Would you like an Interview by yours truly?
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions to be more intimate!
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Here are the questions “Stefanie”:http://kamoriah.livejournal.com/ asked me:
1. *Who’s your favorite model? (I know it’s me, but let’s pretend I’m not as awesome as I really am ;) )*
Work involving human subjects is difficult. It’s one thing to make a photograph of a family that they will love. It’s another thing entirely to make a photograph that people who don’t know the subject at all will enjoy. Because of this, I’m very picky about who I prefer to work with.
First of all, I prefer females. I have very few visions that involve male subjects in anything but a supporting role. Following that, a good model is as much about personality it as about looks.
In the looks department, I like models that are, basically, attractive. I don’t mean this to be rude, and, of course, everyone has different tastes, but, generally speaking, I prefer a model who makes an active attempt to look her best. I prefer models with nice skin because it means I am less likely to have to spend hours removing blemishes from each and every photograph. I prefer a model that is right in middle when it comes too proportions: not too large, not too small; not to tall, not too short. However, no one is perfect and I don’t have any money to offer, so I have to make compromises. I’d prefer shorter over taller because my studio is small so shorter people are easier to work with. I’d prefer larger over skinnier because I like the women I photograph to have some curve to their bodies; it makes them much more likely to appear sensual.
As far as attitude is concerned, reliability is very important. If I can rely on a model to be someplace at a certain time and bring what she said she’d bring, I’d rather not work with her at all. The desire to be a part of the creative process is important as well. Most of my models are not always the best actresses in the world. Since the work I prefer to do tends to lean toward fine art and emotive photography, the model either needs to really feel the part or be able to pretend she does. Self-esteem is important too, but I’d rather a model have a low self-esteem than to be full of themselves. Conceit makes a model easy to work with in the first place, but difficult to get more than one or two looks out of.
Finally, the best photographs are made when both me and my model are pushed just beyond the edge of our comfort zone. I need a model that is willing to trust me and willing to experiment. If we agree that a photograph of a model’s bare back is the desired goal, then that model needs to be willing to do what it takes to get that shot. Nervous reservation and general shyness is perfectly acceptable and actually can be a very good thing. However, trying to prance around while she fumbles trying to keep her chest covered and expose her back at the same time is just annoying and frustrating for both of us. I always tell my models that I will always see a lot more than the camera will. And the camera will see a lot more than the final photograph will. That’s just how it works.
As far as who among those that I’ve worked with fit this criteria, there are quite a few. Julie (“photo”:http://flickr.com/photos/revjim/250439981/) was once one of my favorite models because she was almost always available, took direction well, and was willing to experiment with me. There are a few others that I’ve worked with enough to know that any future attempt will yeild good results. Included in that list is Gloria, Liz, Adrienne, Kristen, and Erica. I’d include you in that list too, though if you’d let loose just a little more it’d be a whole lot easier.
2. *What would your perfect place to raise kids be?*
I want a community to raise my children in. I want it to be far enough from the city that they can appreciate the natural aspects of the world, and yet close enough to still experience art, music, and world culture. I want some place that rewards individualism and supports local bonds. I want to be a part of something, instead of a face in a sea of lost faces.
As far as this country goes, this means either the New England area, the North West, or the desert and Rocky Mountain regions.
3. *If you could go back to school, would you still pick computer science to be your major?*
Not at all. I’ve hired enough computer science majors to know that the theory they teach serves very little use in practice.
4. *Do you like dogs?*
I *LOVE* dogs. I want one. I’m debating between a big dog that can fill the seat next to me in the car and a smaller dog that can sleep at the foot of the bed at night. I want a dog that will go outside and run in the park and go for a quick swim when I’m taking photos at the river at sunrise.
5. *If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?*
I would change how dependent I am on the validation of others. While the opinion of others is important and often valid, I feel that, more than help me, it hinders me from going forward in a lot of ways.