It's been a long time

It's certainly been a while since I had a really good art nude shoot. I've been in a state of self imposed purdah since the end of last summer. I've tried landscapes and I've shot other subjects as they have presented themselves but the creative buzz seemed to have deserted me.

Then out of the blue I get an email from a charming young lady in Sussex asking if I would set up a shoot for her. Now my first reaction was that the distance would be prohibitive and her interest would soon fizzle out. We exchanged a few emails and it soon became apparent that she was serious.

Libellule had got to an age where she realised that her body, whilst still lithe and fit was starting to change and she wanted a photoshoot to look back on in future years. I explained that due to the potential weather risks we would need a reasonable time frame to shoot and Libellule said she was happy to book in to a hotel for a couple of days. On this basis I went ahead and set up the shoot. Thank you Libellule for your confidence in me and for rekindling the creativity I have been missing for some time now. We created some beautiful work together. Here's a few 'anonymous' images …

Why I love this image

I've lots of favourites among the images I've taken, and this is one.  To some it may not be art nude as it's too full frontal.  More is revealed than is hidden for example, but to focus on the minor points of the image is to miss the beauty of the bigger picture.

I love this image for so many reasons.  It's different from much of my work where the model is posed in a location I've chosen, or sometimes with a prop that has been carefully selected to contrast with the model.  This image has nothing external to support it. It's Kirsty or nothing.  It works on so many levels too.
Apply the 'Golden Spiral to the image and it fits perfectly, starting from the models tummy the spiral winds out and down, returning up the line of her back then across her arms and down to the bottom left hand corner.

In some ways it is reminiscent of Amaury Duval's, 'The Birth of Venus'. A simple nude rising out of the sea against a plain background of the sky.

Amaury Duval - The Birth of Venus

Golden Spiral

I also love the way the shadows play across Kirsty's body, emphasising her shape and femininity. I love the colours too, subtly desaturated from the original.  I tried it in black and white too but for me the colour version rocks.  It's simple, clean and beautiful.

Hope you like it too.

Hosepipe ban

We had a very dry spring here in the Lake District which meant the reservoirs running very low and our trusted utilities company slapping a hosepipe ban on the entire North West. What has this got to do with photography I hear you ask? Everything.

From the day the ban came in to force it has rained. Heavy rain, light rain, drizzle, we've had the lot which makes booking a model a fraught procedure. As I mostly shoot outdoors, keeping an eye on the forecast is mandatory. So when one of my favourite models emails to say she's got a cancellation for 3 days time, would I like to shoot, I have to weigh up the odds of a downpour interrupting us.

Still it was Raphaella and for some reason the sun always shines when we work together, so despite a very poor forecast I went ahead and committed. And yes, as I met her off the train, the clouds parted and the sun came out - briefly.

The shoot this time was a little different for us both. There are plenty of quiet places I know of but I wanted to do something in a more classical setting. I have had a location in mind for quite some time that was ideal, the only problem being that it was in a public area and there were quite a lot of folks around, it being the middle of the summer holidays. Anyway we got an early start and actually managed to shoot an amazing amount of images in a very short time.

Not wishing to push our luck, we quit whilst we were ahead and moved on into a woodland area where the rain had made the vegetation such a lush green that it formed a sumptuous background for Raph to pose in.

Then it was quickly back home to meet the family and the briefest of shoots in the studio before getting her back on the train and off to her next shoot. These are a few of the images, hope to have some more on my site soon.

Three for the price of one

I met up with a few fellow photographers and models last week for a networking get together. These events seldom pass without the cameras coming out and the models strutting their stuff. Good to catch up with people I've only previously spoken to on-line and also to renew acquaintances with others.

Here's a few from the day.

In the pink shoes; Aimeboo. In the bath Nudey Butt, who travelled all the way from Edinburgh and lastly Miss_G; down on the beach. Planning another shoot with MissG very soon so lets hope the weather improves.

It's gone quiet

My anonymous fan has been keeping rather quiet lately. It's been a week since I posted and she doesn't seem keen to take up my offer of a coffee and chat. Ah well, I expected as much really.

Where do we go from here I wonder? I doubt I've heard the last of you my friend and this one way correspondence is challenging to say the least.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself (Old Chinese Proverb)

Got some more fanmail from my anonymous admirer this week. My, my, someone really has got sand up her backside. This post therefore is addressed really just to you my friend.

Whilst I'd really like to debate with you there really is no mileage in doing it via my blog. Your tenuous grasp on the reality of the situation is frankly laughable and virtually every 'fact' in your last letter has been manipulated and distorted to suit your own skewed view of the situation.

However, amused as I am personally by your outpouring of bile, as someone who has adopted the self proclaimed 'moral high ground' on this have you stopped for a moment and thought just what effect your actions are having on those who you say you are trying to protect? Have you? Do you enjoy giving innocent people caught up in this sleepless nights?

Of course as the self proclaimed moral champion here you'll no doubt say that I've brought all this on myself. Well at least I've got the guts to stand up for my position. I don't go around anonymously spreading falsehoods and lies about other people.

Anyway, enough. Amused as I am, I'm also getting rather pissed off. So I'm going to make you an offer. It's unconditional, take your time. The offer is simply this. Meet me at a neutral place, we'll have a coffee and we can discuss your concerns. I don't like ill feeling with anyone and I'm more than happy to talk things through with you. You can even bring a chaperone …

You know where I am, get in touch.

However should you choose to decline my offer then consider this. We live in a small village, our kids go to the same school, we shop in the same shops. Remaining anonymous is difficult as you have already proven. I will unmask you and I will expose you. Let me leave you with another proverb from China.

"Corner a dog in a dead-end street and it will turn and bite"

Spencer Tunick Exhibition

The Spencer Tunick exhibition Everyday People had it's preview evening at the Lowry in Salford last night. It was great to catch up with those people I'd met at the photoshoot and to see Spencer's work alongside the originals by Lowry himself.

Here's a couple from the evening, with the group of us and Spencer. Thanks to Kiran for the photos. The exhibition is well worth catching, especially if you are a fan of Spencer's work.