Of Flesh & Bone

Here are some more photos by the same photographer who took the 'Golden Flame' images from yesterday's blog. Nigel Johnson was fairly new to working with models but has already been steaming ahead shooting with so many great people and creating some brilliant work. We had such an awesome first shoot and have another booked soon, again at White Space Studios, in Chesham (FYI, the gorgeous Madame Bink is doing a whole studio weekend there 18th and 19th June, so I'd recommend you book some time with her whilst she's in the area at such a cool setting).

These first ones were when we started experimenting with some luscious sidelighting. The brown backdrop helps seperate the figure from the backgroud, and adds that warm, chocolatey, sensual feel.

I made a little squeel when I saw the one of my collarbone. The way the light dances over the shape of the bone and texture of the skin, is just amazing. So we carried on with this effect of the light skimming over my body, and changed to a light from above.

Now... these next pictures are really something I adore. I don't think I've had any backshots of me taken quite like these. I am totally in love with their Geiger-like, statuesque look.
I've always enjoyed images that show the human form, and specifically - the structure and the strength of it as opposed to it just looking pretty. Of course it's great to show the lovely soft and feminine curves of the female figure, complimented with warm gentle light that wraps around all the nice bits and flatters any 'imperfections'. But I also love images that show the body in others ways - strange, mysterious, creature-like, bare and raw.

It won't surprise me if a few people think these are unflattering or that I look 'too skinny'. They are entitled to their opinion, and a healthy body image is important of course, and for the record just in case you hadn't noticed I am a completely healthy weight and size, but I also know plenty of people lighter and thinner than me who are just as healthy and happy as they are. It does bother me sometimes how the appearence of bones can be so quickly and wrongly associated with illness and emaciation. I think with modern media, 'beauty', airbrushing, 'image' etc, some people forget what we are made of. We are not perfect barbie dolls, we are live animals made of bones, and muscle, and fat, and veins and tubes and blood and cells. And it's ALL frickin awesome. I love my spine and ribs in these pictures, the strength and design of it all. Our skeleton and muscles are phenomenal. The form they create and what it allows us to do is a complete thing of beauty, a magnificant and complex shell growing with, supporting and protecting us through our life.

It's so cool how a change in lighting can make such a difference. We saw what an interesting effect it had and all I had to do was keep wiggling around, letting it hit and miss me at varying angles. The stark deep shadows and selected harsh highlights make the images almost abstract, like strange and wonderful ornaments, so elegant and intriguing. I love how it shows the texture of the skin and all the lumps and bumps and dents in places I didn't even know I had them. Less so the usual 'a celebration of the beauty of the female back' - these are more just an awesome capture of the curious structure, strength and mortal organicness of the human being. Equally as beautiful and incredible to look at as a softer, more glossy style. A work of art!