"Paradigm Shift" by Mike McGrath

Making preparation for my wedding shoot in July. The day is fast approaching and there's still some stuff I need to get. I've opted to rent some equipment from LensRentals.com. I REALLY wanted to have that Mark II, for this shoot, but the things been on back-order for ever. I'm happy I was able to go through them and find what I needed. Garrett recommended them and so far, I've found them pretty easy to work with. They are a company out of Memphis and FedEX your rentals anywhere in the US. I found their prices reasonable as well. I made sure to insure everything, with the exception of the camera body, surprisingly. They'll insure the lenses, but not a camera body. I'm guessing the insurance is for repair costs for a lens, but they figure if you mess up a camera body, you've pretty much bought it anyway. Well, interesting enough, Digital Photo Pro has an article in the latest issue about taking care of your bottom line and this feature is on insurance for your photo business. I think its worth while for you to look into it. I've subscribed to this magazine for about 2 years now and its worth it.

Its been a while but I interviewed another model recently, but actually, she interviewed me, I think. The girl had a bunch of questions...good questions, and it took us about 4 hours of coke refills at a local pub to sort through it all. She's got a plethora of ideas of concepts she'd like to shoot and I'm only happy to oblige her. Hopefully within the next week or so, I'll be posting new work of her. Like I said, its been a while since I've shot a nude. So I guess I finally got my wish. I finally put off shooting nudes for a while. Granted, I didn't do so in lieu of shooting other things. I had to put photo on hold all together. I did get in some shots here and there, but I also reworked some of my older images and organized my files. Its time to ship another body of work off the the Library of Congress and I'm still doing all my meta-tagging. So I've posted a mish-mage of stuff I've been working on.

Another priority is getting my Las Vegas Art Models Group up and running better than before. I've got a few ideas but making them happen is something different. I haven't done a workshop in quite some time and I guess a few people began to get concerned about my welfare in that no one had heard from me in a while. There are some who knew what's been going on but a great many hadn't a clue. My issue has been to revamp the group and refocus on the reason I started the group in the first place, but I need to do so in a manner that makes the group at least pay for itself. I've been out of pocket in this thing for quite some time. I may as well make it a profit-oriented venture so that I can expand my resources and broaden my capabilities/options. Getting models hasn't been such a big thing, but many times, more than one is necessary and that is where affordability comes into place. Paying models for these gigs has been important since the main reason I started the group was to give models more venues to earn money at what they do, through my own workshops and sessions, but also through networking. For a while, any person or business needing a model knew that I could deliver and I passed on recommendations. The same held true for artists and photographers. Some of the artists in my drawing groups came away with commissions and I had photographers make connections as well. So any of you readers with suggestions, I'd be more than happy for your support.

A few changes coming up is a new name. PhotoAnthems.com will be the new name for my blog and website in the near future. I need a logo design and maybe a new blog layout. I still have work to do in that regard, but don't be surprised when it pops up and you think you've come to the wrong site. You can also now follow me on Twitter! Don't know if I want to keep up with it yet, but I'm gonna play with it for a while. So at any rate, come give me some love at www.twitter.com/ArtNudePhotog. And if you're gonna be traveling anywhere, visit My Rovia Travel Site before hand to see if you can save some money. So far it hasn't been beaten as far as I've seen and they also price match. So check out the deals.

And finally, there's "Paradigm Shift" I'd be interested in knowing what you might be inclined to feel towards, this life-sized bronze sculpture by artist Mike McGrath, of a female nude, squatting with knees spread, and exhibited in a privately controlled space, but viewable to the public. I can still visualize it as art, but I'd like to know what you think about the venue. Right now its exhibited at the Burien/Interim Arts Space, or B/IAS. Would you say its too explicit?

"Paradigm Shift" by Mike McGrath

Hear Me Out...

"Just because you have a Mercedes doesn't mean you can't look at a Beemer every now and then." - Lilia

I'm going to make a statement in a sec, and I don't want anyone to freak out. You may want to sit down. I am going to stop shooting nudes for a while. Okay, I said it, but be cool. Operative phrase here being "for a while". I guess, I should qualify that statement with a disclaimer. So let me add that I still have a few committals to take care of and I am certain there will be some spontaneous opportunity shoots. I'm just not actively searching for models for a particular project. Make no mistake, I am not tired of it. I have not changed my passion for it and I certainly have not given up on it because there's no money in it. I don't do it for the money anyway. But since you bring up the money thing, let's me settle there for a minute or two...or more. One of the reasons why I am making this call IS in fact for the money, in a way (I'll get into the other reason next time). I think I'd like to stop shooting nudes to try and refine my trade a bit and do something that might help me pay for more shooting of nudes. My art nude work is like a crack habit, but I am in control of it enough to where I refuse to steal or sell my body in order to do it. Instead, I am going to try to make my photo work pay for itself.

Canon has released its new version of the EOS 5D, the 5D Mark II. I want it. Maybe you don't understand me when I say, I want this camera. In fact, I'm not going to even go into trying to articulate the magnitude of "I WANT", in that sentence. This is one time words simply don't do it. I wish you could see my face when I say it. Then you'd understand me better. HOWEVER, I'd like to NOT spend my own money for it, or borrow to get it. I've got a 40D. Its a good camera and I've paid about two and a half grand for it and some lighting gear. That's a nice investment and you know what...it can pay for its own damn self AND my new Mark II. I have a tool with the ability to work on its own and I'd like to keep my camera from being lazy. So, I'm going to defray from my passion that makes no money and subsidize it with some common sense. That was my plan when I originally bought the thing. I've made it work, doing a bunch of free stuff and a few gigs here and there, but its not doing enough to burn off the fat....know what I mean?

And the 5D Mk II isn't all. You get serious into photo and you will spend more on accessories, software, backups, etc. than you will on the camera. The Mk II is a full frame system which is the main reason I wanted it. I've got to be full frame. As a former film purist, its the closest thing to it. But other than the camera, you have to compliment it with good glass and what's better than the superb (and expensive) L-series of lenses. Well, I can just say the costs are mounting (along with switching to a Mac) and while I am more than willing to pay, I know my current equipment should be up to the task. And you know what, it will be. I will whip that camera body into shape so fast, it will make your head spin.

Ah, but let me introduce the beautiful and most gorgeous...Brittany! This Sunday will be my next and probably final outdoor workshop for my Las Vegas Art Models Group. After this Sunday, we'll probably be indoors til the spring. Brittany is one of those models that makes you feel highly inclined to stop looking for anyone else after you've found her. Its always been tough choosing a model at times, but then you run across someone like her and the day just seems to brighten up, birds come out and sing, and little rabbits come up to you and offer you fresh daisies as butterflies dance a crown around your head. She's a professional model. This IS her day job. I haven't worked with too many pro's, and while I've had success with the non-pro's, Brittany makes you contemplate whether or not you've been missing out. These are a few simple shots I took of her just the other day. I can't wait for Sunday, but I'm already looking past then to more adventures with her in the future. Thanks Brittany.

September Art Nude Photo Workshop #1

"How many Licks..."

"Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it my be." -Edward Weston

I'm starting to make some headway into this backlog of photo edits. I still have a ways to go, but at least I'm on a roll and have knocked out a good chunk of all I had to do. Well, the first of my September workshops is in the record books. I keep getting from the participants that each one is the best yet. I'm glad they've enjoyed them so much, but the pressure seems to mount each time I set up another model and location. This last model, Clarissa, was one of Jeff's finds. He did a personal shoot with her and then recommended her to me for a workshop. I'm glad he did. This was a very interesting girl with a even more intriguing story behind her. She is a real trooper. This girl was certainly not bashful and she didn't mind getting dirty. As you can see from the redness on her back, butt, and feet, she was all over the place. At times I was uncomfortable with her fearlessness. She got up high once but she could handle it.

All in all the event was a success, but just like in most cases, I was glad when it was over. Just dealing with all the coordinations to set it up were mind boggling and this event brought on challenges that would have felled a lesser organizer with ease. But hey, I was up for the challenge and I prevailed! Hooah! The first image up top is courtesy of good friend and photog, J.L. Wolfe, who shot this most opportune image of the back of my head as I was focusing on the model. What a great shot!

One of my other challenges has been to figure out what to do with the overwhelming response to my casting calls when I need models. I do one or maybe two workshops a month. I get way more responses than that and end up turning down excellent models or at least asking them to wait til the next one, which is when you lose them or never hear back. These girls don't like to feel second to anybody. I tend to book fairly quickly. Most times, when a model sees my casting and responds, I've already met with someone, interviewed, and booked. Then I'm left asking them to wait for the next one.

I need more paid gigs for my Las Vegas Art Models Group. I do more TFP work for my independent art, but I put together my group to help get more paid gigs for models who might not have many nude venues to work outside of schools and universities or photogs who just want to see a girl naked. I considered acting in the capacity of an agency, but that's not really where my heart is. I get requests for models, but they are not as consistant as I'd like. I'd much rather sponsor my own events, but then you get into the area of availability of photogs who'll pay. My workshops are fairly reasonable, but in a recent lighting seminar in my other group, the Las Vegas Photographic Society, we had several people RSVP to be there and then only 1 showed up. I have my group advance pay to avoid this, but too many events will only result in less participation. I don't have the market to sustain more events just yet. I must admit, if I had the means to pay the models out of pocket, I'd be holding an event every week. I'm sure that would grow the group well enough til the numbers support the effort.

At one point, I thought about creating a blog for my LVAMG in addition to this one. That's a no-go. Maintaining a blog is not the easiest thing to do. Content, time, and the committment to maintain it can be extensive. So this makes me wonder why another fairly prominent art nude blog chose to shut down. Imogens, just made its last post recently. I have no idea why, but I did notice they moved their operations from Blogger to Wordpress, then began posting less frequently. No explanation was given, but I kind of wish someone else were allowed to take it over and maintain it. There was some good stuff there.

And I'll end with a new link to a fabulous to the website of a young painter, Erin Jones. (Also, Click ->Here for her blog link). She's a good friend of mine and has become the best living artists I know. I don't make that statement lightly. The girl is good. I haven't seen her do any nudes, but you'll like her work nonetheless. Erin proved very inspirational to me despite her young age. She's a 20-something emerging artist with the wisdom of someone another 20 years her senior. I miss our long talks, debates, and conversations. She's got excellent insight and is someone good to bounce soul searching questions off of. Trust me, I take full advantage.

Welcome to TNAP, Lissa

"Lissa in Portraiture"

I really love what I am doing in photo right now. I'm still behind on my editing. I'm getting the crap beat out of me working the night shift. I'm short of cash on hand. And I'm still transitioning from the lifestyle of one residence into that of a new one. I can't tell a Thursday from a Tuesday and right now, I should be in bed. But what am I doing instead... trying to entertain and share with you on my blog. Why, *coming back full circle*, because I really love what I am doing in photo right now.

One of the reasons I like this is because right now, I don't have any expectations. I have dreams, desires, passions, and loves. I crave some new equipment. But I don't really have expectations. This is not income driven. I am not under someone else's deadline. I'm not prepping for contests trying to beat submission deadlines. I have the option to shoot what I like. Though its not always easy, I get to shoot a model most any time I need. I love that women are comfortable enough with me to pose for me. I know part of the reason for this is because when they look through my portfolio, they can see themselves in it. Its not full of all the high fashion glamour. I mainly use the girl you might see driving past your car on the interstate on her way to work at the local Five and Dime. They can identity with what I do, is what I think.

I've got great mentors, like Dave Rudin, Iris Dassault, and Chris St. James; all of whom have had integral involvements in launching my site and blog. I might add again, that its good to have Chris back. He's got to make another trip to the hospital, and has given me permission to post on Univers d' Artistes! I don't know what I'll do with all that power. All I can think of is Uncle Ben telling Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility!". Anyway, since then, I've made several other connections via the web, my Las Vegas Art Models Group, The Las Vegas Photographic Society, and more. I've held figure drawing venues in the World Market Center that were perused by people of influence who eventually commissioned work from some of the attending artists and established deeper connections for more paid work and sales. This, all in just my first year.

So photographically speaking, I really have nothing to complain about. Well, maybe except wanting to do it more and have the time to do it. I just need to be patient with it and learn to better work with what I have. My personal life has left me unable to think at times. Even then, I've had my good friends Felix and Summer to think for me. I kid you not: I've been so exhausted lately, I've made some blunders. Felix and Summer have been there to smack me with a good one across the cheeks to wake me back up. Jeff has been a blessing to allow me into his home when things got too dicey at my own, even though money has been tight as hell. So what adjustments has he had to make to living with a new roommate, well twice just this past week, he's come home to discover naked chicks lounging around the house. Not bad, huh.

Speaking of which, this is Lissa, one of the naked chicks lounging around on Jeff's furniture. I think she's a pretty remarkable woman. I contacted her because she's a member of the Group and we don't have many group members model who actually model. I've been going through deleting out members who are inactive or never do anything or make any contributions. Lissa had a pic posted and I asked her about doing some actual modeling. She's done a little bit before, but nothing on a regular basis. We interviewed last week and I shot her in Jeff's place. That was the longest shoot I'd done in quite some time. It was the way she looked into the lens that had me releasing the shutter so many times. I was doing this without ANY sleep from the night before. Maybe it shows in my work, but I think I got some really good shots. As soon as I get half way done with her edits, I'm getting her back out here for some more. She's a lovely muse.

Oh and my website doubled in traffic for the month of August! Yeah, I'm lovin' it.