A Momentary Life

I normally like to update this my blog/site with photos whenever I finish a set so that I can post up all the photos from one session while getting a chance to crack a lame joke here and there. At first it worked out pretty well when I was updating every 3-4 weeks. Then suddenly, I slipped and fell into artist’s cliché and lost my shit for a little while. More about that after the photos.

Anyway, since its been 5 months since I’ve updated this thing, I think now is as good of a time as any to modify that rule-of-thumb. So from now on, I’m just gonna post up new work as I get them done. Otherwise they’ll never see the light of day with my old schedule. Thankfully, this update is a small but complete set with Natasha June.


 

Rest of the entry and photos are here »

I updated the look of my site. Still a work in progress.

http://www.lowtekphotography.com/

Divya found me last Summer in order to shoot her for a latex outfit she had just bought. She had never modeled in a latex outfit before and she had been dying to try it out. After realizing she'd have to purchase some lube for an outfit for the first time in her life, and me recommending a particular brand, she knew this shoot was going to be special experience.

She arrived and we shot a couple of outfits before our time was up. I had an interesting idea I wanted to try out and Divya was more than excited to try out something most people would consider a prelude to kidnapping. She took it in stride and even managed to keep her cool as I restrained her arms to her body.

It took me a few months of mulling it over to settle on an idea for the last shot. The first few attempts didn't go right and I abandoned the piece until I came back to it this morning. Just like Lucid Manifestation, this image means a lot to me in a surprising way. Since late last year I've been slowly coming to terms with a condition that I have called Depersonalization Disorder (DPD). What is odd, is that DPD is a recognized condition but no medications have been developed for it, and no treatment recommendations have been established. In fact, so few people actually know about DPD that when a person actually enters an intense depersonalized state for the first time they often believe they are the only ones who possess the condition.

Its terrifying for some. And life shaping for others.

So during this time I've been in a state of reflection about my entire life. As a result, my priorities have been weighed, examined and reshuffled. It wasn't until this morning that I realized why. This is my second attempt at trying rebalance it.

Depersonalized Voice

( 2 More of Divya )

Everyone has good years and bad years. 2008 was not a good year for me. Personally and financially a lot of circumstances came to a boiling point in my life. Other creative folks out there will understand and know that an artist under stress is an artist that can't function. Most people have an outlet that lets them deal with stress. For me, that outlet is my art... until everything goes to shit like it did in 2008. Like many folks, I had a lot things on my mind that forced me re-prioritize my passions in life. Unfortunately, on the road trip of life my art and photography got the bitch seat that no one wanted.

( More about me )
Earlier last year my friend Jacky contacted me about doing some shots for her portfolio, so we set up a small shoot. She was so happy with the photos that she recommended me to a friend Meg who set a shoot up with me a few months later. Below are some of shots.


( 3 More )

This was a recent shoot with a young male model by the name of Blu J. I haven't worked with a male model in over 2 years. The last one I had worked with was Peabo who has since moved to New York to work as a full time model. I had almost forgotten how fast a guy can get dressed when told to, even if he's a model.

At the time of this shoot, I had realized that I hadn't done nearly as many shoots that I wanted to do. It's been a tough year and the pressure of it all had been bearing down on me. Creatively, I was frustrated with myself and that lead to a bad burn out. I was thinking of taking a break from the camera and art when Blu J found me on Myspace. This rarely happens for me (mostly because I hate Myspace). So I wasn't expecting a shoot like this to bring me out of my funk.

But it did. =]

While still new to modeling, he took direction very well and was willing to try out some really odd ideas I had. Most people would look at me oddly or perform a double take when I ask them to hold a chainsaw and take off their clothes (you have no idea how many). Thankfully, he didn't, and it turned out great. It also lead to what I think is some of the best work I've done all year.

The first shot is titled Lucid Manifestation. At the time, I had a different idea for how this shot should have ended up looking. In the midst of retouching it I decided to go into an entirely different direction. Before I knew it, I had an image that reflected my state of mind so perfectly it scared me a bit.

It's rare when that happens.

Lucid Manifestation


( 4 more from his set )

So, I actually shot this set with Fela last year.

Yes... I do realize its October now. Barely. Sigh.

Well needless to say it got put onto the backburner because I'm a tortured artist with a myriad of distractions and she's a good friend who has more patience than sharp objects. I finished the last shot I wanted to retouch while in the midst of a retouching trance. A lot of my fellow photographers will know that a retouching trance comes rarely. Often called a "being-on-a-roll", a retouching trance is a heightened state of mind where a Digital Artist and their inner creative eye (and Photoshop) become one.

Yeah.

Oh yeah, here's Fela.



( 4 more in here )

So ever since I met Reece Newton, a fellow fetish photographer in Atlanta, last year he has made it a point to promote the work of many great photographers through some small art shows in and around Atlanta.

This year he's had a couple of other shows and since money was a little easier to come by I decided to send off a couple of my newest prints for his shows. I've got 3 images in his show this week, 2 of which are unreleased to any of my portfolios/blogs.

So come to the Mark Ultralounge on Friday September 12 if you:
- Are in Atlanta and have nothing better to do
- Love to drink
- Enjoy Fetish and Erotic themed Artwork
- Enjoy my artwork
- Hate my artwork
- Are indifferent about my artwork
- Want to give me the ultimate Birthday Gift by buying one of my pieces =]

Yes. This Friday is my birthday. I normally don't broadcast it for everyone to hear every year, but I figured these were special circumstances.

Tempast and I met up earlier this year to try and come together and create something interesting. The day of the shoot my MUA cancels on me and the hair stylist has fallen into some kind of black hole where cell reception is good, but alas voicemails are received and never returned. So throwing together everything we could we decided to make a day of the shoot with whatever we had at hand.

The first image, titled "Black Queen" (as in Chess) is the first of a two part series. It was one of the 3 prints I had at the Skin Two Atlanta Event a few weeks ago. I wasn't feeling that well so I stayed in that night, but hung up my prints for display anyway, only to find out that someone stole it. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I think I'm going to have to go with theft-by-taking as the leader in my books. If you'd like a print of Black Queen (or any other prints) contact me through my site.

Needless to say, that may very well be the last Skin Two event I show at.


( 3 More of Tempast in here )

After I posted up my last set of images to various communities I got a few messages about what the story was when it came to the shot titled "Unclean". Some people thought she had murdered someone, sliced off her own breast, or was hiding something. So I posted it on MM and asked for theories on what people saw. One guy not only gave an interpretation of the shot, but of my entire portfolio. It completely blew me away, because not only was he correct, but he made me realize a few things about myself as an artist.

"Your work focuses on the spiritual side of the model as art. The images are replete with references and keys of a search for a higher plan and perfection. Your god is Art. Your salvation is the striving to create the perfect, and the model often searches in vain for the approval of the god of ART, approval that you also seek.

"UNCLEAN is your homage to your Christian (probably catholic) background. It is also you. The artist as the unworthy and repentant sinner. You can not look into the eyes of god, and the blood of your lamb is needed to keep on trying. Your image is of the realization of inability of reaching the perfection and salvation that you know perfect art would bring. The image is your way of saying we are all humbled and unclean and unworthy to be artists."
- Jerry Coleman, Photographer, Arkansas

So last Summer, I was posting up some of my work at the time and I got a message from a model living in Hollywood, CA. She was planning on being in Atlanta that December to be a bridesmaid in her friend's wedding who just happened to be a model I had worked with a couple of years ago. I believe Hollywood is the farthest anyone has traveled to work with me. Granted I wasn't the only photographer she worked with while in Atlanta, but it's a nice thought regardless.

She arrives on time, fresh and ready to get started. As the makeup artist is doing her thing, I start setting up and get to chatting with her. Turns out that aside from being a latex model for Fierce Couture, she is also the singer for a band called Satiate, and a horror movie screamer.

She does voice effects and screams for a lot of horror and action movies that have been out in theaters for the past few years. She said she lost count of how many she's in. Turns out her agent just sells the samples to various production studios and cuts her a check whenever it gets used. I thought that was pretty cool, so being the YouTube addict that I am I show her the Wilhelm Scream Compilation. I told her that one day someone will make the TC Scream Compilation. If you've never seen it before, I guarantee that you'll not only be able to hear, but also identify the Wilhelm Scream in almost every movie you see for the rest of your life. I've probably seen about 10+ movies that aren't in the compilation that have the scream. The most recent film I saw that had it was Jumper.

I decide to use her in my Septem series. Unfortunately, the Septem shot she is in isn't quite ready, but the rest of her shots are. =]

I believe all of the wardrobe she modeled came from Fierce Couture. Aside from her having the most brilliant hair I've seen on a model, I had a lot of fun retouching these shots because of the textured clothing.


This first one is called "Unclean".

( More TC in here... )

I recently stumbled upon Carlynn portfolio and after sending her a message we decided to work together. Although this set is small, it's because she is actually in my second Septem shot that I'll be posting in a couple of weeks.



( 4 more under here )

Forgot I had finished retouching these. This is a set I did with Genevieve last Fall. She's actually a blast to work with, and hang out with.


( Lots more under here )

The first of seven shots from my latest project "Septem".

Gula


Model: Simona Mihiela
MUA and Hair Stylist: Jennifer Denise
Low Tek on Model Mayhem (7791)
Low Tek Photography Official Site

You know, these Holiday cards are a lot more fun to send out when you make them yourself.

Happy New Year 2008 from Low Tek and Friends! Special thanks to Jennifer Denise for makeup. Fela Fray and Genevieve for enduring the cold studio. And to Jewels for being patient. =]

The version without the text will be posted here on New Years Day.

Stay safe everyone.

I think I just found my new motto...

Simona is a glamour model from Tampa who was willing to shoot just about anything, except glamour. In Florida, about 95% of the photographers there shoot Glamour. Its kind of sad really.

Anyway, she just happened to land some paying work in Atlanta and noticed my portfolio. So we scheduled a shoot and worked over a few ideas. It was funny, she worked with 2 other photographers in the area and said that I was by far the best she's worked with. She's already looking for more paying work up here to schedule another shoot with me. I seem to have a knack for spoiling models. =]

Simona's a very talented model, but seemed a little nervous around me. Which is odd with seasoned models. I dunno if it was her age or if she just had a bad experience with a photographer recently. I tried my best to put her at ease, so Jennifer and I steered clear of asking to pose nude.

Fun Fact: Believe it or not, she's actually a natural blonde Romanian. She dyes her hair.

I actually took the first shot of my next art project with Simona, but its not ready for public eyes yet. I think I'm gonna wait until I have the rest of the set shot and retouched before unveiling them.



( 6 more in here... all of them work safe *SHOCK* )

I'm wondering if I should change my LJ name to represent my photography name more or not.

lowtekphoto, or ltphotography, or something like that.

Help me decide and/or provide examples.

Thanks to my shitty luck this week I've got a ton of free time. I did a quick test shoot with a model last Sunday by the name of Tempast. When I answered the door she was wearing a grey wifebeater, grey shorts while carrying about 4 fantasy swords and 3 knives. All of them ranging from "Fucking Sharp" to "Please don't point that at me". Who needs an escort when you have a matching Ninja Straight Blade and Tanto?

When I asked her where her wardrobe was, she says she didn't bring any.

"Oh, well I guess that makes what we're shooting today a lot easier to figure out." Normally for test shoots the model brings along a few outfits or costumes to put on. Apparently, she didn't have a problem not bringing clothes. Clothed or not, I still think I can take a good picture. =]

For those that know my Atlanta friends, doesn't she look like Jacky's older sister?



( 9 More in here... )