The Art behind the Photograph Part 10

In 2010, I took a job at a bar in the French Quarter working security. As I’ve mentioned before, most of the people I’ve photographed, I’ve worked with in some capacity.

The minute I saw F.D., I knew he had that certain something and I wanted to photograph him. There is a process in getting someone to pose in front of my camera. Its all part of the Art from start to finish. The introduction has to be just right. A professional doesn’t want to come across as being creepy.

I remember when I first started taking photographs and I’d meet girls and I’d ask them to pose they looked at me as if I only wanted to photograph them naked. I always give the individual the choice, but my focus has always been fashion. Some of the sexiest photos are of those with their clothes on. Of course everything is in the eye of the beholder.

Now, back to our model, F.D. he was working as a bar back and I had explained to him I would be in town for a while and if it might be possible to photograph him. He smiled and said he was looking for a photographer. This is one of those times that I feel it was meant to be. There are many photographers in the city. I was at the right place at the right time. I scouted a few locations. Some of which I had used before, but I’m always looking to try something different. I often do pictures with people just to do them. Perhaps the model I wanted wasn’t available or I open my mouth about an idea and someone will say they would be up for the challenge. Then I just go through with it. Sometimes I really get something I like from the experience.

Some of the shots with F.D. were original and some I had tried with another model, but I didn’t get what I was looking for. I photographed F.D. on two occasions and I know if its meant to be, somewhere down the line I’ll have another opportunity.

Coming up: The Nexx Fazz of Models, Coca, Jack









Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Check out some of my art at Bluecanvas.com/Oznol. Some of these are for sale. Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).
Taking it one day at a time and keeping the faith.

Check back and see where this journey leads. Check out the links below to my other blogs and videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

The Art behind the Photograph (Models) Part 7

Thinking about whether or not one is serious about modeling or just wants to look like one. My motto was don't just look like one, be one. Formal wear is a big deal in NOLA and I figure its important to have at least a few pics in a suit or tux.

Sometimes you don’t actually remember how something happens, but when you have a reminder then you know it did. Ron M. This is an interesting story. We used to work together. There were only a few people that new anything about what I did outside of work. Gradually I’d begin talking about the fashion shows or the film festivals. Etc. One day I had brought my portfolio to work because one of the ladies I worked with had a daughter that wanted to get into modeling.

Winter wear is also an important part of a portfolio, but I was mainly testing out props and seeing what looks worked best. There wasn't much that Ron didn't look good in and once he got hooked on being in front of the camera he was game for just about anything.

Anyway, word must have gotten out and a few of the guys in the warehouse wanted to the see the pics. Mainly, they wanted to see the girls in swimsuits. We guys are a strange breed because as much as we don’t like to think of ourselves as being vain we really are. Sometimes even more so than women.

Part of the first photo shoot when I getting the subject used to being in front of the camera.

All it take is getting in front of the camera once and seeing yourself in a way you’ve never seen yourself before and you are HOOKED!!! That happened to be the case with Ron. Of course not everyone has what it takes, but most people with the right energy, persona and photographer to work with them can take a good picture.

As with the majority of the people I photograph, I have my favorite photograph and this happens to be the one for Ron. It happened purely by accident because I don't like models to take risks that could hurt them. The model was willing to do what was needed to get the best shot.

A photographer can only do so much, but with the right model, art can be created.

Coming up:  Dlonzo Models, Wilbert, Ron C., Dino, Carolyn, Curtis Scott Hall, DjayD, The Nexx Fazz of Models F.D. McDermott, Coca, Jack

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Check out some of my art at Bluecanvas.com/Oznol. Some of these are for sale. Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).
Taking it one day at a time and keeping the faith.

Check back and see where this journey leads. Check out the links below to my other blogs and videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

The Story behind the Photographs (Models) Part 1

A friend, also a photographer created this image of himself for his business cards several years ago. I liked the image so I copied it for myself. Currently we are both using the images for our business cards.

After years of taking pictures, I made a decision that I wouldn’t ask anyone to pose in a way that I wouldn’t be comfortable doing. Of course if I didn’t look a certain way then I wouldn’t pose. Sometimes I’ll create an image with someone else and wonder what would I look like if I were in that pose.

This was one of the first images I did of myself for my portfolio when I was not happy with how other photographers were doing pictures and charging so much. This opened the door for new opportunities.

I used myself in a lot of pictures that I would sometimes re do with other would be models. As much as I admire some photographers I didn’t want to copy them and instead chose to copy myself. If I find a person I wish to photograph or that is looking for something different I’ll go back and decide which photograph I’d like to do a new take on it. Coming up with new ideas for photographing a person and keeping them safe becomes limited. So for a lot of photographers that’s where digital photography comes in. I must admit I’ve done a few things with different programs, but if I’m going to use a program I’m going to try and do something really different. As I’ve stated many times, artists do think alike so you’re bound to see something that you’ve created without evening seeing another artists’ work.

I did a photo shoot of someone in biker shorts and I wondered what would I look like in them; this was the result. I've gotten lots of comments on this one.

How I got into modeling was really by accident. I had always wanted to get into acting, but I was steer in another direction and it wasn’t until 1982 that someone even mentioned modeling to me. One of my supervisors, Janice C. had taken a Polaroid of me at one of the company functions and said I should think about modeling. A few months later I was without a job and I had gone on an interview with one of my cousins who was interested in modeling. There seemed to be some interest in me, but I didn’t take it seriously. I wasn’t 6’ tall and I didn’t think I was that attractive. As I’ve learned over the years beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So just because you may not like something about yourself doesn’t mean someone else might think the same.

Black and White had become my signature colors. I was lucky enough that Benneton, Oaktree and Chess King allowed me to only where these colors. I did where color in other shows especially when I modeled Willi Wear by the late designer Willi Smith. I had begun experimenting with non traditional backdrops to create my art.

There was a person I photographed and they left some biker shorts behind and I decided to see what would I look like in them. The finished project for me was this photograph which I got many comments on.

The image below sort of inspired this image of myself. I was just curious as to what I would look like. I was quite surprised. Not everyone can get away with wearing leather.

I never thought all leather would be great for me to wear, but I did have quite a few leather jackets. I never owned anything else because I just thought paying as much for a pair of pants and never having an opportunity to wear them was a waste of money. Of course if I had bought a motor bike then it would have made a difference. I always wanted a motor bike, but never invested in one. I borrowed some leather gear from a friend and I did a series of pictures that just blew me away.  Years before the only other person I had ever photographed in leather was Don E.

This image I am really proud of the way it came out. I was using the traditional back drop and lighting. There's a mystery within the art as the partial shadow lurks behind the image.

These are images of myself and images that inspired the photographs. This is the art that I create.

I've been lucky to have had so many people just me with creating a vision that we would both cherish.
Come back to see and read the stories behind the ART. Become a follower, you can even do it anonymously.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.