Rope

Posted on by michaelvasquezart

Many genres draw my interest, I shoot my impression of a setting…, a cerebration…, an act. All my images are crafted using available light, reflectors, cards, and that most important ingredient: love of subject.

My goal is to create art of you and your body. To highlight the curves, the crevices, and to do so in a respectful manner…, all while capturing the essence of who you are at this particular moment. Explicit or not each image gives the subject some sense of privacy to her image.

Models come to me from many walks of life…, and for many different reasons. We work in collaboration, my model’s input is expected and welcome. Poses are offered, boundaries are pushed, yet respected. I do ask each model to come with an open mind, and a sense of play.

No releases are signed until each image is approve, I shoot for the art market only.

Film Order

Posted on by michaelvasquezart

 

 

What a wonderful feeling after so long a wait, to be able to buy film. Not that the things holding me back have eased, not so much, but I have enough to work on. One of my first model’s to begin working with me on what has developed into the new series. I’ve know this woman for thirteen (13) years now, (seen on FaceBook) the boyfriends come and go. Never ever thought the both of us would still be involved with each other lives this long. Like so much of my art it has evolved over time, organic, the friendship has deepened. I’ve invited the model to my shows, or tell them when a magazine has picked our work to publish. I love educating new model to the world of art, how our work fits into the show.

So too has my relationship with my other models has grown over time, the nature of our work, what to submit to magazines, websites that handle art. Those models who wish to be involved are welcome, those that do not want to be bother, I let them be. With this new series I have someone who I work with, not everyone is so open to the type of images I want to make. I keep my options open, always welcome back models who have worked with me in the past. I welcome new models, they work with what they are comfortable with, I never require models to pose in ways they are not fully behind. Trust is key to my work, something that can only be built by getting to know each other, how we think. It’s the only way I work.

I find myself in a wonderful position, two (2) models, two different ways to pose. Each with a rhythm of their own, different set of values: its exciting. So return to the subject of film I need to buy, how my choice of film, model…, each bringing their personality, moves, and desires. Then I get to the real artsy stuff, expired film, those unpredictable colour shifts. Maybe a cross-processed roll of slow film for the movement, mystery, the flying by the seat of the pants feeling. The wait for real film to return from the lab. Part and parcel of the magic of film, exposing it for results hoped for, not for the faint of heart, or of imagination.

A return to the old days, the old ways, waiting to see if the magic has stuck, or a near miss. I love the suspense, the anticipation. I’ve spent decades work with these films, I know how they work, how they are supposed to work, then with the broken rules what you should expect. Now long out of date, the unknown…, what will I get, how will my model react if nothing shows up, least not model portfolio wise. That is the magic, the curse of my art, the great unknown is the way I work, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Checked the film vault, an old Tupper-ware container I have kept for many years now. Oh want delights! Film I had purchased in my N.Y. days, slower ISO that’s why it survived so long. All color film, all way out of date, oh the colour-shifts.

I was talking with a friend the other morning over breakfast, I told her how much I enjoys treading the needle. I want to produce a new piece from the current series, that is FaceBook pure. I do not support censorship, I will not show my work with a black bar, defused area because some white male is uncomfortable with the human body. So jerking a few chains does not bother me, I push boundary.

Day is Done

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Man Against the Elements

Sometimes while I was in N.Y.C., I’d take the subway down to the WTC, down to the marina I’d go.  Often just to see the sunset as it reflected on the fabulous windows of New York.  That gave me ideas for how to capture the sunset like I wanted, and not at all like the commercial boys and girls.  I use real film, high-speed film with lots of grain, and lots of atmosphere if you knew how to expose it correctly.  Day is Done, surviving in the face of adversity no matter which side it shows.

Elderly

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Get a HaircuWebt

I was recently referred to as elderly in an email I was privy to. Elderly…, me…, elderly…, although I do resemble that remark, I never considered myself as elderly. Or as the other more acceptable euphemism goes, “your not a spring chicken anymore”. Okay…, not a spring bird, that I can see…, say mid-summer at least…, early August at the latest. Not a roasting bird, but a fine stock material, and not something that you worry about its expired date.

I have reached that time of life where cops, in the groceries store call me “sweetie”, usually they want me to lay down, and I’m not even tired! But its a question that has befuddled us for a long, long time. Me…, I’m of the opinion that the term “elderly” denotes someone of greater age that I am, and will stay that way until I have real problems getting around, and thinking clearly. That to my mind is were the term “elderly” begins to be applied. Beyond their expire date, but not yet expired, if you know what I mean.

I know I am older, I am reminded that every living minute of my life. Every time I reach above my head, or bend over for an extended period of time, every time I turn my head, to the random pains that I get, and ether go away, or at least go someplace different. I am older, but not decrepit yet, I get pains from living my life to its fullest extent. Truth be told, sometimes I pushed my body past its limits. Having five (5) pounds of camera slung around your neck for any were from two (2 hours to seven (7) hours a day. That kind of stress on the neck has got to take its toll, and when you are older you feel it. When you’re elderly, you live in chronic pain everyday, and your body grows into such a tortured posture. But damn it, I’m not that old yet, and the classification bother me immensely.

I tend to see things in a continuum, still moving ahead, still involved in life and love (though to what extent, I’ll never tell). I have plans for my future that involve new apps, and the current way we do things in our new world. I remain a vital part of life, with things to say, and knowledge to pass on to those who want to learn.. Most of all I have art to pass along, to create, to bring a new/old way of see the world through some other person eyes. To wonder who that person is, wants, and lust for. I see this person, I know this person…, I feel for this person. That is what my art is in the final annalists, what you see in my photographs, who you see in my photographs.

That you can make a connection to a two (2) dimensional object, most often without color, or those outward signs of rank or privilege. That’s the magic in what I do. That is who I am, I ask the magic to move me with another person. To take two people into a creation of our minds, the same wave length , and that art will come out of our endeavors. And sure, its a wonderful feeling I get to see that magical look in my models eyes when she see the work for the first time. But my main target is you who comes to shows like mine. Those of you who admire art in all its forms, to those of you who collect it, and who knows, value it more. My art was created with you in mind. To the people who value my work, and you alone.

Catch the Wind

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Catch the Wind

 

When I saw the sunbeam on the left I just had to have it in my image. Call it serendipitous, but organic things want to get in the photo’s too. I love how the model is lost in playing with the wind. Even when you are shooting a film-test,  one has to keep an eye open to see the possibilities around you. So this your and my artsy shot for today. Class dismissed. The lovely Jean Dawson is the model.

 

Young\Old

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My Work LA No C

 

You know sometimes you meet an old soul trapped for now in a young body, and you must help them.  Came into my world with a portfolio of shots of her crotch, and an attitude.  Just 18 and living life in the fast lane, working at a strip club.  Over time I really wanted to help this girl to see there was another path that was better for her.  Now 30 with a husband and a sweet young girl of her own, life is made.  She says next time she is down she’ll get in front of my camera again.

At the Window

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Ms James Window

 

My lovely friend Ms James again, I do owe her a debt as a friend, and as an artist in trouble. About 2 years after my stroke, I was wondering if I still had it in me to do my art anymore. She came down to work with me to give me the chance to have a live model working with me. I was rusty as hell, and the issues with my hand control was not what I wanted it to be. But, I was a gracious host plying her with wine in abundance, and food so she wouldn’t have any unfortunate meeting with law. Friend to friend she was there for me, and that meant the world to me. Thanks Ms James.

Elemental Man

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Man Against the Elements

When I lived in Manhattan, some days I’d take the train down to WTC,and watch the sun set.  Across the street was the World Financial  Center, beyond that was a broad concourse to the waterside, and to the ferry docks.  When I shot this I’d love to say I got the guy to stand in place, however the magic of photography I got what I needed without asking.  But when I saw my film a day later I sure thanked my lucky Angel.  That was the magic about film in the not so long ago past.  We had to wait for film to be processed, and then walked back to the studio, and seen for the first time.