look for in a nude model? Who are my inspirations... both model and other photographers? How did I get started? The girlfriend wanted to know what kind of nudes I enjoy (other than my own). I initially thought they were trying to get me to talk about porn. But that wasn't the case as they explained to me that my style was different from what they were familiar with, however, surely every artist must also appreciate different styles and and hate others.

The friend of the couple pointed out that she liked how I used "real" women who look like somebody you might see shopping in a store or standing next to you in the elevator. She felt it was cool that somebody could find beauty in people like herself and not just "Hollywood" women, as she called them. The conversation also brought to mind the debates, in which I sometimes engage, on the distinction between a photograph of a nude woman vs a pic of a naked chick. I'll scroll past the latter all day.

So what is the difference between art nude photography and a photo of a naked person? That's a simple, yet complex question. On the face of it, nakedness simply implies a condition of being without clothes or something that covers your modesty. Yes, there are other functions of clothing, but let's stick to the point. Any image depicting nakedness can be claimed to be art or artistic by the creator or subsequently by anyone who views it. I used my cell phone to take photos of a girlfriend while she showered or sometimes when she exercised outside on the back patio. Is it art? I can be, if I say it is. And subsequently so, it is if I display it in an artistic environment with other similar depictions and call it, "Life of the Domestic Nude". Therefore, weight is given to the creator, the viewer, the context, and the environment in which the photo is displayed as to determinant factors to answer the question of artistic value and merit.

Conversely, if I take the same shot with a camera that allows me to slow down the shutter speed, I can blur the cascading water and maybe her hands as they pass over her face and through her hair. I could shoot with a wide-angle lens and capture more of the surrounding bathroom for the environmental portrait aspect and shoot upward from a low angle. I might narrow the aperture down to reduce the light which illuminates her backside more than her front as she faces the shower head... and intentionally underexpose it. This creates a vignette on the backside of the composition whereas the front side is already in shadow. Maybe I'll shoot at a higher ISO to introduce grain and edit the shot in Black and White.

At this point, I've employed fundamental principles of photography, introducing motion, perspective, balance, light and shadow variance, depth of field, grain, and use of monochromatic techniques. I'd bet if you saw the shot, you could see geometric shapes in the composition. If I never used the photo in an art gallery or if I never even called it art, it would still likely be widely accepted as an artistic composition on it's own merit. Why? Because I used artistic tools to consciously create something. You don't have to be called an artist to create art. Art is an expression. A person who creates something that is an outward manifestation of their expression, views, or emotion has created art. If you do it repeatedly, your an artist whether you get paid for it or not. If you get paid, then you're a professional artist.

I don't often put a name to my style of nudes, but what the girls were used to seeing was glamour nudes. What they saw in my art didn't reflect much of that. I'm glad for it. I hardly ever need a make-up artist or a hair stylist. I like my nudes as raw as they come. I shoot the nude in whole or in macro parts, but I shoot all of her. Nudity restrictions hamper my creative abilities. I usually find my models by asking or they get referred to me. It is not often that I get someone who sees my work first and then contacts me, although it does happen. Over they years, especially in the US, word of mouth is what garnered the majority of my model finds.

"There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth."

~ Agnes Repplier

Shape, hair, eyes, are usually the first things that get my attention, in that order. However attitude is the prevailing factor. I say it all the time. I shoot as much as what's inside the model as I do the outside. If the attitude is not a fit, then I can't do it. That's not to say she or he has a poor attitude, just that for whatever reason, their hearts are just not in it.

Edward Weston, Harry Callahan, Diane Arbus, Jerry Ulesmann, Sally Mann, Spencer Tunick... these were my initial inspirations. My photography professor, Michael Johnson first encouraged me to try nude photography. Dave Rudin was huge for me when I was still fresh and had finally switched to digital. He shoots film however and was already an established art nude photographer in New York. He contacted me offering encouragement and insight. He attended one of my art nude workshops and I got to see him often on his trips to Las Vegas. I get inspired by practically every model I work with. There's always something that is unique which they bring to the table.

I love working with the muses who I shoot often and they let me play, experiment, and have the patience to stick with me when I do crappy work. There have been some I only worked with once and it was just as impactful. I can say I've shot hundreds of models. It seems like at damn near every point in my life, since I began shooting nudes, there has been someone there to help me. Since I first began, I once went a whole year without shooting a single nude. In 15 years, that's only happened once and I pray it never happens again. Top 3 models I've shot the most...

I don't need for other art nude work to be like mine for me to enjoy them, but I don't particularly like implied nudes, nor nudes that trend conservative. It's so subjective. My favorite nude/photograph of all time is Dave Rudin's art piece of Carlotta Champagne. In fact... I think I will do a blog post on that one photo at some point. But it's an easily conservative piece that is nonetheless the best photo I've seen. I'm not particularly a fan of sexualized nudes. And there is a difference between that and erotica. Your idea of what sexualized is may be different from mine. Mine even has degrees to it. Maybe I'll talk on that at some point, too. Can sex be art? Sure. But more on that later. Everybody has their range on the art nude spectrum. I can only explain mine... ambiguously, so.

I've been happy to work with 4 women here in Vietnam. Art Model, Alisia was someone who was referred to me and we put together our collaboration soon after. It was a long photo shoot! I was ecstatic that she had that kind of patience for a first shoot. We discussed the possible concepts and then just got to work. I let her move, pose, and tried to provide as little direction as possible. I wanted to take what was given and see what resulted. That has been my approach most times, but if the model has difficulty and needs help on how to move, I can step in and direct. I placed Alisia where I needed and just let her go for it. My job was to capture her performance with the right light, perspective, and angles. We did that and I think we created some fine art. I am very appreciative of her. I thank her for helping me celebrate the female form with this art.

28 September 2020

Don't Be Afraid (REPOST FROM 2016)

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

~ Nelson Mandela

Don't be afraid.

You know I can honestly leave this post at just those 3 words, but anybody who knows me, knows I am never that succinct. I like to use my words, so let me articulate my meaning here. Elocution would serve better, but since I have not as of yet published my work via podcasts, the written word will suffice. As a former Staff Sergeant in the Army, my voice can deliver the intended affect with inflection and tone that deliver my meaning more accurately, but I will try to get my point across, nonetheless. Maybe one day I'll do a speech on the matter. For now...the written word.

We all fear. Its inevitable that something will arise that will cause fear at some point in our lives. However, as you may already know, its how we respond to the fear that makes the difference. As a kid, I used to get my ass kicked just about daily, until I decided to make some changes. Since I was already taking a beating, how would striking back and defending myself make matters worse? So I learned to hit back...hard. Interestingly enough, the beatings stopped. Correlation? You tell me.

Today, I live differently. I don't have to fight like that so much. There are other things in life that make me afraid, but those early years, along with some military refining has helped me control fears better, (but not eliminate them, however). Now, I almost have fun with it. Fear lets me take on life challenges that can be rewarding times ten more when you overcome them. I tend to run towards things I fear, which may not be wise at times, but I'm not altogether stupid either.

Don't be afraid of the opinion of others. This is especially so, concerning those who should have little influence on your well-being, income, or health.

Don't be afraid of being the only one. It can be lonely to go it alone but you will find out more about yourself, your capabilities, and thereby boosting your confidence. Not everyone has your vision or wants to do what you want to do. That doesn't mean you have to flow with the status quo. Do you.

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. It's where all the fruit is."

~Shirley MacLaine

Don't be afraid to lose things, people, or money. It's bound to happen and you'll have to accept that fact. Its supposed to be that way when you think about it. People will come and go, but that's not always a bad thing. Things are temporary and you'll always be getting more stuff.

Don't be afraid to try new things. This is how you learn and experience the world.

Don't be afraid to fail. I've heard is said, "Failure is not the opposite of Success. It is PART of it." You'll make mistakes. Get up and learn from it.

Don't be afraid of the unknown. You don't know everything. In fact, you know very little. Hence, most of the universe is unknown to you. Think about how much you didn't know 5 years ago. The things you know today were unknown to you then. You don't always need to play it safe. Be smart. Get outside the lines a little bit. You'll thank me.

Don't be afraid to start that adventure. JUST GO! Old people don't brag about how many overtime hours they clocked. Or how many consecutive years they were able to stay under budget at Corporation XYZ. That shit doesn't make for good stories.

"An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose."

~ Langston Hughes

Don't be afraid to be hated. Not everyone will like you, especially when you start getting good and succeeding. That's just a fact. It means you're likely enjoying yourself. Don't sabotage your own happiness worrying about somebody hating on you. Katt Williams says the more haters you have the happier you likely are.

Don't be afraid of bad circumstances. It happens. It's going to happen again. How you respond to bad circumstances is what makes the bad circumstances permanent or not. And if they are not permanent...why worry?

Don't be afraid to trust yourself. In all actuality, you can't trust yourself, but you should. You're going to fail. You're going to let yourself down. However all that matters is the fact that you still control you. You 100% can't control anyone else. You CAN control you. So that makes you the most trustworthy person alive. Having some self control issues? Well, stop that shit.

Don't be afraid to keep learning...from anybody. I have learned so much from people 80 years old as well as from an 18 year old. I can't say what I might learn from an 8 year old, but I'm sure its possible, somehow. You won't know it all. Ever. So keep soaking up information and tidbits of wisdom where you find it. Keep your mind open because you'll likely come across it in some of the most unlikely places. Age, social status, economic class, race... if you limit where you can accept learning because of these dividing lines, you limit the potential you can evolve to. Cut that shit out.

Now go handle your business.

20 January 2020

Someday Equals Never

"'Someday' sounds a lot like the thing people say when they actually mean 'never.'"

~ Is Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood), Westworld

Wow! Two months since my last blog post! Yep, ya boy took a little time off to visit the US for the holidays, handle a little business, and prep for the next adventure. I chose to stay in the US a bit longer this time around, as I believe it will be a little while before I get to come back. My next stop will not be French Polynesia as I had originally suspected. I can't seem to figure out a way to do that trip the way I would like, which entails sailing. But in addition to that, the next stop would have likely been Australia and I have no idea how to navigate around the fires down there. I'm not interested in taking pictures of the aftermath. That's not my thing right now.

Instead, Vietnam is the place I gotta be, as soon as I figure out how to get a 3-month visa which has to be done in advance. I'm trying to decide if I need a multiple entry one or not. I don't think I have any plans on leaving the country and then coming back. But dang... you never know what opportunities might arise that might take me to Laos for a quick turn around. I'm eager as hell to start this journey, but this won't be for another three weeks or so.

I know every year, for the last two years, I keep saying this is a five-year journey or 5 more years. I'm not going to break that trend this year either. I mean, honestly! I feel like this leg of my trip is where my adventure really begins! JUST HEAR ME OUT! Going to Central and South America is cool. I'll never forget the lessons I learned there. AND I will be traveling back there often. I LOVE ME SOME LATIN AMERICA!

That being said, I had already traveled there multiple times before starting this trip two years ago. While each country is distinct, there was still a familiarity no matter where I went. Well, except for Argentina. That place was a bit more confusing because the Spanish was a little different and you may think your talking to White people from Europe... but nope, they are LATINA... of European descent! I routinely walked up to somebody thinking they were American, pero NOPE. Ellos no hablan Ingles. I made some great friends there and can't wait to return. I love you, Ushuaia!

So in truth, heading to the other side of the world will be something totally different, absolutely different, and entirely not the same as anything I've encountered before. Not counting South Korea. I was a soldier there and Vietnam is not South Korea, anyway. So that's how this is going down. The adventure begins in Vietnam and I'm guessing I will see two years on that side of the planet before I return to the US again. That's what I suspect, anyway, but I can't say that with certainty, of course.

On another note, how many of you have complained that I don't shoot nude men? Well, I hope you are happy now as I begin the year with my first nude shoot of Art Model, Que. He was introduced to me by my friend who surprised me saying she had someone available to model for me. I felt like was a good opportunity to try something new or at least something I hadn't done in a while. It was a short session, but I wish I had this guy in a studio! I had a deep longing to be back in my studio in Vegas, but... *sigh*, I know that's not possible anymore. When I get back there, though... I WILL REBUILD!

Lastly, let me just say this. It's been my experience that "somedays" do not come for most people. I was picking at my daughter the other day, trying to convince her to do Disneyland without the kids. DO NOT JUDGE ME! Anyway, my kids know me and I have a penchant to antagonize. When she said, SOMEDAY! I blurted out. "Someday equals NEVER!" and as soon as I said it, I thought, "BLOG POST!"

So let me encourage you on whatever it is that you are somedaying about. Put a date on it. Make an actual actionable authentic agenda on how you will do it. Granted, this is just my opinion, but somedays are never acted upon unless it's being gifted to you somehow. If you want to travel, however, and you have a "but-something" just understand me when I say there is likely a way around it.

BUT-money, BUT-kids, BUT-time... I've seen or heard this, and lots more. If it's something you want to do though, I'm here to tell you that it's doable. In my travels, I've come across a wide myriad of people along the way. I've traveled with broke people AND people with kids. I'm not saying you have to travel the way I do for extended periods of time. That may not be your dream or desire. But to head out for a month or three... that's doable!

Particularly if you are young, I suggest you do it now! It's easiest! And I had to learn this myself. I learned this from some young Israelis in 2015 traveling through Nicaragua and again in El Salvador. A couple of young girls who were traveling together told me this is what they wanted to do before starting a family, careers, or service in the military. They just took a year off after school to do this. I am not certain I would have trusted my own kids doing something like this so soon after high school, but I realize kids outside the US are raised differently, to begin with.

They are already used to interacting with people of other languages and they are already used to traveling to other countries. You think a guy from Belgium believes his country is so great that he should never leave it? No. He learns about Germany, Holland, and his neighbors and not just from a book. He visits his neighbors. So when it comes time to visit the other side of the world, he's glad to meet you! My Jewish friends taught me a lot about traveling like this and they are not afraid to venture out into the world. Maybe they are more prepared. But the only thing that makes those that do different from those that don't is a lack of fear. And that right there can be easily solved with a liberal application of education! Not necessarily college, but rather information.

In other words, lose the BUT and put a WHEN over your someday. Start asking questions. Maybe your someday has nothing to do with travel... same thing applies. Start asking questions. Google possibilities. Regardless, don't let time slip on you. All that does is make more regrets and an abundance of "should'ves" in your life and who needs more of that. I'm all about making more stories.! It was not pleasant for my knee, but I hiked a mountain and crawled down into an ice cave in a glacier a few months ago. It took me 36-hours and a grand to fly back home. But I have a story! AND PICS!

Yeah, Get more STORIES AND PICS!!

BTW, thanks Art Model, Que for your participation in my art.

Have a great 2020. Let's do this!

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