"Intimate" Artist Talk, ViewPoint Gallery (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

I had a great surprise at the Artist Talk for Intimate; Tanya, whom I most recently photographed in 2010, drove all the way from Moncton to attend the talk! It was great to see her again - even greater to have her request a photo with me, and the two images of her (the lead image in the exhibition, and the 23"x37" print of her in the tub, made in 2007, and featured in the 2012 exhibition The Light Beyond). The best part is we discussed working together some more, so fingers crossed for later in the year!

A Candle-lit First Session (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

Lucie contacted me about modeling late last fall, but between her schedule and mine, it was only now that we managed to get together for a first session. As it is mid-winter, we coulnd't work outdoors, so instead Lucie opted to do a candle session. Much to my surprise, this was my first time working with candle-light in over a decade (the last time I worked with candles was in Fredericton in 2008).

Digital original, 2 frame focus blend

The primary reason for working with candles was to give Lucie as comfortable an environment as possible for a first session; by necessity, the room is pitch black, and the little light that candles put off is both intimate and comforting. Though it was Lucie's first time posing for photographs, she has experience as a life model for artists, so the usual nervousness around posing Nude for the first time was not a consideration. Within a couple of minutes of setting up,  Lucie was sitting comfortably on the floor, lit by the light of a single candle, and the session was underway.

Digital original

Over the 90 minutes of the session, I found myself both retreading familiar ground (making compositions very similar to those made during previous candle sessions), and trying both new compositions and new approaches. The most interesting thing to come put of the session was the potential of multiple candles (for the session, I bought a set of three candle holders from IKEA). Towards the end of the session, I made a number of images lit by two candles, and while the multiple shadows did present a challenge, with an appropriate pose (my favourite being above), the additional candle both provided more light, and some addition complexity to what is, by definition, a pretty minimalist way of working (one model, one candle, and a dark space).

Fall Colours Field Trip #3 (Herring Cove, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

I usually post 3-4 images per blog entry, but there are times when one image is so striking there is no need to publish anything else. This moment, literally the last image made during this field trip, yielding such an image. The irony that it is an image focused on a monochromatic subject is not lost on me, but this is, without a doubt, my favorite fall image ever.

Fall Colours Field Trip #2 (Salt Marsh Trail, Nova Scotia)

Digital Infrared Original

One of the first successes of this field trip was of a small tree on a rocky outcrop. Unusually for me, this image was created hand-held - the walk out to this spot was treacherous, so I'd left the tripod behind so I'd have both hands to steady myself. The low angle (keeping the grasses front and centre in the image) would have been hard to get with the tripod head/neck combo I had on this trip, so it all worked out in the end.

Digital Original

Several times in this session heron's provided focal points for compositions - in this case, as the students and I were making our way back to the car park, a lone bird was stalking fish in the reflection of the sunset sky.

Digital Original, 5 image exposure blend

My last image of the field trip is by far my favorite. I have grown to love twilight light over the years, and this image makes the most of the cool-warm split of light this time of day offers!

Fall Colours Field Trip #1 (Frog Pond, Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

I do not usually respond to colours in photography, but in this case, it was impossible to miss the shockingly red tree. A 15 second-long exposure gave an interesting shimmer to the water, which balances the image well.

Digital original

As soon as I saw this old weathered tree branch, I knew I had to make an image of it. My initial response was in black and white, but I find myself returning time and time again to the colour version, so that is what I am showing here!

Digital original

The final image set I made during this field trip was of the stream flowing out of the frog pond and down to the North West Arm. In numerous places it runs over submerged rocks, which in turn shape the reflections in the water's surface - as the above image shows.

Carol & Ingrid (McNab's Island, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

The last time I worked with a model in Fort McNab was in 2006, with Ingrid and R_. In some ways, this session was a continuation of that, as it focused on working with a pair of models, one of which was Ingrid. There is no argument that different models bring different elements to a session, and R_ had a very different modeling style than Carol does, but the comment element of Ingrid does present a continuity between the sessions, for all that they are separated by 12 years.

Digital infrared original

Without a doubt, the best element of working in such an isolated space is the freedom to create without interruption. The natural pace of a session does much to foster the making of inspired images, and this session really took advantage of this, with the models and moving from space to space as ideas came and went. Usually one model would find a pose in a setting, and the second add their reflection of this, either as a mirror or contrast to the original pose.

Digital infrared original

After working together for numerous session, Carol have worked out a really strong connection between them, and frequently are able to create striking poses that work well together (as opposed to upstaging each other, and diluting an otherwise strong pose with a weaker response). Ultimately, we only worked in three buildings within the fort  before deciding to head back to the beach, and finish the session on the sand and in the harbour.

Digital infrared original

The session ended with a little frolic in the harbour; it is hard to keep Ingrid out of the water, and at the end of warm afternoon, there was no restraining her. Unlike the rivers and streams I prefer to work in, Maugher Beach is devoid or rocks to support the models, so we had to rely upon the minimal pose options available - the best of which turned out to be having Ingrid arch her body out of the water, and capture the sheeting water pulling off her torso.

Carol & Ingrid in the ocean (Long Beach, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

This session was another chance for Carol to try posing working in water, and another opportunity for Ingrid and I to work in one of my favourite locations. The session began with Carol modeling in a small tidal pool - the retreating tide was still breaking over the rock around the pool from time to time, but a long shutter speed evened out any issues that caused, leaving the water around Carol still as glass, and turning the churning sea behind her into a softer, almost mist-like scene.

Digital infrared original

After working with Carol for a time, I shifted to photographing Ingrid (allowing Carol to get dressed and warm up. Our first image set focused on Ingrid posing mostly out of the water, making the most of a beautiful sky and the ultra-wide lens to give the image drama.

Digital infrared original, 2 image stitch

My favourite image of the session is the above, using infrared light to create a lovely luminous feel to the seaweed below Ingrid, and a long exposure to smooth out the water as it broke over the rock on the far side of Ingrid. The two-frame stitch permitted me to complete the composition on the bottom left side without wasting any of the image in a crop.

Digital original

The final image (above) was made during the walk back to the car. The evening light was being diffused by high clouds, and the delicate radiation pattern in the sand around the rock was just beautiful, so I coulnd't resist making this image.

Summer Light Field Trip #3 (Middle Point Cove, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

One of my favorite things about working with infrared light is how it renders water - in this case, to the unaided eye, this water pool had little presence in the scene, but knowing how IR light is absorbed by water, I knew it would be quite different when seen though the infrared modified camera!

Digital original

As the sun set, I made my way out to the western most point of the cove so I could work with the breaking waves in the evening light.

Digital original, 2 image stitch

This was my last composition of the field trip, made in dwindling twilight. The delicate colours in the rocks are reflected in the reflection and sky, making the image come together in a very pleasing way.

Hailey in a River (Ingramport River, Nova Scotia)

Digital original, 8 image mean blend

When Hailey and I first worked together, her primary interest was in modeling in water, so when we planned a second solo session, a river was an obvious choice. I've worked in this particular river since 1996, but given the nature of water, it is different every time I visit it!

Digital original

It was a real pleasure to work with Hailey; a passionate artist, she has a strong body sense, and really enjoys modeling, which shows in the image. In contrast to much of my previous images of the Nude in water, for most of this session I worked with mean blends (blending multiple images of water motion) than extremely long exposures to generate the water motion. This has multiple advantages, the best of which is shorter overall exposures, which makes it easier for the model to hold a pose.

Digital original

 

Hailey & Ingrid on an Island (Shannon Island, Nova Scotia)

This session was several weeks in the planning, and while it deviated from the original idea (heading to a different island), it provided a fabulous opportunity to work with two models in a new, isolated location. After a short boat-ride (thanks to Hailey's connections), the two models and I were dropped off onto Shannon Island, and left to our own devices.

Digital infrared original

The first set of images were made in a drove of dead trees, which had fallen to the ground and turned silver-white. Hailey enthusiastically wormed her way into the branches of the largest tree, and for several minutes, we explored the possibilities. This inspiring and engaging set of images came to abrupt stop when I miss-stepped and fell backwards...no cameras were hurt, but several light cuts and lacerations on my arm and leg made us decide to leave the site, and head to more accessible/level parts of the island.

Digital infrared original

As the session progressed, we found more and more spaces to work with. In an attempt to get away from the harsh sunlight, I asked Ingrid if she'd pose in a small water pool on the shade side of a cliff - and minutes later the above image was born.

Digital infrared original

Towards the end of the session, before we headed back to meet the boat, Hailey and I made some images of her by a small water pool. The light was delicate, and the infrared camera gave a lovely luminosity to Hailey's skin. A great high point to end upon, I look forward to returning to Shannon Island again, and seeing what else can be created there!