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Devious Journal Entry
1 min read
Mark Laurie - Master Photographer, Inner Spirit Photography - asked
"Has photography transcended into just image making?"
My response,
Photography has definitely descended from the status it had just a decade or two back,
when film photographers held special skills and equipment not possessed by the masses.
We were a priesthood serving the Muse thru our mastery of the rituals of silver-based photographic processes.
The digital camera age was the equivalent of the Guttenberg Bible and the King James Bible.
The formerly closely held knowledge was now in the hands of an increasing number of Common Folk,
folk who could now examine and explore and interpret that knowledge on their own.
.....
Offhand I'd say that Photography as a whole could be considered transcended to "just image making"
--BUT--
The priesthood, the true adepts are still out there.
One need only look at the differences in skill and vision on display when one does a search for "Photography - Nude" on Renderosity.com or Deviant Art.com .
"Has photography transcended into just image making?"
My response,
Photography has definitely descended from the status it had just a decade or two back,
when film photographers held special skills and equipment not possessed by the masses.
We were a priesthood serving the Muse thru our mastery of the rituals of silver-based photographic processes.
The digital camera age was the equivalent of the Guttenberg Bible and the King James Bible.
The formerly closely held knowledge was now in the hands of an increasing number of Common Folk,
folk who could now examine and explore and interpret that knowledge on their own.
.....
Offhand I'd say that Photography as a whole could be considered transcended to "just image making"
--BUT--
The priesthood, the true adepts are still out there.
One need only look at the differences in skill and vision on display when one does a search for "Photography - Nude" on Renderosity.com or Deviant Art.com .
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The simple joys of a simple nude
3 min read
I'd just read the latest insane drivel of a Republican politician. Then I went seeking relief.
I came here and as soon as my eyes saw the thumbnails of some serenely naked ladies, my mood lifted.
Naked ladies are tranquilzers.
Naked ladies are balm for the aggravations of the world.
Gazing upon a model posing in some wilderness setting lets the mind seek happy thoughts, imagining her delight at being in such a beautiful place, free of fear or concern or clothing.
Okay, there might be a little piece of gravel that got caught in an uncomfortable place under her left sole and she knows she and the photographer are going to have to do a thorough search for ticks later...
I let the imagination 'shop out those details.
On a cloudy winter day with snow on the ground and the thermometer stubbornly stuck on "24" the naked lady reminds me of the joys of a warm summer day when clothing is an option and not life support.
Ever seen a copy of the mid-'80s "World Guide to Nude Beaches and Recreation"? Beautiful color photography of happy naked people in all sorts of warm, pretty places.
Okay, the photo of the grandfather buying ice cream for his grandkids at some Cape d'Agde store is a hoot...
Anyway..... There is just something about the sight of a nude woman that elevates my mood.
No, not THAT "elevates" THAT "mood."
I know, I set myself up for that one.
I'm 55. I've been working from real live naked lady models for 35 years and I've seen I have no idea how many tens of thousands of such images. The mere sight of a naked lady will usually no longer trigger an erection. Am I jaded or inured or detached? I prefer to think I'm just.... picky? Nah, I just have certains preferences for what will trip my trigger.
But getting back to my initial thesis, the sight of a nicely naked lady is a pleasant diversion from the cares of the world.
I get asked why I do nudes. I guess one reason is that I'm hoping to provide pleasant relief for some unknown future audience, the same relief an army of artists and photrographers have provided me.
And my eternal gratitude for the legion of naked ladies out there, past present and future.
I came here and as soon as my eyes saw the thumbnails of some serenely naked ladies, my mood lifted.
Naked ladies are tranquilzers.
Naked ladies are balm for the aggravations of the world.
Gazing upon a model posing in some wilderness setting lets the mind seek happy thoughts, imagining her delight at being in such a beautiful place, free of fear or concern or clothing.
Okay, there might be a little piece of gravel that got caught in an uncomfortable place under her left sole and she knows she and the photographer are going to have to do a thorough search for ticks later...
I let the imagination 'shop out those details.
On a cloudy winter day with snow on the ground and the thermometer stubbornly stuck on "24" the naked lady reminds me of the joys of a warm summer day when clothing is an option and not life support.
Ever seen a copy of the mid-'80s "World Guide to Nude Beaches and Recreation"? Beautiful color photography of happy naked people in all sorts of warm, pretty places.
Okay, the photo of the grandfather buying ice cream for his grandkids at some Cape d'Agde store is a hoot...
Anyway..... There is just something about the sight of a nude woman that elevates my mood.
No, not THAT "elevates" THAT "mood."
I know, I set myself up for that one.
I'm 55. I've been working from real live naked lady models for 35 years and I've seen I have no idea how many tens of thousands of such images. The mere sight of a naked lady will usually no longer trigger an erection. Am I jaded or inured or detached? I prefer to think I'm just.... picky? Nah, I just have certains preferences for what will trip my trigger.
But getting back to my initial thesis, the sight of a nicely naked lady is a pleasant diversion from the cares of the world.
I get asked why I do nudes. I guess one reason is that I'm hoping to provide pleasant relief for some unknown future audience, the same relief an army of artists and photrographers have provided me.
And my eternal gratitude for the legion of naked ladies out there, past present and future.
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The Shower
2 min read
'NakedHobby' posted an image SHOWER and asked "Is nowhere sacred? Not when you are a nude model!"
It got me thinking.
When I've been photographing a model and she heads to the shower to clean off, I'm torn.
It's not like we haven't just spent a couple hours with her being naked in front of me and the camera.
On the other hand, she could be seeing this a break time that I'd be intruding on.
If the shower is at the end of a session, then she could consider her job done and she's now off-duty.
Conversely, the shower could either be her preparation for the start of a photo session or the start of the session itself.
I remember one European photographer saying how he starts each session with a new model by having her undress and shower while he clicks away. It is logical, the act of entering the shower naturally facilitates the woman's transition from clothed to nude. The shower enclosure provides her a last refuge to deal with any lingering modesty before she steps out and begins the serious modeling.
But still, if I'm going to photograph a model in the shower, I'd ask beforehand. Besides, I'd need to figure out the correct exposure settings beforehand anyway so spontaneous shower sessions would probably be out of the question.
And I've yet to photograph in a bathroom that had enough room for the tripod in anything resembling a normal position.
So assuming one had asked the model nicely and prepared beforehand, the shower would not be off limits.
But there is one thing that I'd still prefer be off limts?
Unless you're Hergre, toilets.
Okay, I'm done now.
It got me thinking.
When I've been photographing a model and she heads to the shower to clean off, I'm torn.
It's not like we haven't just spent a couple hours with her being naked in front of me and the camera.
On the other hand, she could be seeing this a break time that I'd be intruding on.
If the shower is at the end of a session, then she could consider her job done and she's now off-duty.
Conversely, the shower could either be her preparation for the start of a photo session or the start of the session itself.
I remember one European photographer saying how he starts each session with a new model by having her undress and shower while he clicks away. It is logical, the act of entering the shower naturally facilitates the woman's transition from clothed to nude. The shower enclosure provides her a last refuge to deal with any lingering modesty before she steps out and begins the serious modeling.
But still, if I'm going to photograph a model in the shower, I'd ask beforehand. Besides, I'd need to figure out the correct exposure settings beforehand anyway so spontaneous shower sessions would probably be out of the question.
And I've yet to photograph in a bathroom that had enough room for the tripod in anything resembling a normal position.
So assuming one had asked the model nicely and prepared beforehand, the shower would not be off limits.
But there is one thing that I'd still prefer be off limts?
Unless you're Hergre, toilets.
Okay, I'm done now.
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A Model's Thoughts
2 min read
A woman has her clothes off and stands in front of the camera....
Some are seeking a new experience, having never done this before and wondering what it would be like.
Some see it as a challenge to themselves and to the world to stand naked before it.
Some are making a statement that they are adult, mature, free-spirited, and very very very confident in their body.
Some quietly withdraw, dealing with inner thoughts of "Oh God, I'm naked, what the heck am I doing?"
The Student Model thinks "It pays twice as well as any other job on campus and all I have to do is stand here naked."
The neophyte but practical model thinks "I really don't have the skills for a job but I don't mind taking my clothes off."
Some are kind of resigned, working out a favor for or repaying a debt to a photographer and wondering how much longer this will take.
Some models have circumstances that lead them to modeling as a last resort, "I can't hold a regular job but if I can make enough artists happy, there's the rent, grocery , and spending money."
Some let their vanities take control, thinking of the best way to present themselves and hoping the photographer has the skill to record what a damn fine looking body she's got.
Some see it as an inherently sexual experience, the camera as stand-in for all the folks she looks to seduce with her image.
Some see it as a very sexual experience, the camera a chance and an audience for her to indulge her erotic desires.
Some are lovers, letting the public see that which the photographer enjoys in private.
Some are indulgent spouses, putting up with their partners’ needs for bodies to photograph.
Some become very detached, thinking of themselves solely as a tool to work out the photographer's vision.
And some become a nymph, happily playing without thought or artifice.
Some are seeking a new experience, having never done this before and wondering what it would be like.
Some see it as a challenge to themselves and to the world to stand naked before it.
Some are making a statement that they are adult, mature, free-spirited, and very very very confident in their body.
Some quietly withdraw, dealing with inner thoughts of "Oh God, I'm naked, what the heck am I doing?"
The Student Model thinks "It pays twice as well as any other job on campus and all I have to do is stand here naked."
The neophyte but practical model thinks "I really don't have the skills for a job but I don't mind taking my clothes off."
Some are kind of resigned, working out a favor for or repaying a debt to a photographer and wondering how much longer this will take.
Some models have circumstances that lead them to modeling as a last resort, "I can't hold a regular job but if I can make enough artists happy, there's the rent, grocery , and spending money."
Some let their vanities take control, thinking of the best way to present themselves and hoping the photographer has the skill to record what a damn fine looking body she's got.
Some see it as an inherently sexual experience, the camera as stand-in for all the folks she looks to seduce with her image.
Some see it as a very sexual experience, the camera a chance and an audience for her to indulge her erotic desires.
Some are lovers, letting the public see that which the photographer enjoys in private.
Some are indulgent spouses, putting up with their partners’ needs for bodies to photograph.
Some become very detached, thinking of themselves solely as a tool to work out the photographer's vision.
And some become a nymph, happily playing without thought or artifice.
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