The last shoot with Katie, we went over to a small park nestled in the higher reaches of Beverly Hills. There’s a reservoir up there, nice and quiet, great place to take some pictures.
Usually. But this time, there’s people everywhere, even though it’s only early afternoon on a weekday, a time I’d have thought most Beverly Hills folks would either be in their offices counting their money or in their homes, bossing their help around.
(I can say these things, I grew up there.)
So, the problem is simple. People. Don’t like ‘em. Especially when they’re watching me take pictures. That’s the very reason I tend to avoid public places when shooting. Secluded parks, friends’ homes, lesser-known beaches, under a pier. I like quiet places with few people.
It’s not necessarily about intimacy, about someone else horning in on the relationship between myself and the model.
It’s not even worry, as Katie had herself a few outfit changes that required her to be mostly naked several times, and any one of those times could’ve seen us eyeball to eyeball with a cougar, or a bear, or a ranger.
It’s about me not liking other people watch me. Not the model, me. It’s about being able to hum to myself, make weird gestures as I try to figure out a shot, or demonstrate how I’d like a model to pose.
Because I, if you haven’t figured it out by now, am a strange person. And with that comes a good deal of eccentricities while shooting. At the very least, I’ll occasionally be in an awkward pose trying to get the angle of the shot just right.
And the last thing I need is some stranger ogling me and my model. This is not a show, I am not a circus animal.
Circuses are awesome, and I would love to be a magician or something. But I am not, so do not even think about looking at me.
I am a fairly private person, and I also detest having to deal with people I don’t know who will inevitably ask inane questions about what we are doing out in the woods with a big pink sheet and a half-naked woman.
I do not like having to explain myself.
I am basically an 80 year old man in the body of an extremely attractive 31 year old.
And the older I get, the less I want to deal with anything I don’t want to deal with.
Why do I dislike strangers watching me while I shoot? Because I fear and hate their judging eyes.
So, no judging eyes, no watching during a shoot. Let me work my magic, I’ll show you pretty pictures, how’s that?
Do you have assistants?
When I’m doing a shoot that I feel is important in some way to me, something special, I do not want an assistant. I want it to be just the model and me. Anything else is a distraction, an uncomfortable something that I want away.
But if the shoot is conceived by a few different people, something that not just mine, bring it on! Assistant, MUA’s, on watchers, the public, random everyone is welcome. I even welcome it!
wow, i mean i like your photos and such but full of yourself much ? people are gonna stare no matter what, and dude no body cares if you grew up in baverly hills or what is your relationship with the model’s you are shooting, if they do it’s their business fuck em’ and if you dont like to explain yourself then dont, coz i really dont see the point of you writing on here about it.
hmmm that being said i think i loved seeing/reading more of your previous entries which is less about you but whatever. it kind of annoyed me alittle when i was reading this one.. ahhh maybe it’s just me.. hmmm
karrie,
I think you’re reading into it too much and missing the humour. And when artists create work… it’s usually a big reflection of their personality. (in my opinion)