Anne

After a hiatus of about four months, it looks like I'll be shooting fashion again. I'll continue shooting the clubs as assigned, but won't be doing any more on my own - at least for now. The last several sets of pictures have just been more of the same. That's the problem I had with the night fashion. Different model - same pictures.

I think it's good that the pictures all have a recognizable style, but when I find myself looking for the same image that was succesful before, and avoiding experimenting, then I've been doing the same thing for too long.

Last night I went off and did a night fashion shoot. I found myself going to the places I've shot before, shooting the same pictures, playing it safe. And I wasn't getting paid to do this. I'm paying for the film and processing, and will be doing scans on my own nickel, and there won't be anything of value to me from the shoot at all. The model was pleasant, but it was, for me, a waste of time.

So how am I going back to shooting fashion, when, given the chance last night, I played it safe?

I don't really know. I do know that whatever I do next must be conceptually different than anything I've done before.

Dani

But finding an idea isn't easy. I've talked to so many other photographers who are in the same situation. The easiest thing is to find a single trick, and stick with it. But even if that trick is successful, it chafes to have to do it over and over. After shooting the night fashion for about two years, finding the clubs was so refreshing. Being able to find new ways to use the tools and materials just felt soooo good. But now it's routine. For practical, as well as aesthetic reasons, I'd like to continue working at nighttime subjects. So I sat down and listed nocturnal activities that might be of interest. Emergency rooms, truckstops, Denny's... Once before I'd had the idea of using "authenticity" in my work. Basically documenting a life. I am who I am, of course, so I'd prefer to document a pretty girl, but on the first attempt, an unfortunate accident ruined the first roll of film. And if it hadn't been ruined, it wouldn't have shown much anyway. It's amazing how much authenticity has to be coached to happen. I think that idea is dead.

One thing I can do is more "beauty" work. I've got a perfectly good, though small, studio, and have the ability to control the lights and other aspects of the session, and want to do more with straight beauty. I tried a little of that last night, but didn't put my heart into it. Time was short, the model was due home soon, and I did a few throw-away pictures. But I think I can do these, given suitable models to work with.

Robin

The other thing I will be working on is an expansion of my Erotic Photographs. Two fetish models will be visiting me in a couple of weeks and we have about four days of sporadic shooting planned. I don't think that work will fit into the "erotic" category, but it will be interesting and will result in a new type of photography for me. In August I'll be doing some more over-the-top erotica with two other models. I'll actually be paying these two, as I expect to sell the work.

And this brings up another point. When returning to photography, I said I'd never let money get mixed with art again. I've already fallen off that high horse by selling the club stuff. I guess it's rationalized in part by not having any art direction to contend with, but nevertheless, I've become dependent on the money and am careful to shoot what I know the editor likes.

And I've always wanted my work to be seen. That's why I came on the web in the first place - to have a place to show it. That same desire helped push me into selling the club work (which in turn has made me wish to quit shooting it), and is pushing me into selling the erotica. Though I seldom post the link on any of the fora, and it's listed on far fewer search engines, it's getting as many hits as my fashion work. And I haven't updated that site in months. I figure selling the work is the best way to get it seen. Besides, I like shooting it.

So for now, I'll be looking for another twist on fashion, shooting some beauty, and trying to expand my erotica. And I'll continue shooting clubs for the Strobe Light Diaries, until I'm bored, or don't need the money, whichever comes first.

Sundays are depressing. I think I'll go wash the Bronco.

-Don