Jan Murphy with Art Model Tidal Kitten, "Making Shapes" Series

"Making Shapes" by Jan Murphy, London, UK.
A series with Art Model Tidal Kitten.

Dear Jan, I've recently published one photograph of this exceptional series. You guess I see many things, but I would want to know your own feelings about it.
What inspired you ? What did you want to express ?


When working with this model, I saw such strength in her posing, character, even down to the tattoo's on her body, which were all intensely symbolic and of strong animals.

The series to me represents strength, creating and playing with shapes from the human form (in fact I named the series 'Making Shapes' after this), mainly though, it was trying to get across the powerful yet definite female energy and all that it represents.

This was my challenge.

I sense that others will appreciate the images as they are beautiful to the eye but possibly not understand them to the degree that I felt them that day.

What I love about art/photography though is everybody sees/senses someting different from all angles and from varying perspectives. The change and the different viewpoints is what makes the world a wonderful place.

Challenge accomplished ! How did you create it ?


This started out as a book shoot towards my Photographic Book 'True Selves' (due out later this year).

The model wished to show a childish side of herself as some say she has an innocence about her, a child inside an adult's body.

This was really wonderful as the model felt comfortable to share playing with expressions in her art, as she had never done before. We showed her childish side never forgetting that this was through the body of a woman.

I am not showing those in my choice in this article but some will be displayed in my book when in print. I will keep you up to date with my book and how it is coming along as I work on it further.









After shooting for the book, we had talked of working together on some Fine Art nude images. So, after consuming coffee and giving the model a prop to interact with, we started work.

The shoot was very natural as our connection was relaxed and we ''felt'' our way really and at times, the model was almost reading my mind as to what I wished for next so I didn't even need to ask her to change poses, it was really fluid.

Objects were given to interact with, chairs and suchlike and the end results you can see for yourselves. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them.















Of course Jan !... There is such a strength. And what is your favorite photo in the series ? I must confess that it's difficult for me to choose one.


I love this image for many reasons :





Firstly the pose is so beautiful, the way one hand rests against the foot whilst the other slips under the knee, making it look so elegant yet the strength is there throughout, how can this be ?
Secondly, I love the eye contact as it reinstates the person sharing that they are happy within their skin and whilst on the subject of skin, during post processing, I created a really beautiful skintone, one which I feel adds to the overall 'feel' of the picture.


I must say it is so hard to choose a favourite image as I have many for very different reasons, so if the interviewer allows I would like to say that I do so very much love this one for the strength, the pride, the upright pose and the way you can see to the very core of this lady and this image :








Thanks a lot Jan. What a beautiful series ! I know many photographers and readers who will love it... And thanks to your amazing art model too.

Joceline Brooke-Hamilton interviewed by Howard Nowlan

by Howard Nowlan
UdA Art Editor

The field of arts photography is so often a delight to inhabit simply because of the people you encounter here.

Some years ago, when all this was very new to me, I heard of a model who had received some very favorable interest from some UK photographers who I admired, and to my great joy, I soon had an opportunity to work with her.

We have recently enjoyed working together again, so let me introduce you to this splendid and enchanting young lady : Joceline

What gave you an interest in this field ?

I grew up wanting to be a ballet dancer. I trained very seriously, but got far too tall.

So at 18, I went to drama school in London, and then worked as a classical actress, doing lots of Shakespeare tours and Greek Tragedy. I didn't like the way I looked much, so I never considered being a model, but I always loved photography.
 

So how did you make your way into modeling ?

 







I was a poverty-stricken actor, and I couldn't afford to have my head shots re-done. I'd been approached by professional photographers in the street a few times, and I wondered if one of them might possibly do my shots for free if I offered to pose for something they needed to shoot. The first one I tried said "yes," but only if I'd shoot some art-nude because he struggled to find models who'd do that. I was delighted! And he turned out to be a really, fabulous photographer, with a big studio and a list of commercial clients. He got me my first paid job, which was a shoot for a British jewelry firm.

And as it happens, he forgot to shoot any art-nude on our first session, we got so carried away with other ideas.

Was nude work part of your modeling career from the start, and if not, how did you become involved in the field ?

As an actress, I'd already worked nude (I even did a couple of sex scenes for TV dramas and a short film) so it didn't really seem like an issue. I assumed that it was part of modelling, but what I didn't know was that there was a whole genre dedicated to artistic depictions of nudity. That was a wonderful surprise, and I started doing nude-in-landscape shoots in my first month as a professional model, even though it was December, and I was working in England and Scotland !

by Laurie Jeffery

How have you found the modeling experience so far ?

It's such a horrible cliché, but I think I'm grateful every day for the job I get to do. 

As soon as I did my first shoot I knew I'd found something I really loved to do, and it was a lovely shock to find out that I could make a living from something so fun. I've been very lucky in that I've had a chance to work in a wide variety of styles, which has made my life a lot more interesting.

 
And one of the best things about my job is that I get to travel all over the place. Lots of people travel for work, but a lot of them will have to stay in cities and see the inside of conference rooms all day. I get taken to the most beautiful bits of whichever country I'm in, because photography often requires beautiful places! I'm very grateful for that. When I started modelling I expected photographers to maybe be a bit unpleasant and predatory. And I think I was a bit scared of the other models too. It's been a rather incredible surprise to find a community of liberal, clever, creative people instead . So I've found the whole experience of being a model pretty surprising and wonderful so far. 

There is a marked difference between, for example, naturist imagery and fine art figure work.

Do you find ways to be individually creative in each of these fields, or are some shoots pretty defined before you begin ?

Some shoots are definitely pretty defined from the outset, which I have no problem with. It can be really nice to work with someone with a very strong vision. But a lot of my shoots are much more collaborative than that, with both me and the photographer coming up with ideas. I like to improvise, and try to find new poses and ideas for every shoot. That can be hard, especially in a studio, but it's one of the challenges that makes me love my job !

Are there any particular high or low points to date you'd like to mention ?

Wow, I did get to work in Botswana once! Posing with wild animals in the distance was a pretty high point, though it wasn't exactly relaxing. I was lying in a tree at one point, and I suddenly thought 'Don't panthers live in trees here ?' It was a very unhelpful thought. But quite often the best moments just come from being with the right people. Just like in life generally, I suppose.








by Laurie Jeffery










 






Are there any particular shoots you would like to do, or any particular locations you'd like to use ?
There are always new things I want to do. I go through phases, but at the moment I'd love to explore shooting artistic nude images with high-fashion styling. I've not seen many examples of what I mean, but I sometimes think it's a shame that most of the best stylists and photographers work in the field of fashion because that's where the money is. But it'd be great if they'd let me do some high-fashion-nude work with them.
 
Oh, and I want to try some really powerful-looking political-propaganda type nudes. That sounds weird. But I know what I mean! Location-wise, I just want to keep going to new, beautiful places. They don't have to be exotic, some of the best places I've shot at have been in England. And I love derelict buildings. They're hard to find in England, but there's something so atmospheric about a lot of them.


What Artists or Photographers inspire you ?

I loved Helmut Newton's work (along with the rest of the world, I think) and I also like Bob Carlos Clarke, mainly because he managed to make such explicit images look quite classy ! But there are loads of photographers and artists who aren't hugely famous, but are so talented. It's hard to get famous in this field, I think. So Alex Ingram, who was one of my first photographers, inspires me. He's just so technically skilled, and he's taught me such a lot about how to make good pictures. I see differently because of him, and that's inspiring.


Where do you feel your own modeling strengths lie ?

This is tricky, because I'm a bit self-critical. I'd be able to give you a list of weaknesses, but I don't want to draw peoples' attention to them! I wonder if maybe not falling in love with my work too easily is a strength though, because I get disappointed with myself if I do boring poses, and I notice if I didn't relate to my surroundings very well. I think always trying to aim higher is maybe my strength. And having a dance background is always a good thing in modeling, I think.

 







You have always struck me as a very creative and inspired model. Are there particular sources in your own life which create such natural charm in front of the camera ?

Well, thank you! I think I'm quite lucky that I had the chance to train as a dancer, and then as an actress. As a model, I often create a character in my head and maybe even tell myself a story while I'm working. I hope that might sometimes come across in my pictures – a desire to create a feeling, not just a pretty picture.


What do you think you'll be doing in this field in the next few years ?

I'd love to carry on modeling. I think all models are aware of getting older, and maybe being less desirable as a model, but if I get the chance, I'd love to carry on for long enough to see how the sort of pictures I create with photographers will change as I develop. I've been modelling for 5 years, and I can already see phases that I went through, when I saw beauty in certain things and took the sort of work that reflected that. Year by year that changes, and I'd love to see what sort of work I'm doing in 10 years. I hope I get the chance !


If you could give any advice to new models in the business, what would it be ?




 








First of all, be safety conscious. It's such a boring thing to say, sorry, but traveling round the world on your own, to go and work with people who've chosen you because of what you look like naked IS potentially hazardous.

I was once working in up-state New York and got locked in my bedroom at a photographer's house. I assumed he was trying to abduct me, and realised that no one knew where I was. It turned out that the lock had just jammed, but it made me think a bit more carefully.

Other than that, I suppose I'd say don't let anyone else take control of the sort of work you do.

That includes boyfriends, agents, people who want to manage you. Support from other people can be great, but you should make your own decisions about style of work, the fee you charge, and EVERYTHING else. Someone tried to get me to have breast implants when I first started modeling, and I also got trapped into having all my hair dyed red and white. I'm much stricter now!

THE C R O W

Tim Haylock's interview

Since I have no desire to shoot professionally, at the moment I'm content with simply making the kind of images that I like, and if other people enjoy them too, that's great." Tim Haylock

"Katie 1"
Art Model Katie Louise D

"Emily W 2"
Art Model Emily W











Tim, at the age of six your passion for photography began. It's so young ! Could you tell us more ?

My father, who was always interested in photography, bought me a very cheap 110 film camera for Christmas. I can still remember opening it, and thinking that I must have been given someone else's present by mistake, as it was a "grown up" gift! We went out that afternoon and I think I used up the whole roll of film - I was thoroughly annoyed that the shops were closed and I couldn't get my pictures back until after the holidays.

After about a year and a half, when it was clear that this wasn't just a fad, my father bought me a second hand 35mm rangefinder (a Yashica Minister III) for my eighth birthday, and that lasted me up until my mid teens.

"Erin 14"
Art Model Erin -








"Erin 6"
Art Model Erin

"Katie 4"
Art Model Katie Louise D

A really good father you have ! Is it today your only job, if we can use this word for such a passion.

When I was eighteen years old, my uncle (who was a professional photographer) advised me against taking it up as a career, for two reasons. Firstly, he could already see that the huge rise in numbers of amateur photographers would make it even harder to make a living, but secondly (and perhaps more importantly) he pointed out that I'd enjoy photography a lot more if I was doing it solely for pleasure.

I've never regretted keeping photography as a hobby, as it means I can shoot exactly what interests me, without ever feeling like picking up a camera is "work".

"Rachel 1"
Art Model Rachel Louise Frodsham















I know how difficult it is, but today how do you describe your photographic style ?

I think I'm still discovering it, although people do occasionally tell me that they can recognise my photographs, so obviously there's some kind of pattern there!

I tend to prefer clean, simple studio shots withrelatively uncluttered backgrounds, but I also like to occasionally push myself outside of my comfort zone and try something different.

"Iveta 8"
Art Model Iveta Niklova -

From Iveta : Absolutely brilliant photographer,very well organized and professional, each set was very well planned. Wish everyone would take this as professionally as Tim. I really enjoyed working with him and the result is a great quality!

You're shooting fashion, art nude, alternative and glamour (as well as the occasional landscape and still life). In what themes do you find your most prolific inspiration ?

I'm definitely becoming more focussed on fashion and art nude, especially the grey area where the two genres intersect. I love fashion imagery (and tend to buy a lot more fashion magazines than photography magazines for inspiration) so that kind of style will inevitably end up in most of what I shoot.


You told us your preference for studio shots. What about colour or B/W ?

Until digital cameras became commonplace, I shot black and white film pretty much exclusively for several years, and generally ignored colour entirely. When I moved onto digital and started shooting models, though, I started experimenting with different ways of toning images, and now I suspect only around one in five of my shots is monochromatic.

I have to admit, though, I rarely "plan" a shot as being black and white or colour, but instead make the decision once I can see the image in detail after the shoot.

As for the studio, I love the way you can have total control over the light to get exactly the effect you want. Having said that, I definitely want to do some more natural light work, and I may even try some outdoors shots at some point !

"Lottie 15"
Art Model Lottie

From Lottie : " Worked with Tim last weekend and had a great shoot !! Has some great ideas ! Lovely man to work with and a great photographer the images were amazing ! Highly Recommended !! Would love to work with him in the future !"

"Eleni and Bethanie 2"








"Amaya 3"
Art Model Amaya X

I'm impatient to see that ! You say : "I like to collaborate with models wherever possible, discussing potential ideas and images in advance of a session so that we can both contribute something to the finished result". Some more words about your art models ?

"Iveta 3"
Art Model Iveta Niklova

I've been lucky enough to work with a wide variety of models, ranging from incredibly experienced art nude models like Erin and Iveta, right down to girls for whom it was their first shoot.

I have to admit, though, that my most enjoyable shoots have been when the model and myself are both working to improve the images, testing different approaches and discussing how we can make a good shot even better.

Models will frequently have a alternative perspective on things, and we can end up with something that we would never have achieved individually.

"Erin 3"
Art Model Erin

I think she has to take all the credit for this shot, since it's really the pose which makes it, and that was entirely her work !

"Anita 7"
Art Model Anita De Bauch

With who are you dreaming to work ?

It's very tempting to just say "Erin" again, she's so accomplished and inventive that I'm sure it would be an extremely productive shoot !

Of the models I haven't already shot with, I've always wanted to work with Chrissie Red (), although we're at opposite ends of the country, and Ulorin Vex (Art Model and Illustrator ) has been on my wish list for ages now.











"Selene"
Art Model Selene

















I'm sure you will ! Another difficult question : what is your own favourite photograph ?

It varies, since after every shoot I invariably think the photos are wonderful, but after a few months I can see all the flaws and errors !

If I had to pick one shot which I still haven't tired, of, though, I think I'd have to select this image of Selene.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this isn't one of my more popular images - I quite often find that the shot I like most from a set gets very little attention, while other images that I'm not that keen on are widely circulated !











Maybe it's not your most popular photograph but it deserves to be. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment and what is your biggest aspiration ?

"Katie 2"

Art Model Katie Louise D

As I've only been shooting seriously for the last couple of years, the biggest achievement so far is probably being featured in UdA !

I tend to be relatively quiet about my photography, as I'd prefer people to judge me on the images rather than from posts on a blog or any other kind of self promotion. Since I have no desire to shoot professionally, at the moment I'm content with simply making the kind of images that I like, and if other people enjoy them too, that's great.


Thanks a lot Tim for your wonderful compliment. You make me shy... and full of energy ! I didn't see any book of your work ? Is there one to come ?

Nope, no book. I don't think I have anything like the consistency and quality of work to justify publishing anything yet. I'd certainly be interested at some point, though, as the quality of a print is worlds apart from a low resolution internet image, and it does seem a shame that people can't see all the detail !


Right ! Today internet is just the best way to be seen, and your comment about the quality is the simple and only truth. Just, let us know when you'll be ready to publish... What advices could you give to the young photographers attracted by the Nude Art ?

Pick up a camera and shoot !

"Jessica Ann 11"
Art Model Jessica Ann

From Jessica : " Tim is very creative and has a lot of ideas to try out on the shoot. He is also very easy going and friendly. Through out the shoot I felt 100% comfortable in his presence. I would highly recommend Tim to other models and look forward to seeing the images we produced."

I know it's a cliche, but the only time my photography has ever improved is when I'm actually taking a lot of photographs. It's also well worth finding people who will give you brutal, hypercritical feedback - while it's obviously very nice to hear that people like what you're shooting, I've found it far more valuable when people tell me what I'm doing wrong, with as much detail as possible. :)


Is there a question nobody ask you and you would like to answer ?

No, I think your selection was pretty comprehensive. :)


Another thank you... Any message you’d like to leave our readers ?

Just that I hope they enjoy the images !

For sure Tim, without no doubt !
Thanks a lot for your time and a huge BRAVO !

"Phee 1"
Art Model Phee

Daria Malysheva's interview

Daria Malysheva is a portrait photographer of 20 years old from Russia, this incredible country full of so wonderful photographers (the passionate will know) like her.

"Shade"

Daria Malysheva at her new official site, deviantART, her first feature.

Daria, tell us how did your passion begin ?

 It was after I learned that my granddad was a professional photographer and I decided to follow in his footsteps.

My first camera was the old "Zenit", which undoubtedly has every Russian in the depth of a small pantry. It was time, when I understood that photography is the only way for me to express.

"Again"










"Contact"

"Kate"

You seem so accomplished... Did you learn photography in a school ?

Yeah, I did a one year-course in "Modern Photo" school, which had just opened at that time. Now it's one of the greatest in Moscow.

But as I learned later, the best teacher is your own experience,
when you work with a model, face to face.

"Wild bird"

















Seeing your age, I asked myself who could be your greatest inspirators ?

 Lot's of them, I like surfing the Net and unexpectedly find somebody's really worth seeing works. Nowadays there're plenty of talented photographers, whom photos are a powerful spur for my imagination.

Another source of inspiration is music. It keeps me good minded, and in lyrics I usually find some unusual ideas.


Right. At least I see that your inspiration comes from many different spaces. Be sincere, how long could you be far from your camera ?

Well, no more than a week. Otherwise, most of the ideas become no longer desirable.


Do you feel particularly inspired by a type of location ?

Of course ! It's especially important for making composition and a whole image. Unfortunately, you must put some effort into finding inspiring places here, in Moscow. It depends on my mood, but indoor lost it's appeal for me recently apart from deserted old houses actually. I'm really keen on them.

"Time to choose"

"Different"

How do you feel at the end of a shooting ?

Usually very exhausted, not only physically, but mostly mentally.

If you put a part of your soul in the creation like I do it, then you know how difficult it can be.

But at the same time shooting gives me a great sense of satisfaction. Especially when I feel that a couple of great pictures are made.


How I understand you ! Have you a special project you're dreaming about ?

 It's a secret ;) There's one. And as soon as I find models, clothes and proper location, I'll take my camera and do it. Hope it won't take long else somebody will steal the idea.

Model Natali

I'm impatient to know ! And have you published a book ?

Not yet. But some of my works were published in the second Photosight book and one photo was already on the cover of "Best digital cameras" magazine. Not a bad start I guess and I'm determined to carry on.








"Forest's spirit"





Bravo ! What's for your next future ? Something more to come ? Not a secret ?...

I would like to try myself in professional fashion photography and in advertising.

The message is sent. Another one ?

Always remember who you are, and that everything that happens is for the best.

A wonderful one... Thanks a lot Daria ! We keep in touch.

"Current mood 2"






Daria Malysheva