I'm not shooting much at the moment due to some other little thing taking over my life :-)
But, looking at my images and the sorts of stuff I have shot I have a couple of questions;
I know I'm cheating a littler as I'm not actually asking for critique :-)
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Art nude in landscape and also focus on that as it may get you some more great collaborations
I am always bemused by this question - for anyone not doing it for pure cash, we are unlikely to know this. For me, it is always something that I admire a lot but believe I am no where near good enough, so I either shoot it and do not post it, or do not shoot it as I believe I am not ready. You must have something in that catagory you enjoy but have not done or shown us
Thanks Gerry.
I guess in answer to the second question it would be shooting guys. I've shot only 3 guys in the last couple of years and only one nude. I don't think I have ever used the images on a portfolio but you can see some of the results here: http://russjfreeman.com/portfolio/tags/male/
I've never shot anything "adult" and don't really wish to but beyond that I think I've tried everything. I guess "sports/fitness" would be an interesting challenge as I've only done it once and in my view I only got one decent shot: http://purpleport.com/portfolio/artemis/image/7617/model/
The one thing that I love about your shots, Russ, is your portrayal of the sky. It may not be a big thing but some of the shots you post have magnificent skies and I think that was the first thing I noticed in a couple of the shots that really adds an extra dimension. But I agree with Gerry about the nude in landscape being very strong.
To get out of your comfort zone I'd say a series of self portraits, and working with multiple models on one shoot maybe? And, of course, more studio fashion/nude type shots?
@Kirk - I can thank a decent polarizer for the skies, and a lot of luck :-) I'm either a cloud or clear sky junkie and the clouds have to be interesting . Anything in between and I struggle.
I have tried self portraits and they are damn hard so that might be a good idea and as Artemis is away doing a mini-tour of the South West perhaps this weekend might be a good time. I have a great face for radio but most of my selfies are, in my view, just terrible.
Thats what I mean Russ - I shoot some things that don't do a great deal for me on occasion purely for the education - to learn something. If it is a person I am working with, I would never dream of saying that. But what really motivates me is to do the things I really admire but cannot get results that please me enough - That is real motivation for me. The stuff I enjoy and am fairly competant, I also look to improve, but I guess its making a big change that is the real draw.
Real flair for composition, which extends across the genres you shoot. Eg, the shots you made with Artemis and Ben are as involving as the dramatic nude beach shoots.
Extend that to the beach shot of Artemis in the long black dress and wide brimmed hat and it suggests you could do innovative high fashion stuff.
You have a lot of monochrome work and it is of a really high standard, so maybe it is more colour work that will take you outside your comfort zone?
Obviously Mono nudes are your strongest images, personally I don't think for one moment thats what you should concentrate on though!
I think the level your at with this work is going to see only slow progress from here, there is not a lot to improve on in this respect so any growth is going to be small.
I would love to see more colour, the other end of the spectrum vibrant, movement, intensity.
I have always said you have a knack for making the candid fleeting moments look like they must have been staged.
I would love to see what you could do with colour and the same approach
Russ Freeman said
I have a great face for radio but most of my selfies are, in my view, just terrible.
Russ, believe me, I have a face for Morse code, but throw a little anonymity in there and jobs a good 'un... Worse case scenario, you can always pass it off as humour.
Also, I have been playing with the idea of getting a decent polariser, only playing at the moment though.
Russ Freeman said
I have tried self portraits and they are damn hard so that might be a good idea and as Artemis is away doing a mini-tour of the South West perhaps this weekend might be a good time. I have a great face for radio but most of my selfies are, in my view, just terrible.
Self-portraits don't have to involve your face. In pretty much all of my self-portraits I don't use my face. Not that I'm suggesting you start photographing your bits, like I do... AHEM. But you get what I mean.
Personally, as someone else mentioned, I really really liked the series of shots you did a while back with Artemis in the big hat and sheer dress. Those are some of my favourites. And also the stuff that you shot in the mist one day, they were running shots if I remember rightly. I quite like it when you do things that aren't as planned, because they capture something more authentic, which is my biggest love when it comes to photography. Sort of capturing moments and that sort of thing. I'd love to see more of that type of thing. :-)
I don't think doing more colour work is really a big deal at all or something you should focus on or worry about. I don't know why some people pay so much attention to it or expect you to have an equal amount of both in a body of work. You don't. There are no rules. And I don't think it matters. That's just me though.
Edited by elegia
I think I'd be interested in seeing you research alternative process' and see how they impact your work. For example there are the obvious ones such as chemical developing in the darkroom, I don't know if you started with film or digital. But also what about things like chemical printing from a digital print using the transfer method? That might be interesting.
I wonder how much preparing your work for offline viewing you have done, and if that would add something to your methods of creating. For instance perhaps begin to think about an exhibition. I think the trick there is not just to get twenty prints of your work hung on the wall, but experiment with what transferring your digital images into physical media can bring to the exhibition.
I've been thinking about colour for a while. I either shoot with the intention of mono or colour and prefer mono so I never really see what they may look like as colour. Maybe I'll give it a go with some recent shots I took of a male model.
I've never exhibited (nearly did once) and the only printing I do are for the kitchen. I wouldn't know where to begin arranging an exhibition and with no confidence of actually selling anything I don't think I could stand to have a bunch of prints hiding behind the sofa afterwards. I'd be delighted if someone bought a print of mine though.
I can print at A4 and have had a couple of prints done at A3 - and yes, they looked SO much better than on screen.
I have a film camera but always forget to use it. I don't think developing my own films and prints is viable (time and money constraints get in the way) right now but I think it might be interesting.
Why do you have to sell prints from an exhibition? It could just be the back room in your house with a few beers and a few mates.
Our local arts centre allows you to hire exhibition spaces for less than a hundred quid a week. You don't have to sell anything, it's just a space to put your work in so that other people can see it. :)
One of the most satisfying arts groups I've been a member of was a student drama group. I was their technical manager for two years. We used to put guerrilla type productions on in all sorts of weird locations. For instance once we did Titus Andronicus in an old brewery warehouse. Full lights and sound, non-traditional venue. How about exploring something like that?
Edited by Charlotte
Strongest genre - Well not a genre as such but i personally think you are one of the best black and white photographers that frequent the 3 main model / photographer sites and ive always enjoyed the artistic work with an erotic feel to them
What should I focus on to push beyond my "comfort zone" -I think more of the same but with a twist - Maybe get a team involved and shoot high fashion with a narative that ends up with your stamp of mono art / erotic nudes type thing :)
I enjoy the way you see shapes and the way you capture the human form. You also have a good eye for composition. Frankly, I have always enjoyed your work and am still amazed at how much you have gotten from that small room with a window. Some of the shots you did in the woods with the torn stockings were beautifully done. (the ones with the stocking over the face being pulled) I am not sure how important it is to go past our comfort zones. Especially when I am not 100% sure if you mean comfort zone as far as subject matter or comfort zone as far as technical or techniques. I think everyone should push further and try things that they have never done, if anything just to see what can be learned from it. Focusing just on one thing will eventually make you lose your passion for it.
I thinks it's unfair to tell anyone what they should shoot. I believe it's something you need to want to do, enjoy it and learn from it.
I also have to agree with Charlotte, Last year when I had a small part in a gallery show I was very surprised by the transition from just posting images online to printing them. I had to rethink a few things, do some different post because of the finally presentation. That helped me a bit. So I agree it is something to consider.
Edited by Henry LaMour