I’ve spent a lot of time in the desert. It’s fun to walk around and see pictures, make pictures and be away from society. It’s quiet. Wind and critters are all you can hear. It’s always nice working with someone who likes to look for pictures too. Meghan’s like that. No jabbering on, just looking with me. It helped tremendously when she saw a Manzanita bush and commented on how cool it looked. I wouldn’t have paid it any attention. I did though because I’ve learned to listen to what I like to call “desert magic.” Subtle hints that lead you to something profound or magical. Her mention of the manzanita bush was that. There was a dragon there in the shadows.
The Dragon - @2010 Zoe Wiseman - model: Meghan Claire
I have always wanted to print a book of my work that I could be satisfied with. When I think of art books I envision each page to be a representation of a print that I would make. So many self publishers fall short of this goal and really don’t care about the quality of each page, but more so the quantity of books they can get through their printers which aren’t usually calibrated frequently. When the printers aren’t calibrated frequently this causes each book to be printed different from the next which could be one of the issues, but there are several. As you can see on my site I sell a book printed by Blurb. I’ll be taking that down and “discontinuing” sales of DISCONTINUde as the quality is not up to my standards. They missed my deep blacks in ALL of my prints. There is no detail. It’s just black. One of the prints I’m attaching in this posting … Achilles Knee (model, Stephanie Anne)… none of the trees to the left of the picture even show up in the book. They are just a black blob, as are each of the prints in the book. And that’s a shame because the size of the book is really cute and square (5×5) like my photos and I wanted it to be a nice little book one could keep. And many of my sepia toned images turned green. So, even if I used a little color to try and get their printers to behave in a manner that would look good for my prints, nothing worked. I even calibrated Photoshop to use their color calibration. It was really disappointing. This was also to be a book that they would showcase at an event so people could see the quality of their work. It was so disappointing for me that I told them they couldn’t showcase my book. I spent days and weeks putting that book together too.
A&I had printed a couple of my photographs in their books for group shows they had which I was a part of, and both of my photographs looked excellent inside of Nude X and I Spy With My Plastic Eye. When asked to do a show of my work and a book, I went into the book making process with a lot more optimism and was not sorry for it. Creating a book is a lot of work. It’s much more than just slapping an image on a page. It takes time to create a flow, work out where you need to put type, what font to use, which image should represent each theme. So when you spend that much effort to layout and creating an art piece with your photography and then paying for it, it’s so nice when it all comes out perfect. My book Fiat Lux is beautiful. And I’m not tooting my own horn or A&I’s because they gave me a show. I’m blunt… if something sucks I usually say so straight away. I’m not getting paid to say this either. They aren’t sponsoring me, I’m paying for my own publishing. They really do care about quality and it’s obvious that they all enjoy seeing a great product come from their lab. In fact, I’m sure they would be embarrassed if something subpar ever exited the building.
I’m very excited for people to see and purchase this book during my opening… and will not hesitate to add my signature to it because it is something I definitely approve of. When I held it for the first time yesterday, I turned into a giggly little girl. See you all next Thursday the 18th!
I will be exhibiting 10 years of fine art nudes at A&I Photographic in Hollywood. Opening reception is February 18, 2010, 7PM to 10PM. A&I will be producing a book for the show, as well as a special limited edition book titled Fiat Lux.
50% of all proceeds will benefit The Weingart Center. They help many people here in Los Angeles transform themselves from being homeless to productive members of our community. I lived in downtown Los Angeles for a year at 4th and Main Streets directly in the midst of skid row in a refurbished artist loft. The brutal inhumanity of it all affected me. I have decided to give 50% of all proceeds to an organization which focuses on transforming these lives and helping them get off the street.
On February 18, 2010 I’m having a solo showing of my work at A&I Photographic in Hollywood. I think I’ve picked out a few “THESE ABSOLUTELY MUST BE ON THE WALL” images. I’m also thinking of making little series of 5×7′s in boxes to sell at the opening reception for very reasonable prices. I’ll post some of those series here as the time draws nearer. But, these are absolutes.
I thought I’d blog about this because I’m sure I’m not the only photographer who has a hard time choosing what images to put in a show. I mean, it’s hard to separate ourselves from our work sometimes. Sometimes we are overtly critical with ourselves, while other times we aren’t critical enough. How do you know when you have a healthy balance? The moon is also in Scorpio (my sun sign) which probably isn’t helping all that much because we Scorps are a passionate lot.
I’m having a showing of my work in Hollywood on February – the 18th being the opening reception. So, I have to narrow down my work to about 30 images. The last time I had a show it was easy… I was teaching a Holga workshop in the gallery and the show needed to be about my Holga work obviously. No problem picking out prints for that. But, now… and 5 years rolling by since that show… I’ve shot A LOT OF WORK! And the photos that were in that last show, they probably won’t even make the cut now. Maybe one.
So I sit here with negatives up to my neck, my hair frazzled like static electricity from the negatives rubbing together then touching my hair (well pulling it out) is creating a funny image of myself.
My plan started with making a mock up drawing with pen and paper of the gallery space. Drawing out how many prints I could fit on the wall. Then once I looked at all the photos I wanted to include, and thought about all the models I didn’t want to disappoint if they weren’t hanging on the wall, and the economy, I thought, “Well, maybe I can make a little piece of the wall a group of 5×7′s that people could afford to take home.” But, subliminally I think it was only so I could add more photos to my show. With 16×20 pictures framed I can fit 30. With a little piece of the wall dedicated to 5×7′s or 4×4′s, I can fit 40. And if I have a couple of really BIG prints say… 36″, I can fit 36. All the things you must think of!
Then I started freaking out thinking I needed to make it all about one project. Or even all about one place or model. (I know it isn’t going to happen, but, in my head that’s what was happening)
So, this is my self doubt blog. Putting it out there and letting it fade away to the confines of cyberspace, if they are even confined.
The very first model I actually found to work with me, other than my model friends from New Orleans, was Candace Nirvana. I have more photographs of her than any other model I’ve worked with. No offense to the other amazingly talented models I’ve taken photographs of, it’s just that I’ve always worked with Candace… from day one. I know how she moves, where to follow, and how to make her look good. Of course the other models I work with I find this click too, but they aren’t retiring. My work will not be the same without her.
We can get a shot even if there are only 4 frames in which to do it in. Or in this case… I had exactly 17 frames… and I got 17 good photographs. Photographs or affirmation of friendship… or 1/60th of a second permanently captured for eternity… or is it a knowing that makes it work? I don’t know. But I’m glad it works. I’m glad I have had her in my photographic life, but more so as a friend. I’ll really miss making photos with her. I’m certain I’m not the only one who feels this way. She’s given many photographers some of their best work. I salute her!
We made these images this October in Mission Beach, Australia. Normally I wouldn’t show each and every one, but I thought you’d all like to see what she can do in 17 frames.. or what we can do. I guess I’m there too. haha.
I bought a lot of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Carlotta loves circus freaks. The flowers turned into props after talking about Circus Side Shows. You can plan anything and everything, but sometimes inspiration is spontaneous.
Everything was shot with Polaroid Type 55 using a Speed Graphic.
I love working with Toy cameras. A lot of my work has been done with a Holga with a Polaroid Back attached to it, using Type 85 Positive/Negative film. The Diana was the original Toy cam and I was lucky to buy one of Susan Burnstine’s. Each toy camera has it’s own soul – so to speak – meaning that the camera’s are not uniform and each individual camera has some little glitch on it that transforms your images differently. Normally I would never attempt to photograph with a toy camera in the shade, just because it’s basically an F16 camera that requires a lot of sunshine. But this particular Diana does fairly well in the shade if it has at least a little F16 sunshine somewhere in the frame. For some reason that helps it. I have no idea why. It’s just a toy!
The book my image “Solar Energy” was published in has now been released by 1x.com. 205 different photographers with one photo each are all included inside this collective. You can purchase a copy by going to http://1x.com/photobook Jazmine Dominique is the beautiful model in the photo. […]
I’m thinking about Dr. Martin Luther King today. The dream still lives. This monument to General Lee still stands in New Orleans though. Maybe as a reminder, and maybe people take it the wrong way, but if we don’t recognize hate and fear when it raises it’s head this proudness of Lee will stare down […]
After my last print sale I thought I’d write a little on how you can buy one of my prints. I don’t usually advertise that my prints are up for grabs… but they are. I get emails sometimes asking me if this print is for sale or that print is for sale. If you see […]
I have so many stories to tell. I feel like life moves so fast and sometimes we forget to stop and put things into perspective. I always revert to 1993 for some reason. I was such a punk. Taking off with my best friend across the country with no real rhyme or reason to it. […]
I just found this. I used google translator for that link, the text is all in Swedish. Ralf Stelander of 1x.com mentioned me talking about his site. Thought that was nice. Thanks Ralf. I’ll be in their soon to be released collective book this year with my image Solar Energy with the amazing model, Jazmine Dominique. I’ll […]
Like
Zoe Wiseman Modeling
Zoe Wiseman