A question I am often asked is what it is like to photograph nude women. People want to know about the awkwardness or if there is some sort of sexual tension. Is there leering? Is there touching? Do I ever get 'aroused' during a shoot? Has anything embarrassing ever happened? Is it weird doing a nude photo shoot with people that I know? Has an orgy ever spontaneously erupted? I can understand the interest and curiosity. We all want to know what goes on "behind the scenes." So I thought I would take a moment and talk about my experiences. But a word of warning. Don't bust out the Vaseline and tissues just yet, because it's not what you may think.
Photo shoots, whether clothed or nude, contain many variables. There's lighting and light modifiers, camera equipment, props, wardrobe, make-up, hair, the location and the models themselves are all part of what makes up a shoot. Some are more complicated than others. For instance, if you are shooting in a public place, you would have to be aware of what is going on around you, cars, other pedestrians etc. If it is a nude shoot in a public place, you have to be on the look out for the police! Things like the weather can change constantly and may effect how your shoot goes. If you are shooting on a sunny day but there are a few clouds, the moments where the sun is blocked by the clouds will give you a completely different look. Things like hair and wardrobe need to be constantly assessed. Does the model have a tag sticking out of her underwear? Did the wind just mess up the models hair and now she has a 'fly-away' that is stuck to her cheek? And light. Light is one of the single biggest aspects of what makes or breaks a shoot, and good photographers are constantly assessing it. Some of these things are easier and more controllable in a studio environment or on a closed set somewhere, but the attention to detail should not be overlooked.
At this point you are probably saying.. "I thought this was an article about photographing nude people?" My reason for explaining all of that is to try and illustrate the number of variables that photographers often face during the coarse of a shoot. And that barely scratched the surface. The reality is, there are too many other things going on during a professional photo shoot to stop and leer at the nude models. My goal is to produce the best possible photos that I can and in order to do that, I need to give my full attention to all aspects of the shoot itself. Having said that, it also means that during the coarse of a shoot, I am more likely to be thinking about light and shadows than I am to be thinking about the models tits and ass, which also means the chances for me to become aroused or create any sexual tension is slim to none.
The rapport I develope with the models is also a huge factor in the 'mood' that exists during a shoot. Models are people, and like everyone else, they have their own individual personalities that will dictate how you interact with them. Let me just say that again. MODELS ARE PEOPLE! The photographer is usually the one that sets the tone for the shoot and if you maintain a comfortable and professional environment then the experience should be an enjoyable one for both the photographer and the model, which ultimately should produce a better end result. Many of the models I have worked with and photographed nude are people I have known prior to photographing them and I can't honestly say that it has ever been an awkward experience. I make a conscious effort to try and create an environment that doesn't make it awkward for people. I'm not going to give a tutorial on what you should or shouldn't say or how to behave during a shoot, but for me, maintaining a comfortable and safe environment is important to not only create good photographs, but to uphold my reputation. So things like touching a model are rare and only happen if it is mutually agreed upon.
As for spontaneous orgies... well I can't honestly say that has happened to me. I'm sure if you're Nigel Barker, you've probably had a few models throw themselves at you. The photo shoots I have been involved in are comfortable, fun, and sometimes sexy, but not often sexual. If you want to gawk at some live nude girls and maybe feel a little 'randy', you might as well just go to the strippers. Nude photo shoots are hard work and take a lot of concentration. Don't get me wrong, I consider myself lucky to be able to do what I do. But it's not the sexually charged, boner filled, drool-fest that some people imagine it to be. Which is probably just as well because I don't think my camera is waterproof and I don't like wearing steel underwear.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Nerds or Pornographers
If you visit one of my online portfolio sites such as ModelMayhem or DeviantArt you will often find a small disclaimer in my bio indicating that I am not interested in working with male models. The reason for this is simple and rather obvious. They don't interest me. During a recent discussion about this very fact with a hair stylist and fellow colleague, it was suggested that having a few male models in my portfolio would "round it out" and possibly make it more appealing to prospective female models and clients. The idea being that women who viewed my portfolio, and saw that I photographed more than just other women in various states of undress, would be less likely to see me a pornographer and feel more comfortable working with me without the associated connotation. I have to admit that this notion has stuck with me for a couple of days and I feel there might be some validity to the claim of my colleague.
Nerds or pornographers. Two labels that could seemingly sum up all the people involved in the practice of taking photographs. The latter of the two usually being reserved for male photographers in particular. There is often no redeeming social value given to someone who owns a camera and takes photographs. I find my self constantly defending or legitimizing what I do in a preemptive strike against the impending moral judgment that often accompanies my introduction as a 'Glamour Photographer.' I personally don't see a lot more social value in someone who gets paid millions of dollars to chase a rubber puck around a sheet of ice for 60 minutes. But I bet Sidney Crosby has never had to defend his choice to be a professional hockey player or legitimize what he does.
The struggle to maintain some semblance of artistic legitimacy has not come without cause. Within the industry and art form, there are lots of unfortunate examples of people who undertake the process of photography with no other purpose than to expand their own personal porn collections. These people are known as GWC's (which stands for 'Guy With Camera'). This is someone who's sole purpose for owning and using a camera is to convince their models to disrobe, and in the ultimate scenario, use the intimate nature of the interaction as a precursor to sex. Basically, these guys are douchebags. It's the poor man's version of buying a sports car with the hopes that it will get you laid. But a DSLR is a lot cheaper than buying a Ferrari. The unfortunate part is the damage that people like this do to the legitimacy of the art form and the photographers involved in it.
This all brings me back to the original suggestion that a more well-rounded portfolio is an indication of a "safer" and more respectable photographer. Although on the surface, that is probably true, I personally find it somewhat offensive and ridiculous. With every new model or client that I meet, I find myself going through the dance of explaining, convincing, reassuring that I am not one of the above mentioned people. The assumption is often being made that because I have made a choice to work with female models exclusively, that I must be a pervert. Even a master like Helmut Newton gave up at one point and started calling himself a pornographer because he was sick of having to defend his work and some of the labels that were associated with it.
It would be interesting to get the female perspective on this, especially from women who don't know me or haven't worked with me professionally. To me it's a classic case of judging a book by it's cover. My portfolio is my book. What does that tell you about me?
Nerds or pornographers. Two labels that could seemingly sum up all the people involved in the practice of taking photographs. The latter of the two usually being reserved for male photographers in particular. There is often no redeeming social value given to someone who owns a camera and takes photographs. I find my self constantly defending or legitimizing what I do in a preemptive strike against the impending moral judgment that often accompanies my introduction as a 'Glamour Photographer.' I personally don't see a lot more social value in someone who gets paid millions of dollars to chase a rubber puck around a sheet of ice for 60 minutes. But I bet Sidney Crosby has never had to defend his choice to be a professional hockey player or legitimize what he does.
The struggle to maintain some semblance of artistic legitimacy has not come without cause. Within the industry and art form, there are lots of unfortunate examples of people who undertake the process of photography with no other purpose than to expand their own personal porn collections. These people are known as GWC's (which stands for 'Guy With Camera'). This is someone who's sole purpose for owning and using a camera is to convince their models to disrobe, and in the ultimate scenario, use the intimate nature of the interaction as a precursor to sex. Basically, these guys are douchebags. It's the poor man's version of buying a sports car with the hopes that it will get you laid. But a DSLR is a lot cheaper than buying a Ferrari. The unfortunate part is the damage that people like this do to the legitimacy of the art form and the photographers involved in it.
This all brings me back to the original suggestion that a more well-rounded portfolio is an indication of a "safer" and more respectable photographer. Although on the surface, that is probably true, I personally find it somewhat offensive and ridiculous. With every new model or client that I meet, I find myself going through the dance of explaining, convincing, reassuring that I am not one of the above mentioned people. The assumption is often being made that because I have made a choice to work with female models exclusively, that I must be a pervert. Even a master like Helmut Newton gave up at one point and started calling himself a pornographer because he was sick of having to defend his work and some of the labels that were associated with it.
It would be interesting to get the female perspective on this, especially from women who don't know me or haven't worked with me professionally. To me it's a classic case of judging a book by it's cover. My portfolio is my book. What does that tell you about me?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Why do we care?
For my first blog of 2011, I was trying to think of good topic to start the year off. I came across an interesting article by a Toronto photographer, Andrew Mann, that discusses the age old debate of trying to define the difference between art and pornography. Although I thoroughly enjoying reading Andrew's comments, this so called "hot topic" in the art community is becoming old and tired in my opinion. My initial reaction to the article was for me to weigh in with my own two cents of worthless opinion, but after pausing for a moment I couldn't help thinking that it is really another example, of a number of different issues, that we seem to care about, when I think the real question we should be asking is why? Why do we care? What difference is it really going to make if once and for all we can define the difference between erotic art and porn? The obvious futile nature of the debate really makes me wonder why we do spend so much time and energy on the topic. The subjectivity of art will ALWAYS prevent this question from being answered definitively. Standards about what is acceptable vary from country to country, state to state, city to city and even within parts of a specific community, not to mention, that these changes in standards also occur over time. What I consider art, you may consider porn. What was considered porn in the 1920's would be tame by todays standards.
It all brings me back to my initial question... why do we care? Why, as a community, do we spend so much time worrying about what everyone else is doing or thinking? Why do we spend all this time and energy trying to impose our own personal, political or religious views on our neighbours and then vilifying and policing those that do not share our opinions? We like to pat ourselves on the back and pretend like we live in a society that embraces change and diversity. But the reality is, we don't seem to have a lot of tolerance for people who are different from ourselves in some way. A quick glance at one of the various online art portfolio sites like DeviantArt.com for instance, is an interesting place to see the anonymity of the internet at work, allowing people from around the world to pass judgment and condemn those who do not share their own particular view. I see images on sites like this all the time that "I" would consider questionable, and certainly do not see them as "art." But I also realize that I have made a conscious choice to visit that site and view those web pages, which ultimately means I have to accept responsibility for being there whether I like what I see or not. On a few rare occasions I have had people tell me that what I do isn't art. Fair enough. I respect your right to have an opinion, but what amazes me about this type of interaction is that the person leaving me these messages is under the misconception that I care about what they think. Which inevitably leads me back to asking why do they care?
I've tried to take an "if I don't like it.. don't look at it" approach to viewing other peoples work. As opposed to looking at it, getting angry and then telling them that they are wrong for creating such images and are horrible human beings for doing so, which seems to be the sentiment of many of the moral authority types that feel the need to leave their opinions. It's like a vegetarian going to a restaurant that they know serves meat, and then getting angry when the person next to them orders a steak. Mmmm... steak.
My point is, I think we all spend a little too much time worrying what other people are doing or thinking. Christians spend too much time worrying about who isn't a Christian. Conservatives spend too much time worrying about who isn't right wing. Homophobes spend too much time worrying about who is gay. Art Nude Photographers spend too much time worrying about Glamour Nude Photographers who think their work is considered fine art. Who cares? The answer is, we do. So the real question is, why?
I leave it to you to decide.
It all brings me back to my initial question... why do we care? Why, as a community, do we spend so much time worrying about what everyone else is doing or thinking? Why do we spend all this time and energy trying to impose our own personal, political or religious views on our neighbours and then vilifying and policing those that do not share our opinions? We like to pat ourselves on the back and pretend like we live in a society that embraces change and diversity. But the reality is, we don't seem to have a lot of tolerance for people who are different from ourselves in some way. A quick glance at one of the various online art portfolio sites like DeviantArt.com for instance, is an interesting place to see the anonymity of the internet at work, allowing people from around the world to pass judgment and condemn those who do not share their own particular view. I see images on sites like this all the time that "I" would consider questionable, and certainly do not see them as "art." But I also realize that I have made a conscious choice to visit that site and view those web pages, which ultimately means I have to accept responsibility for being there whether I like what I see or not. On a few rare occasions I have had people tell me that what I do isn't art. Fair enough. I respect your right to have an opinion, but what amazes me about this type of interaction is that the person leaving me these messages is under the misconception that I care about what they think. Which inevitably leads me back to asking why do they care?
I've tried to take an "if I don't like it.. don't look at it" approach to viewing other peoples work. As opposed to looking at it, getting angry and then telling them that they are wrong for creating such images and are horrible human beings for doing so, which seems to be the sentiment of many of the moral authority types that feel the need to leave their opinions. It's like a vegetarian going to a restaurant that they know serves meat, and then getting angry when the person next to them orders a steak. Mmmm... steak.
My point is, I think we all spend a little too much time worrying what other people are doing or thinking. Christians spend too much time worrying about who isn't a Christian. Conservatives spend too much time worrying about who isn't right wing. Homophobes spend too much time worrying about who is gay. Art Nude Photographers spend too much time worrying about Glamour Nude Photographers who think their work is considered fine art. Who cares? The answer is, we do. So the real question is, why?
I leave it to you to decide.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
For Your Consideration #2 - Labiaplasty
I began reading an article on the blog Anne of Carversville regarding the use of the term "vajayjay" vs. "vagina." Which I suppose could be a debate for a later time. But as you might expect, the article points out the fact that North American woman are still not comfortable discussing the subject and have adopted the term vajayjay from the TV show Grey's Anatomy. Further along in the article it mentioned a topic I didn't even know existed. I guess I'll have to renew my subscription to Cosmo so I am more informed on these matters. The topic was Labiaplasty. Which is the practice of performing cosmetic surgery on the labia majora/minora. Some of these surgeries are being performed on woman for reconstructive or corrective reasons. However, the article indicates that this surgery has become more popular in the last 30 months and most of the procedures are being performed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. What does a labiaplasty look like you ask? Here is a link to a clinical franchise that specializes in the procedure and has 18 locations in 12 states in the U.S. There are 16 surgeons on this page, each with their own before & after photos, just like a line-up at Jenny Craig. The obvious irony here is that although American woman apparently cannot bring themselves to use the word "vagina," there is enough of a demand for these cosmetic procedures to justify this one company to have an 18 location franchise across the entire country.
I'm a glamour photographer and a man. Which means I work in a world that is synonymous with aesthetics and vanity, and probably shouldn't be talking about vagina's or vajayjay's for that matter for fear of not only being called a hypocrite but having a bunch of feminists jump down my throat. I am neither condemning nor exonerating this practice. I only present it here for your consideration. But as with many types of cosmetic surgery, I have to wonder who these procedures are really being performed for? Are they for the woman themselves to improve their self esteem, or is it the pressure of the beauty conscious world we live in to have a perfect body? I suppose it really shouldn't be all that surprising. First it was faces, then breasts, you can get butt or ab implants, and now you can have a perfect pussy too. Oops, I mean vagina.
I'm a glamour photographer and a man. Which means I work in a world that is synonymous with aesthetics and vanity, and probably shouldn't be talking about vagina's or vajayjay's for that matter for fear of not only being called a hypocrite but having a bunch of feminists jump down my throat. I am neither condemning nor exonerating this practice. I only present it here for your consideration. But as with many types of cosmetic surgery, I have to wonder who these procedures are really being performed for? Are they for the woman themselves to improve their self esteem, or is it the pressure of the beauty conscious world we live in to have a perfect body? I suppose it really shouldn't be all that surprising. First it was faces, then breasts, you can get butt or ab implants, and now you can have a perfect pussy too. Oops, I mean vagina.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Save it for Facebook
Every once in awhile, I come across a model portfolio on sites like DeviantArt.com or ModelMayhem who are including personal photos of things like their kids, or their dog/cat. This boggles my mind. Not to sound harsh, but I don't care how cute you think your kids are or what your trendy little chihuahua looks like in his new Christmas sweater. Post that stuff on Facebook or open a flickr account and invite your friends and family to view them there. These online portfolios are supposed to help generate interest in people working with you as a model. It's a way to sell yourself and showcase your talents and your aesthetic. As a photographer, if I am researching you as a perspective model and I see photos of your kids on your profile, it makes me think you are not serious about modelling and that you don't have a solid grasp of what the industry is about. It's great that you love your kids or your dog and that you're proud of the photos, but it does absolutely nothing to exhibit your talents or assets. It's called a portfolio, not a family photo album.
A Year in Review
Here are a few highlights from this year and some of the amazing people I have had the opportunity to work with. My sincere thanks to everyone involved including the models, wardrobe designers, MUA's, hairstylists, and anyone else who has helped or supported me in any way to make it possible for me to do what I do.
For more portfolio images, please visit me at:
www.adamgaverluk.com
Model Mayhem
Deviant Art
Flickr
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| Incorrigible |
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| Forsaken |
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| High Class |
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| Feel My Beating Heart |
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| Dana |
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| Beauty in Motion |
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| Reveal |
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| Rapture |
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| Fire |
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| Sweet Heart |
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| Faint Whispers |
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| Placid |
www.adamgaverluk.com
Model Mayhem
Deviant Art
Flickr
All images on this site are copyrighted unless otherwise stated and may not be used without the expressed written consent of Adam Gaverluk Photography.
Copyright ©2010 Adam Gaverluk Photography.
All Rights Reserved.
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Hard Lesson Learned in 2010
I learned a hard lesson in 2010 on my journey to become a better photographer. During a period of several consecutive months, I had three former models (and consequently former friends) all contact me and 'demand' I remove all of their photo's from my various online portfolios. Sadly, one of these women was not only one of my closest and dearest friends, but also the person I considered to be my muse. The reasoning for the change of heart was varied an included; possessive boyfriend's, changes in morality, and believe it or not, even Jesus was a reason given. In all three of these instances, the women involved failed to recognize the time, effort, passion and expense that was put into these collaborative works. If I am not able to use them due to their sudden change of heart on the matter, I am forced to bare both the emotional and economic expense of wasted time and effort. And I bare these costs alone. I feel there was also a failure on the part of the models to understand that they are the subject matter of the work of art, but that does not entitle them to dictate to me as the artist what I do with each piece, especially when there was an agreement and understanding by all parties prior to each shoot. If I were creating a sculpture or a painting based on a posed model, would they still feel they had the right to make the same demands?
I suppose it's fair to say that I am partially responsible for my own troubles. Working with inexperienced models can be problematic. Especially if they are younger and haven't had the foresight to see how modelling may affect them in the future. And working with models who generally are only involved for the ego boost, but aren't serious about modelling, about promoting themselves or about promoting me as the photographer. I've also never been a big fan of release forms. To me there's something intrinsically negative about starting off an artistic endeavour with someone by handing them a legal document. I realize that things like this are just part of the bigger world we live in, and that I have to protect my own interests. Or at least... I realize this now, in hind sight. It's unfortunate that the good natured trust I once began each of these new creative relationships with, has now been replaced by a consent form and a signature.
The summer was painfully slow and relatively unproductive creatively. I miss the relationship, comfort level, trust, and companionship that I shared with my muse. In short, I miss my friend. As I entered into the Autumn months, I had the opportunity to work with a few great new models and broaden my talent pool a little further. As an entirely self taught photographer, I spent a great deal of time reading and teaching myself the craft both technically and creatively. I find it interesting that there was never any mention about the roller coaster ride of ups and downs that would follow in this strange art form. I have made a conscious choice to work with people as a subject matter and even more precisely, to work almost exclusively with female models. I've often had a hard time understanding how many photographers choose plants or wildlife or landscapes as their preferred subject matter. To me the female form is an never ending source of beauty and inspiration. But I suppose it's also fair to say that a plant will never stab you in the back, wildlife won't accuse you of being a pervert, and a landscape will never not show up for a shoot. Despite all of that, I will still choose to ride the roller coaster. I love what I do and that's enough for me.
Looking forward to 2011
I suppose it's fair to say that I am partially responsible for my own troubles. Working with inexperienced models can be problematic. Especially if they are younger and haven't had the foresight to see how modelling may affect them in the future. And working with models who generally are only involved for the ego boost, but aren't serious about modelling, about promoting themselves or about promoting me as the photographer. I've also never been a big fan of release forms. To me there's something intrinsically negative about starting off an artistic endeavour with someone by handing them a legal document. I realize that things like this are just part of the bigger world we live in, and that I have to protect my own interests. Or at least... I realize this now, in hind sight. It's unfortunate that the good natured trust I once began each of these new creative relationships with, has now been replaced by a consent form and a signature.
The summer was painfully slow and relatively unproductive creatively. I miss the relationship, comfort level, trust, and companionship that I shared with my muse. In short, I miss my friend. As I entered into the Autumn months, I had the opportunity to work with a few great new models and broaden my talent pool a little further. As an entirely self taught photographer, I spent a great deal of time reading and teaching myself the craft both technically and creatively. I find it interesting that there was never any mention about the roller coaster ride of ups and downs that would follow in this strange art form. I have made a conscious choice to work with people as a subject matter and even more precisely, to work almost exclusively with female models. I've often had a hard time understanding how many photographers choose plants or wildlife or landscapes as their preferred subject matter. To me the female form is an never ending source of beauty and inspiration. But I suppose it's also fair to say that a plant will never stab you in the back, wildlife won't accuse you of being a pervert, and a landscape will never not show up for a shoot. Despite all of that, I will still choose to ride the roller coaster. I love what I do and that's enough for me.
Looking forward to 2011
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