"Bodies of Light" is a project I began in 2013 while working in Germany for the US Defense Health Agency. The impetus for the project was my interest in the Lytro Gen 1 camera. I was enamored with the camera, but needed to find something to use it on. The subject needed to hold one's interest over a range of depths as one of the key features of the camera's images was the ability to refocus after capture. In playing with the camera I soon learned that it was best used for short-range shoots -under 8 feet or so- to get a continuous depth gradient. I was working on a separate project at the time that afforded me free models -subjects really, as only a couple were experienced models- so the body was a natural choice.
My objective was to capture everyday people in such a way that their body contributed to the beauty of the image but wasn't in itself the defining factor. My tag lines were "be the art" and "every body is a model body". There are a lot of photographers in the NFT space right now saying that they are all about body positivity. I think most are actually more about an expanded acceptance of nudity or a desire to make money by selling pictures of pretty women.
Because of the restrictions on my Visa, I was not allowed to earn any income outside of my Defense job and so I captured the images anticipating future use. Also, I couldn't call myself a photographer in Germany without a license, so I became a "hobby photographer". That didn't matter however, as I still found many people willing to work with me because of their appreciation for the work and their interest in seeing themselves captured in my photos.
Here's a video in which you can see something of the behind the scenes process. The video is not brilliant. A friend made it for me while he was working on a project of his own - a series of videos about people's passions. I'm a bit embarrassed by his inclusion of my light source - a product of my iterative process to find the right amount of light.
Lytro's concept for this camera was that it would be used to generate "living pictures"; finished images that could be refocused by the viewer on their computer. I've seen a total of one excellent example of that use. Lytro provided plug-ins for the web as well as their own dedicated site - a sort of Flickr for Lytro but that doesn't matter because when Lytro went out of business all of that utility disappeared. I can still generate movies demonstrating that utility, but that was never my intention. Nevertheless, here's an example.
I figured zooming in and out of a nude photo would be fun for a second or two but would then quickly lose its appeal. I was more interested in the camera's zero-to-infinity focal range (it can capture an image of objects touching the lens) and the ability to refocus images after capture. I also discovered in the process that the Lytro has some distinctive quirks that can be taken advantage of to achieve a a look I like.
As I continued capturing images and processing them, I found that I preferred close-focus with a narrow depth of field, and I developed the processing technique that you see today. I wanted the body to float in a solid black field, and to be significantly desaturated so that there was a level of abstraction. Because of the difference in sun exposure and skin type across the body, subtle reds and hints of green serve as natural highlights, and remind us of the living subject. I bring in other colors occasionally-but-infrequently for punch.
Out of all of the images that I've captured, the images below are some of the best representation of my intent for the project. They are the type of photo I'd like to highlight on Sloika as I believe they are the ones that truly set my work apart. I've got many other beautiful images, but they were happy accidents I encountered along the way. Having photographed over 120 models, I've also got many more images of this type.
These photos are miniatures whereas most of the images in the NFT realm are ... not. They are 1080 pixels square and print at four inches. I've reduced them here to provide a better sense of the character of the images. Clicking on the thumbnails below will call a 600 pixel image. Viewing them at full scale reveals flaws and artifacts that are merely a part of the character when presented as intended.
There are 100 images below. Probably 60-80 models. I need your assistance in determining how to present them. Typically, I have grouped my photos thematically - as you can see on the public portions of this website. My first collection on OpenSea "Angel's View" is half of a selection of twenty images; all of sitting models captured from above the ear. It has gotten zero traction. Except for one or two images the images in that collection fall between my intention and my happy accidents. The set I had prepared for Sloika - Stolen Kisses - is entirely happy accidents. None really plays much with depth, but the images are attractive nonetheless.
I wish to showcase my ideal photos. I'd like to show a diverse selection, but am unsure how to do that except by volume, e.g. volume I, II etc; minting as I can. I'm not one to burn photos that don't sell, so I would expect to mint new collections before previous ones sell out. I'm OK with that, that's common in gallery shows.
So, your thoughts on how to form a cohesive yet diverse collection that allows additional collections going forward? 'm not asking you to select images, just providing all of these for a broad overview of the work.
Thanks!
