tentative

Since the LA shoot... the results of which I'm actually quite happy with... I've had no real desire to photograph people. Before the recent Chicago trip I browsed portfolios, toyed with the idea of setting up a shoot or two, and couldn't find anyone who really got me excited. Even my known quantities didn't get the creativity to the surface. I had dinner while there with two of my favorite models from the past, and talked to a third. I didn't even unpack the camera til nearly the end of the trip, and then only to do a few night shots on the wintry suburban streets.

The nasty weather and the fact that I was fighting off a cold may have contributed to that. But thinking about it on and after the trip, this time it seems to center on the concept of who to photograph as much as anything. I'm in a bit of a rebellion it seems, against limiting myself to working with people who consider themselves to be "models." Sometimes, that's fine. But apparently it needs to be more diverse, be more than just pretty girls.

At an event last night I was introduced to a young woman who at first defined herself as a photographer, then talked about how she likes to be in pictures, too. She hinted pretty plainly that she'd like to be in mine. I went home without committing, looked at her online presence, mostly words with a few images. It's not a clear decision, but I've decided to photograph her, as much to step back and observe my reactions as anything.

I had a chance to watch her during the event. She's tall and thin, attractive enough, and moves reasonably well. She wore a piece of jewelry she had made herself, strong and primal, and it was that object, and her relation to it, that pushed me toward saying yes. That and the fact that she's apparently never heard of the online model sites, and thus doesn't define herself in that way.

From a quick comparison of schedules, it may take two or three weeks to make this happen, which is fine. More time to think, more time to ponder the implications of the fact that 45 days into 2008, I've done only one real shoot.