rlfsoso's blog

At/tension: The essence of portrait photography

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:38:47 +0200

by Rachael Dunville

Just as ripe anticipation awaits the development of a roll of film, a similar eagerness is present in the moments before making a photograph with another person. I bask in the fertile scene, paying intimate attention to my subjects, moving fluidly and thoughtfully around the physical hurdles that define their space. Hardly aware of my own automatic dialogue, I listen to their nervous verbal rambling, their secret body language and the chord being plucked by the sensual composer inside of me. The determined sound of the shutter’s kerPLUNK and the successive crank of the film advance serve as mechanical percussion to the emotionally melodic ballad that I am conducting. Our moment of creation has begun.

With empathy ushering my keen eye and innate senses, a harmonic composition evolves among the electrical, euphonic, and aesthetic impressions to which I am most sensitive. I dare to satisfy my subliminal strategy - the playful command and improvisational dance of a spider on his deliberate lattice. Upon mental tiptoe, I orchestrate the event, diffusing any lingering hint of apprehension, yet maintaining the vulnerability that fuels the self-conscious performance both behind and in front of the camera. The glistening silk of my web is spread. I am anxious, full of controlled delight. I have butterflies.

There is a distinct and profound pleasure in making portraits. In an attempt to engage in this mysterious delight, I create artworks that convey and nourish a complex human essence expressed through the intensity, humor, surrealism, and grace of photography.

I approach the transaction of making a photograph of and with another person as an intuitive, magical exchange - a subtle seduction between willing participants. Each image is based on a mutual regard for looking and for being seen, confirming our existence as subjects. We’ve all encountered it: the coquettish glance of flirtation; the courting, cherishing stare from a lover or intimate; flattering or frightening, a potent gaze strikes at our humanity and self-awareness. It creates tension. It highlights desire.

The foundation of my photographs is established in the active crescendo of impulse and the evolving rapport between photographer and subject. This oscillating event displays the complexities of human desire and tension as fundamental to the act of making photographic portraits. Desire often stems from a mutual admiration or identification with the other. Sometimes, an unabashed charge of attraction and palpable lust is exhibited in the dance of cause and effect between the image-maker - loaded camera in hind - and the willing subject.

Tensions are further heightened by the presence of my Hasselblad [Make that my Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645) or Nikon F2 Photomic] camera, a physical and psychological barrier between the photographer and subject. The large black mass of the camera body and loud interrupting noise of its shutter release emphasize the scrutiny of its gaze. More importantly, my subjects acknowledge and respond to my presence as voyeur, as I am aware of their attention on me. I regard attention as a pure form of human electricity, animated by the broadcasting and receiving of focused energy. Often, my photographs record the suspenseful choreography of wanting, needing, diverting, giving, absorbing and distracting our concentrated attention. From this exquisite and complex ensemble, the photographs disclose a delicate, lascivious friction.

Conscientiously recording this scene of visual spell and constant chiaroscuro, my eye - the animated periscope of my compulsion - becomes a zealous collaborator with my heart and the shutter release. kerPLUNK. I observe with the impunity granted only in dreams. My subjects, often unaware of this brimming synergy, respond with a stare of intolerable tenderness and penetrable human depth that makes me ache with the paroxysm of desire that throbs at a poet’s core. This sustained pinnacle of our engagement is transfused on the film itself, leaving an indelible imprint of the immortal mystery of humanity of each photographic encounter.

Music, specifically jazz, deeply influences my photographic process. Improvisation expresses a kaleido-phonic arrangement of the artist’s unique recipe of intuition, skill, intellect, and emotion. The creative potential is rich inside the orchestration and visceral reactions between photographer and subject. Within this exchange, I trust the spontaneous to materialize. It’s the narcotic kernel, the falling in love.

The camera offers me a unique opportunity to explore and communicate a raw moment of humanity - one human to another. The magic and pleasure of making a photograph with another person lies simply in the enigmatic fusion of the sacred human exchange between artist and muse with the intrinsic order of photography itself. The people I photograph can look straight into the camera, and therefore, straight into me. What is unveiled in this hushed interface is a distilled state of emotional undress. The honest curiosity to explore the conditions of looking into someone becomes something sacred and intense. We blush.

Brilliant essay to offer something to think of when taking images of people, taking in account the tools we use…

[slightly edited to offer a different choice of tools]

Double-Portrait. April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr. [Now...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:08:00 +0200

Double-Portrait. April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr. [Now Explored 17-06-2013 No #169]

Shot after a session to make a group photo of my daughter’s kindergarden group. Though the morning light appeared to be not that harsh, the scan in fact clearly shows it was harder than I intended it to be. Should have used some reflector to even the shadows… need Practise Practise Practise… will try to talk one of em to model for me!

ETRSi 2.8/75 PE on Tri-X 400 @400 developed in Spur HCD-S + HCD-2 (2 min 30 sec. agitations then stand; 5:30 min 30 sec. agitations then every minute 3 times, 22°C)

polaroidtransfers: Bleaching Fuji FP-100B negative Something...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:55:10 +0200

polaroidtransfers:

Bleaching Fuji FP-100B negative

Something I yet have to try. But then I’m a bit underwhelmed with the quality of pics off my Polaroid Land Camera 340. The lens is not particular sharp.

From the Circus: Small & Great Acrobats. May 2013...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:27:00 +0200

From the Circus: Small & Great Acrobats. May 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr.

Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm (Non Ai) on Tri-X 400 developed in Spur HCD-S + HCD-2 (2 min 30 sec. agitations then stand; 5:30 min 30 sec. agitations then every minute 3 times, 22°C).

Fooling Around (Sibling’s Love Version), May 2013. on...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:27:00 +0200

Fooling Around (Sibling’s Love Version), May 2013. on Flickr.

believeinfilm: Reblog if you don’t care about...

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:03:05 +0200

believeinfilm:

Reblog if you don’t care about megapixels.

well, one other way to promote film…

Nikon F2 Photomic off to service (always #believeinfilm)

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:52:56 +0200

Today I sent off my beloved Nikon F2 Photomic to Sover Wong for CLA, standard service, maybe putting in night lights. Pricey but recommended by a lot of people… Wiull post some inside images when they come…

An Apple A Day… . April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr.Nikon F2...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:53:09 +0200

An Apple A Day… . April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr.

Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm (Non Ai) on Tri-X 400 @400 developed in Spur HCD-S + HCD-2 (2 min 30 sec. agitations then stand; 5:30 min 30 sec. agitations then every minute 3 times, 22°C)

Afternoon’s Daughter. April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:53:00 +0200

Afternoon’s Daughter. April 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr [Explored 02-06-2013 No #364]

From the Circus: Under the Cupola, May 2013 #believeinfilm on...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:13:00 +0200

From the Circus: Under the Cupola, May 2013 #believeinfilm on Flickr.

From the Circus… let there be Fire! May 2013 #believeinfilm...

Wed, 29 May 2013 16:52:00 +0200

From the Circus… let there be Fire! May 2013 #believeinfilm #filmisnotdead on Flickr (for the time being).

Bellamy Hunt: Why shoot film? #believeinfilm #filmisnotdead

Tue, 28 May 2013 12:38:13 +0200

Bellamy Hunt: Why shoot film? #believeinfilm #filmisnotdead

Easter Preparations. March 2013 still on Flickr. ETRSi 2.8/75 PE...

Mon, 27 May 2013 16:59:00 +0200

Easter Preparations. March 2013 still on Flickr.

ETRSi 2.8/75 PE on new Kodak Portra 800 @400, developed and scanned by FINDLab, USA.

Dressman. March 2013 on Flickr. Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C...

Sat, 25 May 2013 21:52:00 +0200

Dressman. March 2013 on Flickr.

Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm (Non Ai) on New Kodak Portra 400 @400, developed and scanned by FINDLab, USA.

I should add – I am still on flickr – though heavily disgruntled with the „new flickr“.

a) it’s much slower to load and to do things

b) cannot get it looking the way I’d prefer, view content and groups at a glance etc. etc.

c) feel ripped off as a pro-member, automatic renewal happened on May 22 (!)

Believeinfilm: bought 10 Tri-X 400 (135) today

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:20:44 +0200

now I REALLY have to develop those 10 rolls…

hogwong: GIVEAWAY giving away one of my original 1960s diana...

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:57:01 +0200

hogwong:

GIVEAWAY

giving away one of my original 1960s diana cameras - simply reblog this photoset & follow and i will pick a winner in the next few days :)

prints available from: http://society6.com/JohnBozinoff

#believeinfilm #filmisnotdead

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:38:48 +0200

#believeinfilm #filmisnotdead

What I Shot Today: Circus coming to Town #believeinfilm

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:40:45 +0200

Well, my son’s school is going to have something special this week, no normal class but projects and this year it’s going to be Circus… Circus Quaiser the kids learn to perform and will have performances to show off what they learned every evening.

This morning they put up the tent and my children and me sneaked onto school grounds to watch (and me taking some pictures of course: Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645) 2.8/75 PE on new Kodak Portra 160 & Tri-X 400 @400) until the schoolkeeper threw us out (was not so bad ;-) ).

No images processed yet, but they will come. I will try to shoot tomorrow night when our son’s class will have their show…

Reading. March 2013 on Flickr.Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C Auto...

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:13:17 +0200

Reading. March 2013 on Flickr.

Nikon F2 Photomic Nikkor-S.C Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm (Non Ai) on New Kodak Portra 400 @400, developed and scanned by FINDLab, USA.

P P Reflection. March 2013 on Flickr.Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645)...

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:12:58 +0200

P P Reflection. March 2013 on Flickr.

Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645) 3.5/150 PE on Tri-X 400 @400 developed in Spur HCD-S + HCD-2 (2 min 30 sec. agitations then stand; 5:30 min 30 sec. agitations then every minute 3 times, 22°C)