'As an amateur photographer and frequent traveler, I like to use pictures to tell stories of the places I go and people I meet.'
One of the reasons we travel is to experience difference. Different places and experiences, different tastes, smells and views. One of my goals with FH is to take readers on a visual journey, tagging along with artists as they see, experience and capture models and images not necessarily seen on other pages and sites. When I first contacted Atlanta photographer MichaelR09, it wasn't about featuring his images of Micah, I hadn't seen them yet. The image I had seen was really great shot in his port of a hot, hunky and naked model with a unique and mysterious arm pose.
Michael responded with support for my featuring his work, and sent me on his DeviantArt link to check out more of his imagery. After a quick glance through Michael's portfolio, it was his images of Micah that grabbed my attention and had me wanting to see more. I loved Micah's look, especially how all of his unique features blend together to create such a visually fascinating and beautiful package.
His his lean sexy body and his Pebbles Flintstone pony tail. I also love the glasses, and especially the beautifully expressive, and sometimes sad, eyes behind them. Most of you know I love windows within imagery, and I was captivated with how Micah was looking out, and his relationship to what was on the side of the glass. There was a story there, and Michael's images had me wanting to explore further.
Michael shares that 21 year old Michael didn't have much modeling experience, so he provided very specific direction during the shooting process. Although Micah was pretty quiet, he also demonstrated a self- assurance and adapted to the shoot, and Michael's direction well, and really seemed to enjoy it once it got started. Micah clearly had a bit of an exhibitionist streak, and Michael reports he was hard pretty much as soon as the shoot started and he got undressed. Michael tried not to have Micah's erection be the focal point and says that he tried to keep his images on the artistic side of the art/porn divide.
'Micah's's a country boy who recently relocated to a big city, which can sometimes bring on strong feelings of isolation. When offering direction, I was thinking about the loneliness he might have been experiencing.'
Michael's direction was clearly on point as you can feel what Micah must be experiencing as he looks out of that window. Alone in a brand new apartment, looking out at a big new city, thinking of both the possibilities it has to offer, as well as the uncertainty that awaits. Micah's story of his new life in the city is yet to be written, but I loved the first chapter that Michael so beautifully captured.
'I would say that aside from good light, the most important thing for me is good communication. If there's some understanding between photographer and subject, the chances are a lot higher that you'll get something good. I enjoy the process as much as the finished product, so I look for models who also enjoy it. I posed a couple of times myself and it helps to understand how it feels to be naked in front the camera. I like using different settings as opposed to a boring studio backdrop, so sometimes the location can add some drama.'
