During the summer semester I continued to make portraits in different ways. I continued taking pictures of strangers and also took a class called Portrait Magic at the Maine Media Workshops with commercial photographer, and occasional New York Times contributor, Matt Cosby. Below are some highlights. This is a mix of images I took during Matt’s class and one I shot on my own either in Maine or on Cape Cod. While Matt and I shoot very differently, we really hit it off and had a great time following each other around and reviewing each other’s process.
I’ve also been experimenting with the tableaux/directorial style of image making. I found some battery operated holiday lights and used them on two of my recurring models, Kate and Suzi. I chose Kate to be my low-brow Aphrodite/Venus. I placed her on the beach in an inflatable swan, one of Aphrodite’s most recognizable symbols. I thought of the cheesy holiday lights as fake pearls.
I also shot Suzi using the holiday lights, but thought of her as Puck from Midsummer Night’s Dream, “that merry wanderer of the night.” Suzi has always looked puckish to me. The reflected light on her face gives her a spritely quality.
I have plans to make images based on the myth of Sisyphus using a large beach ball. I will work on those images in next week or so.