The Beautiful Lush

[SamBeasley]

Hey guys,

Just thought I'd post something up from last week. These were supposed to be for an editorial with 60s/70s-inspired clothes, but I'm not sure that really comes across. I dunno, but either way, I'm reshooting this whole thing 'cause I didn't get all the outfits shot that I need. But of all the best shots from this particular shoot, Sam (Samantha, the model, not me ) had a wine glass in her hand, so for now I'm calling this series the Beautiful Lush, heh.





These were once again scanned from the contact sheets (and geez my scanner's dirty!!), but I kinda liked the softness from that for this set, too... I think I'm liking soft pictures here lately for some reason. :P It's probably 'cause I'm just too lazy to scan in the negs, lol.

I've noticed something else, too. I've also noticed that I'm liking more and more where I can't see the model's eyes, or they're kinda obscured or something... Not really sure why. I think maybe because it makes it less about the model, and more about the mood, the feeling, etc.

But anyways, y'all know the drill -- good or bad, lemme know.

Sam

[soupman]

I like the first photo and I do think you captured the early '70s. I think what appeals to me is it has the feel of a photo lost in a trunk for years and recently found. It also reminds me of some old Poloroid photos.

Re: The Beautiful Lush 

[Zipper7]

I have to agree that not having the model looking at you, or seeing her eyes, allows my attention to go to the wine glass. I've noticed that if the model is looking at the camera my attention is always to be drawn to her eyes.

I think that both photos are really good, and the softness works for me!

Thanks,
PTL,
Lee

[jford]

I dunno, Sam. The context of the first image seems inconsistant - she's stylish and polished (and slim, toned, and sexy) but the setting shows paint off the woodwork, kind of beat-up walls - rather like an old hippie hang-out I frequented in the late sixies. But no one there dressed like she did - she's too "mod" for that. Unless there were a party going on. Just my impression. I like the image, but because of that inconsistancy and mystery, rather than because it evokes "60's" to me. Good use of color and texture.
Second image is very good, although there're fewer visual references to the timeframe, IMO. Somehow, the blue cast/tone seems more an 80's thing.
Sam's a beautiful model - excellent features and sense of body.
Man, your images are so much stronger it's incredible.
The Season's best.

[SamBeasley]

soupman -- Funny you mention about the Polaroid look. I had originally wanted to shoot this one in Polaroids (the peel-apart kind, not the instant spit-outta-the-camera kinda), but the fastest peel-apart type they make (iso 100) is just too slow for the light in that room when you're shooting a person. It needed to be at least iso 800, so I just shot film instead, but scanning from the contact sheets instead of straight from the negs helped with that "imperfect" kind of look I think...

Lee -- Thank you!

John --

Originally Posted by jford

I like the image, but because of that inconsistancy and mystery, rather than because it evokes "60's" to me.

Yeah, that's more or less what my teacher told me yesterday, too. And yeah I certainly can see what you mean about the second's lack of context. If anything maybe I can at least play with the color a bit.

And YES Sam's great! Love her to death, and hopefully we'll be shooting again soon. We'll kinda have to, as I need these reshot in time to have the film back and printed by next Friday.

Thanks so much John, I truly do appreciate it, and I always look forward to your helpful comments.

Have a good one!

Sam

[Driftwood]

I have to agree with John. Your current work is excellent and I always look forward to seeing your posts.

I have particularly enjoyed your first image in this post. There is so much of a story in it for me. Enough detail of the rooms in the foreground and background for me to build the rest of the scene in my imagination. So many small details as I move my eyes around the frame.
For me it is almost a perfect shot but I am irritated by the way her right arm cuts through the frame. It is an image I want to study and scan, but I get stopped by that arm every time.

Great work though. It is a rare image that I can enjoy viewing for as long as I have been studying this one.

[SamBeasley]

Hey Kevin, thanks very much for the kind words sir! I really do appreciate it. And yes, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention the arm. Not only did I cut off the end of her arm, but I chopped her legs off at the knees too, lol. (And normally, as per "the rules", I try not crop through the knees, but in this case it didn't seem to bother me as much...) But it's funny, every shot on this roll of film, neither she or I liked very much, but then on the very lost shot I decided to flip the camera horizontal, and we ended up liking this one the best. But when we redo this shoot I wanna see if I can really nail this shot next time, 'cause yeah, to be honest the arm kinda bugs me too.

Thanks again Kevin!