So I set out to, once again, push the boundaries of my photography. I have shot art nudes and implied nudes before but always with someone I already knew. I had never photographed someone that I had never met before. There is something to be said for the level of comfort you feel in a situation being dictated by your familiarity with the subject. This is true with any type of portrait photography. Your results will be better if you have rapport with the subject or subjects. So walking in cold to a photo shoot that has an intimate feel to it, is tough to say the least. I was lucky enough to have an amazing model Devi who I found on modelmayhem.com. She put me at ease and was amazing to work with. She is a consummate professional and knew right away what I was looking for.
Fuji XT1, 56mm f1.2R, Natural Light
My tool of choice was my Fuji XT1 with the 56mm f1.2R lens along with the 35mm f2. I brought a single flash with a softbox but ended up just using the natural light in the room. One of the challenges with this type of photography is the limited space you have to work with in order to get the angles you want. I'm not at the level of renting large hotel rooms but I do see the advantage. As you can see the space worked well for this shoot so not complaining.
The 56mm 1.2R has become my favorite portrait lens. The depth of field in addition to the way it handles light and shadow has me using it more often than not for any shot involving a person. I shoot in Raw format and convert in Lightroom CC. I couldn't be happier with the results. Having a great model also helps.
Fuji XT1, 56mm f1.2R, Natural Light
Fuji XT1, 56mm f1.2R, Natural Light
Fuji XT1, 56mm f1.2R, Natural Light
I had so much fun with this shoot. It took me a bit to ease into it, I have to admit I was nervous, but Devi made it so easy, suggesting poses and by just knowing what to do. We had written back and forth several times discussing the shoot and the look I was going for. I believe my style to be very relaxed and simple. I set out to capture the pure beauty of the female form without being pornographic. I believe there is a fine line between fine art nudes, implied nudes, boudoir and pornography. It can be very subjective based on a persons life experiences. I set out to be respectful of Devi and to capture her in a way that had artistic value.
Fuji XT1, 56mm 1.2R, Natural Light
During the shoot I did run out of space in the room for what I wanted to do so I switched to the 35mm f2 for some of the shots. This lens focuses much faster than the 56mm. It is a newer lens and the images it produces have a unique look to them. It has the equivalent field of view to a 52mm lens on a full frame camera.
Fuji XT1, 35mm f2, Natural Light
Fuji XT1, 35mm f2, Natural Light
II can't wait to shoot with Devi again. She has a great look and knows how she looks to a camera. When doing a shoot of this nature it shows when the subject has experience. Their comfort level and knowledge of what looks good can make or break a shoot.
I strive to keep it fresh with my photography. If i'm not trying something new than why do it. I hope to keep pushing the boundaries with my images, using new tools and seeking out people that can help me accomplish that goal. So on to the next adventure!
Click HERE for more images from this shoot that include NSFW, nude images.