For the most part the stories are contained in the images. Small things may add to the story as the image is explored. We live in an impatient world though and not everyone takes the time so I decided to write up a little more. The series started with one image in mind, but quickly took on a life of it’s own as models and others added to the stories. There are still images to be done. Some stories also came out of the research I was doing for other images. Another interesting aspect of this series is that although the images are dark, the mood behind the scenes was very different
The Prostitute
This was the first image. Some of the style was inspired by Gregory Crewdson’s work. It is not meant to address the morality of it, but rather the desperation behind it. I have known two women who resorted to sex for money because of circumstances. How they felt about themselves was heartbreaking. Another women talked with me a bit about her experience working at one of the Nevada brothels. Her comment was “it takes a strong heart and a strong mind”. I found that statement chilling. To be fair, one woman did send me a note about this picture saying that she was very happy working as a “puta”. She did not understand that the story was not intended to apply to all, but to tell the story of some. This was a difficult image to cast as even models who regularly did nude website content balked at the idea of playing the character of a prostitute.
In exploring the picture most people see the nude woman first, then see that something is off about her mood. Tracking down the money in her hand defines the character and the back story of what has just happened. The shadowy figure leaving the room is less pronounce. The wall air conditioner is characteristic of a motel room. The bedding is in disarray and her clothes are on the chair.
Battered Woman
A woman staring out the window in despair. There is a pronounced bruise on her cheek. Though it looks like it is swollen, it is just makeup. Her top is torn. In the background you can see the light from a TV, beer cans on the floor, and a shadowy figure sitting in a chair.
The Rape Tree
This story came out of my research. At the southern border they sometimes find a tree with women’s underwear hanging in it. It is part of the illegal immigration trafficking. Sometimes the smugglers pick someone out of the group, rape her and hang her underwear in the tree as a trophy. It becomes part of the “price of admission”. Though these are usually found in the daylight, I felt the night image had more impact.
Passed Out
A woman lays on a table unconscious, mostly undressed, surrounded by bottles. In the background several guys sit around the camp fire. Not much thought given to her condition. In many articles it is pointed out that alcohol is the most common “date rape drug”.
Walking
This is more surreal than factual. It is from a dream a friend told me about. Walking naked down a street trying to reach a guy that could never be reached.
Fading to Memory
This was actually an accident but people liked the image so it has been included. It was intended to be a variation of the one above but it was shot in an area we didn’t have good control of. The technique is a combination of time exposure and flash. The flash highlights and sharpens the subject, but the model needs to stay in place while the shutter is open, often as much as 15 to 30 seconds. My car was sitting just out of frame for the model to jump in to after the shutter closed. In this frame the streak of light is a car that came around the corner during the exposure causing her to jump in to the car before the shutter was closed. This is what caused the transparency, she was not there while part of the night scenery burned in.
Excruciating Love
The story was given to me by a model that saw this series (not the one in the picture). She was a petite woman who often had trouble with boyfriends who were inconsiderate in bed. The phrase she used was “enduring pain for someone else’s pleasure”. This couple was nice enough to pose for the story. The first thing seen is their obviously different moods. Adding to the story is the picture of the two of them on the headboard along with the wine glasses, bottle and candles. All this was to establish them as a couple despite the conflict in moods.
Fear
I was walking with a friend one night. She made the comment that she like to walk at night but didn’t get the chance very often. I asked her why, and she said “Because I am a woman” It struck me that where I saw an empty street, she saw potential threats.
Rice in here hair
From an old phrase “she was still combing the rice out of her hair”. First she is obviously a bride. As people look through the picture they often see the skin next, then her facial expression. Often the comment that something seems wrong comes up. As they look through the picture the feet on the bed is often a surprise, there are two many. Less obvious is the red lingerie on the bed and the air conditioner, red being unlikely to go with the white dress. The setting in the motel room and the white dress suggest this is just after the wedding.
Lost Innocence
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As part of my research I ran across a story about a girl who was on a date with a football player. As they were walking through a park he pinned her and forced her. The image I got is that this could have been a place she played as a young girl. In this image she is nude on a playground slide, her dress laying next to her. In the background, houses with the windows lit, the residence unaware of what is happening.
Forgotten
A man works on his car, which has obviously had a lot of care. The tools are laid out in order on a a clean cloth. A woman unsuccessfully tries to get his attention.
Intruder
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A woman enters her home, but behind the door a blade can be seen held by someone hiding in the shadows.
Voyeur
A woman getting ready to go out, you speculate as to where. She is unaware of the that outside the window a man is hanging from the roof with a camera. Anything to get a glimpse of her body.
Guy With Camera
GWC for short. It is a reference to a guy that uses a camera as an excuse to get a girl undressed. Many models have stories about “photographers” that they regretted working with Typically they don’t learn the art. In this image the model is obviously uncomfortable (she is acting though). The lighting has been set up to light every angle, no subtlety or style. The background has not been cleaned up leaving a lot of distraction.
Date Rape
The World Hurts
The model was a friend who I shot with many times. She would often ask me to help her express something she was feeling, or to create images to fit one of her songs. This image seemed to fit the series.