Model shoots, regular work, and some nudes...

Yes I know, I'm really bad at updating sometimes. But regular boring life and work comes in the way of doing photography sometimes. But I've done a couple of model shoots since last blog update. 

I'm up to my third with the bubbly, lovely Susan and a new one with gorgeous Hanna, which included a few nudes which was fun (but damn those mosquitos). Photos from these three shoots are in my portraits section. 

And tomorrow I'm going to Copenhagen and I'm going to do a shoot with a U.K. model named Anna Quinn, which is going to be fun. And I'm going back to Denmark on Saturday to do a mostly nude shoot with a model called Diviana, which is also going to be fun. 

These will probably be up in my portraits section by the end of the weekend.

New model shoot

Had the pleasure of meeting a nice, bubbly and gorgeous woman this Sunday by the name of Susan. We met for a "fika" (as we say in Sweden, which pretty much means a cup of coffee), chatted for a while and then had a test shoot in the small city of Helsingborg. 

Susan hadn't been photographed "seriously" before, but I find her to be very natural, fun and easy to work with even if she wasn't experienced as a model. I think it went really well and I'm definitely gonna shoot with her again, next time with more of a theme of some sort. 

For now, I've put some shots in my portraits section. 

London May 2016 Pt. 1

So I haven't posted any shots from London until now (except for model shots in my portraits section). As I've mentioned earlier I wasn't super inspired which is weird in a way, since this is my favourite city. But it might be because I had a cold and was annoyingly tired a lot of the time in between my model shoots.

Anyhow, I'll start with a few black and white shots of the city. Nothing new, nothing revolutionary, no new viewpoints really or anything, but oh well, that's the way it is sometimes. All shot with the Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon XF 14mm f/2.8 R combination, except for one, with the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R instead.

Thoughts about nude photography

I should actually call this post "Thoughts about nude photography and a few words of appreciation for my friend and muse". 
Nude photography is something I haven't been thinking about much earlier on in my "photography career" (LOL), though I have been thinking about it more for the last few months. Haha, no, not obssessively, but still something that I've been thinking more of since photography is a passion of mine and I think about it all the time and of different ways of doing it and expanding it.

It kinda started when the subject popped up while out with my beautiful friend and model Hanna, some months ago. Since I haven't been doing that much portrait photography at all earlier, except for a few times now and then I haven't really been giving it that much of a thought at all, mainly because I never thought I was really gonna get into shooting portraits and models. But after I started shooting on a regular basis with Hanna, I've been thinking about it more. In general she has been a real boost for my confidence as a photographer and I've learnt a lot together with her. And while I find it awesome fun to shoot with others (and once again, a lot of the confidence to reach out and really start looking for others to shoot with, has been given to me by and while working with Hanna) the projects and ideas that we have come up with together and yet have to try out and complete, are really special to me. And I have to say that I consider her being my creative "soulmate" and muse who inspires me the most. And no, I haven't told her all of this.

Anyways, when it comes to nude photography, you can find so many GWC (a term I heard from Lucifera who I shot with in London) Guy With Camera, someone who has a camera as an excuse to be in a room for example, with a (more or less) naked woman. And that makes it harder I guess for others who are genuinely interested in doing photography for the reason of doing photography and to try to create beautiful images in the process, to be taken seriously. And there are also other real assholes posing as photographers out there. Sexually abusive and just plain disgusting ones. Which also makes it harder at least to some degree to find "partners in crime" to work with, since I'd think that many female models are suspicious, which they rightfully should be.

But I've been thinking about it and I've been discussing on and off with Hanna about the subject of nude photography the last few months, and it's been quite interesting since I've learned even more about myself and of what I really want to do and what I definitely don't want to do when it comes to nude photography. 

I don't want to take glamour styled shots. I really dislike that type of shots. And I don't want to shoot (as we say in Sweden) "Slitz-bilder", think FHM Magazine styled photos, I really dislike them too and they are basically glamour styled shots. Many of these type of photos are with models that are photoshopped into oblivion and I really hate that.
And I don't want to shoot anything that could in any way be seen as pornographic. Fetish stuff I'm not sure about. Some of the clothes that are usually used can look really cool but I don't really want to take erotic type of shots either, so I don't think it's for me. Boudoir styled photos does appeal to me, since it's mostly implied nude and if really nude, it's usually done quite tastefully and often used with shallow DOF, which I am a very huge fan of using. 
And I don't want to shoot "open leg" (I was even unaware of that term until I joined this model/photography networking site called PurplePort a few weeks ago) photos, just because seriously? I have to say this, I am not prude in any way and nothing really shocks me when it comes to sex, and I don't hate porn. Am I a huge fan, not really, but porn is there for a reason and it's a huge market (and for example has been pushing internet technology forward which helps us all). It's got its up and downsides for people involved in it and I understand the type of photos and obviously movies involved in this. I don't believe that people are continuously used in that industry, it probably happens, yes, but I also think that many people in that industry is in it because well, they like sex, they might be exhibitionists and they like the way in which they can make a living out of it and I have no problem with that. And in porn, I can understand the "open leg" shots, with the more or less close ups of vaginas for example, since it's porn and it is what it is, jerk off material.
But do I want to see it in regular (what ever that is?) photography? No I don't. And I'm a dude and I love vaginas, and I think they are absolutely beautiful but do I want to take "open leg" close ups of vaginas and post them for all the world to see? No. Fuck no! 

So with this, am I saying I would never take a photo that might show a vagina in some way? No, definitely not that either. It could look absolutely beautiful if it's done in the right way. I love women's bodies and it's a part of it. And it might be just seeing a small hint of it being there and then nothing more maybe, it's so hard to tell, I think you have to "feel" as when you're actually doing the shoot I guess, if or not what to include (as long as everyone is in on it being either way). And I love the idea of implied nudes, where you might see a lot of skin (or not so much), but not really "everything". And I like the idea of when you see some and then leave the rest for your imagination. And I don't want to take any nudes just to show someone off just for the sake of nudity, because I don't want to objectify someone. I want to do nudes for specific ideas, for when it can look absolutely stunning (I love the combination of skin tones and greens, like moss and grass in forests for example, it might be romanticised but I really like it), as can it do while being in black and white, but basically, nudes for when it can render beautiful photographs. And as long as the one I'm shooting with is comfortable with it, which is the most important thing. And which goes for who ever it is in the future that I have in front of my camera in what ever situation it is. It is supposed to be fun, and not be weird.

And I tried doing a little bit of half nude yesterday and it didn't feel weird, which before I was afraid that it would. But no, it was just fun and I think it rendered some really awesome photos (which can be found in my portraits section). 

So I feel blessed (I hate that word since I'm so far from religious anyone can be, but for lack of a better English word) to have someone that I know, trust and feel comfortable being around and being able to explore this type of photography together with, and who I'm pretty sure feel the same way about doing this together with me. So thank you, you are truly a real treasure. 

Portrait updates

No updates on this blog for more than a week. 

Well, I've been sick since I came back from London. And I've been editing a lot of photos for my models and yesterday I was out shooting with Hanna. 

My London trip I can sum up with this. It was great in some ways and a bit of a let down in others. I shot three very different, but all very professional and super nice women which was a great experience. Some of it came out really good I believe, some of it didn't turn out as well as I hoped, mostly because of myself. But still, it was great and I had a great time meeting, shooting and talking with these three women. 

Then my street photography, well, I didn't feel that inspired when I was actually there. It's weird, since it's an awesome place to shoot, but still. I have started to go through these photos and I will start posting them here in my blog (maybe a couple in my cityscapes) within a couple of days, I believe. 

So if you haven't, head over to my Portraits section and have a look. First many photos from my shoot yesterday with Hanna and then my three models from London. Enjoy.

London Day 7

Today I had booked a shoot with Beth. Beth was the third and final model I had booked shoots with and like the other two, she was a total delight to work with, really nice very positive. 

With a walk from Liverpool Street Station it took us to Brick Lane and Shoreditch where we shot quite a bit. From there, a tube ride and walk to British Museum, where the main middle area has a roof which acts as a giant softbox and really softens the light. 

After a quick lunch we went to Westminster for one of the walks along the Thames. She shot a few shots there, but it was too crowded and the light was really harsh, so we ended the last model shoot for this trip. I've been lucky though, to have booked three very different but all lovely models which I would like to work with again, next time I'm here. 

Here's a sample from inside British Museum, with Beth. The rest will be processed when I'm back in Sweden in a couple of days. And they will also end up in my portraits section. 

London Day 6

Yesterday I had booked a shoot with "Lucifera", a lovely woman that I've been chatting a bit with on Facebook prior to this, discussing what to shoot and where and so on. 

It turned into the longest shoot I've done, and I was exhausted at the end of the day (back at the hotel at 11:30 at night). It took us to Abney Park Cemetery, one of the "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries built in the 1830's-1840's in Stoke Newington and to The Well Hall Pleasuance, a garden in Eltham. 

But it was a great day, "Lucifera" was really professional, super nice and awesome to work with. And the day produced quite a lot of shots, which I post one sample of here. More will come when I'm back in Sweden again and will be found eventually in my portrait section.

London Day 4

This day (Monday 2/5) I didn't have a model shoot planned, not from the beginning. Then it turned into a short session which turned into be a much longer than planned one. 

But that didn't matter since it was with Chloe again, who is a real pleasure to work with. We had a great day in Hyde Park and shot so many photos which I will post in my portrait section when I have processed them back in Sweden. 

But here's a test of one of the shots from this session, not the final image,

London Day 3

I had a model shoot planned for yesterday, with a very special young woman, the super cute, nice and professional Chloe. 

It went really well and we had an awesome Sunday afternoon, which started under Waterloo Station in the Leake Street Tunnel, on to a skate park in South Bank and ending up in Camden Town. I'm really impressed with her and I'm totally baffled since she told me about how few photographers that wants to work with her. Yes, she's got a different style and sure maybe it doesn't suit every kind of shoot, but look at her, her look is awesome! And she's so nice and good to work with and I really don't get it. Are photographers of today really that small minded and backwards? I guess you are, and fuck you if you're one of them. 

But again, I really like her and out of the blue we arranged another shoot today (in a few hours from now) for some shooting in Hyde Park. It's gonna be super fun and I'm really looking forward to it. 

And here's a test of one of the shots from yesterday. When I'm back in Sweden I will post process the rest of the shots and put some in my Portrait section.

London Day 2

Must be because I'm getting old, or the bed is not good at my hotel, but after walking around yesterday my back is totally fucked today. Which is awesome since I have a model shoot among stuff today. Oh well, my friends Voltaren+Panodil hopefully will step up and help out a bit. 

Like I said, a bit of walking and finished off the day by shooting at the Millennium Bridge. Met an extremely chatty Irish woman called Cecilia that I talked to for about an hour. Nice. 

I will post lots of photos after getting back home, but here's a shot of The Shard.

London

After my first evening in London, yes it's still awesome. And yes, it's still hard to shoot people here. But I only spent a couple of hours last night around SoHo/Leicester Square/Picadilly Circus since I was super tired. 

I've been on call for a week at work, which destroys my day rhythm and I have since a few days got a cold that is fucking with me and I also usually get a bit tired while travelling. 

But today I'm up for some exploring. Now I'm just waiting for breakfast and headache to disappear. Good times...

Models everywhere...

So, after a slow start with looking for new models and registering on sites like Modellbilder.se, ModelMayhem.com, PurplePort.com and writing to a bunch of people, now it finally has paid off a bit. Something loosened and now I'm starting to get in touch with interested and interesting models. Despite all the misery that is life, this might actually be a fun year.

So I might start booking new sessions in May, after I come back from my London trip. And sure I have been contacted by a few models and they have been interested in working together, at the same time this does not mean that I get to work with them all though, since people tend to change their minds, but still it looks promising. 

But probably will be shooting with my friend Hanna as the first one when I get back home again since we have quite a few different ideas to go through. And I did a shoot with her yesterday, and it was fun as always but it came to a very fast and abrupt ending since out of nowhere a heavy rain front came in and drenched us (pretty much). I had checked the weather since Friday but since neither DMI (Danish Meteorological Institute) or SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) said anything about it, it seemed fine from the beginning, but nope. 

There can't be any type of requirements to get a job working for a meteorological institute. I mean seriously? It must be the only job where you can constantly fuck things up, day after day after day.... without being fired. 

Anyhow, I think we still got a few shots that where pretty nice and I don't think we've ever been this effective before. It was fun, but still sucked because it could have been better. But still.

And once again I shot all with my Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 (at f/2 of course) and this lens is amazing. As long as I don't fuck things up, the photos are super sharp.

They can be found in my portraits section from now on. 

Models booked for upcoming London trip

This is quite awesome. Two (and probably a third) models are booked and confirmed for my upcoming trip to London in May. 

A couple of probably very different sessions, with a couple of interesting and very different models, with different looks and style. And sessions going from (as far as we have discussed) boudoir, forest/field to urban/street style. I'm really stoked since this is going to be super fun and the first time shooting models abroad. The two already booked and confirmed are full time models, so no TFP sessions.

The rest of my time will be spent doing lots of street photography (my main reason for going to London in the first place) and some architecture/night shots and hopefully not getting harassed too much by security when it comes to the last bit. I'm also gonna try and probably visit Highgate Cemetery again (since it's so awesome) and hopefully also maybe Nunhead or any other of the Magnificent Seven. 

I'll see how much I can fit in my schedule since time isn't unlimited (unfortunately). 

And I'm gonna hang on Starbucks (and Pret a Manger) with my new MacBook Pro and be cool...

I will try and update my blog while in London (at Starbucks/Pret a Manger, lol) and maybe get some fresh photos on here right away (otherwise I guess there will be lots of them when I get home again). And of course, some will pop up on my Instagram too. 

But it's still another 2,5 weeks away before I'm leaving. Damn it...

New model shoot

So I did another model shoot with my beautiful friend and model, Hanna. Fun as usual, cold as usual and we tried out the antlers I've had for a little while which were cool, but clashed a bit with her outfit. But still a few shots that I liked.

It was quite dark, so a couple of them are shot using the Rotolight NEO (continuos LED light), but all of them shot using my Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR. This lens is INSANE and easily my favourite Fujinon lens (at least for portraits).

Copenhagen Street Photography Part 26

First time in Copenhagen for probably 6 months or so. It nearly felt like there was a little bit of spring in the air and at times the temperature was not even that chilly and the sun was visible. 

I walked around for a few hours before heading back to Sweden again and got to experience what the poor bastards who commute back and forth over the sound everyday have to go through these days, the identity checkpoints at Kastrup (Copenhagen Airport). This sucks big time, BUT they are necessary because of the amount of refugees (actually they’re mostly non refugees) that Sweden has been over run with the last 6 months or so. 

What hit me (since it was a while since I was here last time) is that people don’t do much fun stuff, they mostly check their phones (which can be seen in a few shots) which is not that fun, but still it was nice to spend a few hours this Saturday.