Welcome Stephen Haynes

" My objective in shooting nudes is to capture beauty, form, and all the wonderful variations of light falling on the female body." Stephen Haynes

"Repose"

"Intensity 3-28"

Who doesn't know Stephen Haynes ?... This famous artist is certainly one of the most prolific you'll find.

He's so renowned that he made me shy until I asked him the permission to publish this article. I discovered a kind artist, quite ready to communicate his passion without limits.

"Amanda 21"

With more than 3500 fine art nude pictures, over 50 models and 250 sessions since July 2001, working mainly in black & white or toned B&W, with a large preference for studio nudes, Stephen Haynes’ prints are owned by more than 170 collectors all around the world.

"Jesse at the Fireplace 5"





"Amanda Reclines 9"

"Crescent"















Stephen Haynes is a fine art photographer living in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

He comes relatively late to full-time devotion to the photographic arts, but has compensated by the intensity of his work.

While his principal subject currently is the fine art nude, he has also done notable work in landscapes, travel scenes, portraiture and the performing arts.

"Tabatha 32"

About his art :

I am largely self-taught. Even without much formal training, I try to produce photos and prints of high esthetic quality, to exacting technical standards.

With the female nude, I always seek new settings, lighting and poses in which to present the human form. In travel, I hope to photograph either from special vantage points or at a unique moment in time. Form and structure often triumph over grand vistas or photos that will appeal to an ‘art show’-type clientele. My portraiture work has usually been done on-location ; I prefer to stay away from formal studio portraiture.

"Jessie 4"

Stylistically, I am a hyper-realist. I tend not to create fantasy scenes for my nudes, and I like candid shots in all my photography. Geometry, symmetry and asymmetry, action or implied movement, emotion, a hint of eroticism, idealized beauty and a wide variety of lighting styles are to be found in my nude photography.

I tend to prefer studio nudes to those photographed in nature or on location, because under studio conditions nothing competes with the model for the viewer’s attention.

"Lauren at Home 93"

Some people say that the nude has ‘already been done,’ photographically. I beg to differ. Each woman is different, and each model interacts with the camera in her own, unique way. My models inevitably react very positively to my photographs of them. That in turn stimulates my artistry. The result is a widely varied collection of nudes, a rich collaboration between one artist (me) and another (my model).

"Sarah 34"

Stephen Haynes' interview

" I want to express the beauty of form, the drama of light, and the passion of woman. When a photograph contains all three, I'm very happy." Stephen Haynes

" Pistol 1-12"
 
Featured (after a selection on 50 000 photos from more than 70 countries) in the french magazine PHOTO of january 2008.
You'll find Stephen Haynes at his introductory artistic nudes site (for inexpensive subscriptions to the entire portfolio of nudes) ; his amazing blog (to read daily !) "Magic Fine Flute Art Nudes" ; a selection drawn from his immense portfolio, one of the largest collections offered by a single photographer to be found on the Internet ; and an interview at Contemporary Art Gallery, his first feature.

Dear Stephen, tell us how did your passion begin ?
 The passion began a long time ago, in 1960. How it began and how it developed really is not very relevant, because I went through a long period when photography was at best a snapshot thing, something to do with family. The passion was reborn, however, in 2000 with arrival of the Canon D30 dSLR and my introduction to digital photography and Photoshop. Computers and photography, for me the perfect combination. I've been on a roll since then.

Where did you learn your art ?
 I'm largely self-taught. I've taken substantive and technical masters workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center and via Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, but my studio work and work with nudes have come through long hours and experience, thousands of images worth of experience.

"Jazz Hot 15"

Is it your only job ?

I don't really have a "job," since I'm fortunate enough to be retired (technically). But, yes, photography, including teaching a number of local workshops, is my primary pursuit. I do no commercial or other "fee-based" photography.

"Pistol 3-10"

Are you an obsessive photographer ?

My camera does not rule my life here, outside of sessions with models. I'm not an inveterate photographer, walking or driving around with camera constantly in hand. When we travel, then I am sure to have my camera close, since other than nudes my travel photography is my preferred subject.

Who are your favorite photographers ?

Among those who are dead, Weston and Mapplethorpe. I consider Mapplethorpe one of the true masters of studio lighting. I greatly admire the work of a good friend, Guenter Knop. Beat A. von Weissenfluh does some fantastic work -- I'd love to have access to his dancer-models. I enjoy seeing new work by several of my contemporaries, many of them via their own blogs. You've highlighted many of them already on Univers d'Artistes.

For sure ! Is there a messages you want to express through your work ?

The beauty of form, the drama of light, and the passion of woman. When a photograph contains all three, I'm very happy. A touch of eroticism is a good thing, too.

"Duo 1-35"

I saw your photography is not mostly nudes ?

Well, in fact it is mostly nudes. About 75%. About 25% of my work comes from travel photography, including independent trips and tours taken with my wife. I've become rather adept at doing very good photography while on tour, such as my India series.

"Varanasi 23"

What is your process of creation ? Do you plan every detail before a shooting ?

It depends on the nature of the shoot. A first session with a new model is often about familiarization and getting to know each other, and such a session will last about two semi-structured hours going through a series of standard poses and scenarios. After that initial session, with a returning model, I'll structure a session around an idea I think particularly well-suited to that model, and in those instances I'll describe the idea to the model ahead of time and try to work out all details before beginning. Some models I work with repeatedly, in some cases six or more times, and sometimes several models will have an opportunity separately to interpret a single idea.

"Hands 8"

It seems you prefer indoor artistic nude shots ? 

This is Minnesota, for god's sake ! There is a narrow window of opportunity to shoot outdoors between snow and bugs in the spring, and between bugs and snow in autumn. I know photographers who ask their models to endure hardships, and models willingly, I suppose eagerly accept pain and suffering in order to make superb photographs. For better or worse, I'm very empathetic with any model's discomfort, so if I'm being eaten alive by bugs, I know the model is suffering equally; if I'm cold, I know the model is even colder. I can avoid all of that by photographing in the studio. This does not mean I won't be using other settings in the future, but I've yet to find those locations.

In addition, of course, the studio is a very controlled environment, and that suits my personality nicely.

"Brooke 4-2"

Maybe some words about your models who feel so natural ? 
 I rarely work with professional figure models. Some exceptions have been extraordinary, like Abigail. Many of my models, and some who return to my studio time after time, are gals who began their modeling with me, and a few have modeled only for me. I like to coach new models, sometimes to give them their first nude modeling experience. So I'm getting them before they develop a repertoire of poses and moves, while they may even be a bit shy and unsure of themselves, so that I think increases the naturalness of their work. 

Another commentator described my photography to be of "the girl next door, but nude." I won't go that far, but I do like sincerity and even a bit of naïveté in my models.

"Impromptu Saturday 6"

It's clear. How do you feel at the end of a shooting ?

Sometimes exhausted, but almost always exhilarated. I love it when a model tells me a session was "fun." When a session ends, however, I know that my work is just beginning, with hours of Photoshop ahead. I pride myself in rapidly getting photos back to models who ask for them, often within 72 hours of our shoot.

"Erin at the Wall 2-29"

Have you some challenges you're dreaming about in a near future ? 

I'll be working part-time in a new, much larger studio in January. It has immense possibilities for natural light, so I'll be investing considerable time and effort exploring those. I hope to find new ways to market my photography. Selling prints of fine art nudes is a constant challenge. I am fortunate in that I have over 190 collectors worldwide, but I'm always hoping a new person will discover my photography and say, "Now, I must have a print of that !"

You can imagine how I understand ! By the way, when and where will be your next exhibition ?

I'll have single photos in some local exhibitions in January, including "20-20 Vision" at the Icebox Gallery. I'll be putting together a group show of nudes for May. I've submitted photos for a few other shows, competitions and publications, but it would be premature to mention any of those.

Nice ! What about your books ? Is there one to come ? 

Actually, I've published over ten books. They are all private monographs; those dealing with nudes may be seen here. I don't have immediate plans for another, but I'm sure there will be one shortly. Here's the cover photo from First Sessions, my most recent :

"Abigail R 3-9"
Click here to purchase the new Stephen Haynes' book.

A message to send ?

I suppose I convey most of my messages via my blog. People should really check that out -- in addition to the photography, there's occasionally an item of interest, as you put it, a "message."

Occasionally ? Daily would be the best word. Thanks a lot Stephen. Thanks for your time, your work and your passion. 

Contributing Editors' exhibition

Iris Dassault
by Jim Young -
"My Bridge"

Marcus J Ranum
"My Wall"
Art Model Sarah Ellis -








GW Burns
"The Door"








Andre J
"Washaway"
Art Model Nikki








Nikola Borissov
"K. II"








Stephen Haynes
"Erin & Hats 13"
Art Model Erin -








Dave Rudin
Art Model Rebecca Lawrence








Beau eRomantica
"More of More to come"








Jeffrey Mc Alister
"Gams"








Mark Varley
"33 nudes 04"








Jarda Balek
"Where is my laundry"








Warren Brown
"Hommage to the Self"
Art Model Candace Nirvana -






Jason Tag
"Introspection"
Art Model Ella Rose








Michael Vasquez
"The Smile"
Art Model Leslie






Dave Swanson
"The Frog Hunter"
Art Model Sarah Jean






Lady Anais by James Petrusson
"Eclectic"

Portrait of a Model's Growth by Stephen Haynes

Art Model BellaSoleil : Three Sessions
Portrait of a Model's Growth

Written by Stephen Haynes,
photographer and writer

In January 2009 a new model arrived on Model Mayhem going by the name BellaSoleil. She had not checked the "Shoot Nudes ?" option, but also had not said she would not do nude work, so I sent her my usual email asking if she might be interested. She replied : "I am comfortable with implied nudity and I would definitely love to model for you if that works."

I told her I didn't do "implied," but offered that we could do some anonymous nudes to introduce her to work within the genre. She accepted, and we first worked in early February.

About ten minutes into that first session I asked if she wanted to continue in that mode, i.e. "anonymous" nudes. She easily decided that, no, she no longer needed that. Then began one of those unique, mutually-enriching, exciting photographic relationships that all photographers hope will come along, at least once in a while.















As first sessions go, we did some good stuff.

She had wanted to do some dark and moody color work similar to some other I had shown her, and one image resulting from that set was extraordinarily nice for a first session with an inexperienced model.

I saw in it BellaSoleil's innate modeling sense which I vowed to exploit, if she was willing.

She also offered some contorted poses, which led to my asking where that talent came from. She explained that she had been a gymnast when young, especially in Russia where she grew up. Aha ! I thought, I finally have my "Russian model," and a gymnast to boot !

BellaSoleil professed herself very pleased with the results and even posted this image to her MM portfolio. She wrote : "This was one of those experiences that goes in my lifetime achievement column."






That first session was my last work with a model for two months, as my eyesight had gone from bad to worse to awful, and I wanted to have my cataract surgery before doing any more nudes. (My color perception was way off, whites looked like dirty yellow mud, my farsightedness had changed to extreme nearsightedness, and I could no longer trust judgments of tone and contrast.)

Meanwhile, for personal reasons BellaSoleil had decided to do no more nudes. She allowed a generous exception, however, saying that she hoped her personal situation would permit continued work with me. I wrote her : "I don't know whether you've gotten the "bug" yet, but when ... you have an itch you need to scratch, get back in touch." That was February 22 (when I was still out of commission).

It didn't take long. BellaSoleil wrote one week later : "Yeah you were right. I did get bitten by the bug. So hopefully we will work again sometime soon !" Much as I wanted to schedule an immediate session, however, my eyes came first. Surgery on eye #1 was March 18, with the second eye six days later. What a revelation ! Suddenly I went from being functionally nearly blind to having better, clearer, sharper sight than I had experienced in probably two decades.









Our second session came in late April. I had wanted to push her contortionist abilities and well-developed sense of artistic form to an extreme, but within a very dark frame. This first photo typifies the set's atmosphere.

Now that she had committed to doing nudes with only me (she writes in her MM portfolio, "Nudity - I do not shoot nude, except for one specific photographer, he knows who he is"), she threw herself into our sessions (this and the third) with intensity and near abandon.





BellaSoleil is 4'10" high, which I'm sure helps with her poses and became important for our third session. Enough of dark and moody, however. Let there be light !





























I changed the set to high key on white backdrop and asked her to dance.













BellaSoleil returned to studio in early May for our third (and most recent) session.

I brought "The Box" out of retirement specifically for her. (I had used "The Box" for an extensive five-model series in July-August 2008, some of the results of which appeared here in photos of model Brooke Lynne. You may see more of that earlier series in my "Shows" portfolio, as six of them were displayed during the recent The Nude in Minnesota II show.)

Here's where that 4'10" height became important : "The Box" is 5' long, so BellaSoleil was the only model who fit entirely within the box without having to bend her knees or contort. This photo does not show that, of course, but it does show one of many, many superb and inventive poses she offered. She moved quickly from one idea to another, nearly too fast for my strobes to keep up. An unbelievable experience for us both.










We finished the session out of studio.

She told me she liked these less : while appreciating their beauty, they are insufficiently "art" in her view.

BellaSoleil and I have additional ideas to explore, which will happen in months ahead. A model of her natural caliber dedicated to making art with me is a treat indeed.


I've shown a very small selection of the over two hundred photos of BellaSoleil to be found on my subscription site.

Stephen Haynes' books
Click to order

Stephen Haynes ©

His blog : Magic Flute Fine Art Nudes

His first feature
His interview
All his articles here inside