20 in 2020
2020 a challenging year
Well, what a different and challenging year 2020 has been.
None of us have been unaffected in some way by this global pandemic. Little did we know what was coming in the early part of the year. Shoots and travel were booked and then slowly they were all cancelled as the lockdown came into being across the world.
For all creatives this has been an incredibly challenging time.
Fortunately some enterprising people saw an opportunity to use technology and the web to enable remote shooting and thus image making could take place. With me at home and the models in another part of the world, this was a way to keep producing images during the periods of lockdown.
This certainly enabled me to work with creatives in other countries which would not have been possible in normal times. A few of the images selected here were shot remotely with models/dancers as far away as Denmark. When the restrictions eased mid year, some social distance studio work did take place.
I think I have learnt a little bit about myself during this time. I am more interested in the engagement with people and creatives, then the popularity of my photographs. If people like my work then that is fine, but I am not interested in creating images to be popular.
That would compromise my creativity and my style of image making. I have certainly found a calmness in creating images that I like and not being driven to follow the trend to be popular.
As is often said “Art mirrors life” and aesthetic output reflects on us as people. The twenty images I have selected here are ones where I felt strong connections with the creatives I was working with and reflect my style and values.
Thanks to all the creatives I managed to work with this year and lets hope that 2021 brings a return to a more normal artistic environment.
Models/ Dancers: Carla Monaco, Riona Neve, Poppyseed Dancer & Jasmin, Elesha Eden, Natalia, BOou, Ariel Taylor, Amie Boulton, Zoi, Erica Mulkern.
Paisley pattern tights leg shapes (NSFW)
- Model: Ivory Flame.
- Location: My Studio
- Lighting: Mixed constant and a grided studio flash.
- Camera: Fuji XT-2
- Lens: XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR
- Shutter Speed : 1/125sec @ F -5.6
- Aperture: F /5.6
- ISO – 200
I have worked with Ivory Flame (Holly) a number of times in the past, She is a great artist nude model, as the images show. This set of images were shot at my studio. During a session with Holly, I had purchased a pair of Paisley pattern tights and decided to use the edge of a settee to give a base shape for Holly to work against and show off the Paisley pattern tights and her figure shape. Lighting was a studio flash fitted with and striped softbox fitted grid plus an Arri contast light focused to give a strip of light coming down the background.
November Print of the Month
My pick for the November 2020 Print of the Month is entitled: The form of a straight leg raise.
Natalia – Torn jeans
- Model: Natalia
- Lighting: Single studio light fitted with a large Octa box
- Camera: Fuji Film GFXs
- Apeture: F5.6
- Focal lenght: 110mm
- ISO: 100
- Outfits: models own
I have not worked with Natalia before but was really pleased to have had the chance to book and work with her in the studio. These images are from the first set we shot with Natalia wearing her torn jeans and a white teeshirt. Love the energy and expression that she produced while we worked this setup.
Carla in a Leather Jacket mood
- Model: Carla Monaco
- Lighting: Single Studio light fitted with a large gridded Octa box
- Jacket: Models own
- Styling Carla
- Camera: Fuji Film GFX 50S
- Lens: GF110mmF2 R LM WR
- 1/125 sec @ f-4.5 / ISO 100
I have worked with Carla Monoco a number of times in the past. You can see some more output from these shoots from these links. Walters wardrobe, Leather jacket and Bandana. Above are a few images from a fashion set featuring a leather jacket.
Em – Silk hanging (NSFW)
- Aerialist: Em Theresa
- Lighting: 3 x Studio flash fitted with soft boxes
- Location: Natural Light Spaces
- Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Lens: 24-70mm.
- 1/100sec @ f /11.00. ISO100
To collaborate with Aerialists in order to capture their skills is a real challenge. Em Theresa the Aerialist featured in these images makes these poses look effortless and easy, but they are not.
It requires core strenght and concentration to hold these poses while hanging from the suspended silks several metres from the ground.
The biggest challenge for the photographer is to know when to capture the image, to show the artisty and skill that the aerialist is displaying as she holds the pose.
Elle Beth – harness top (NSFW)
I have worked with model Elle Beth a number of times over the last few years. Elle Beth is a top full time model with lots experience and is good to work with as she is tall and also athletic and works hard to produce great images.
The location for the shoot was the Natural light studio at Weedon Bec. This studio has some great natural light, but also good studio lights if required,
The planning for this shoot was to do several different sets. Some using the natural light others using the studio lights. The location also has some long aerial silks, which we used for the first set. These certainly gave Elle a workout hanging and posing using them.
To give Elle a rest from the athletic posing she had been doing. We decided to use a simple leather harness top that Elle Beth had recently purchase as prop for somthing a bit different to the other sets. I want to create a bit of edgy tension in the shots so I have kept them monochrome.
The shots were all lit with a three-light set up. Starting with a large overhead softbox and then adding two gridded strip softboxes. These were set to each side of the model but slightly behind her to provide a rim light the her figure shape.
Slightly less symmetry in this one. A more relaxed feel and yet still with an edgy feel as Elle again engages with the viewer.
Elle Beth Symmetry
I liked the symmetry in this front on image there is also I feel a really feeling of tension in the image. This coming from Elle pose and look directly into the lens of the camera. Almost if the subject is awaiting permission to do something.
12