'I started to wonder how does one get into working in porn or modeling.'
Frost
Many of you remember my first piece this past May featuring photographer Michal Boothe's (
misbimages) tantalizing images of Frost. (
A Touch of Frost) These images from from their second shoot together. As part of the process of piecing together the first post, both Michal and Frost provided commentary of their experience of working together. Frost also took time to answer the many questions I though at through at him. Whenever I am putting together a piece for FH, my main curiosity centers on what factors led to the specific model posing nude in front of the camera of the artist that I'm featuring
In answering why decided to pose nude, I was initially a little surprised that porn work was part of Frost's plan. It wasn't his answer so much as Frost's honesty in sharing his goal. I have enjoyed featuring many adult film actors on the site, and through their work in porn have acquired a keen sense of what works in front of the camera and how to pose and best showcase their bodies. Frost however, was new to nude modeling, yet already had a keen sense of what his appeal was to other.
I am guessing the most successful models and actors, porn or otherwise, learn what is about them, that others are attracted to. It would seem odd to be in front of the camera for years and not learn what works, and what doesn't. What struck me about Frost, was how the story he told was so different than the story I first imagined after seeing his images. Michal has become one of my favorite and frequent collaborators, and knows my love of story. Over the last couple of years, Michal has been assisting in my story research by asking his models to fill out a short questionnaire. The questionnaire has been incredibly helpful, not only with models who may be too busy, or not interested in an interview, but also help me form the questions for the models who do. Two of Frost's answers really intrigued me.
Q: What do you like about your image in photos
A:
The story they tell
Q:What is the difference between you, and you in your images
A:
The images don't tell the whole story.
One of the reasons I loved Frost's answers was because I usually focus on the story I'm told, but Frost had me wondering about the stories left unsaid. As I said, my initial thoughts on Frost's story ended being off the mark. Frost was just 18, (he is 19 now) when he first shot with Michal, and it was not only his first nude shoot, it was his first professional shoot period. When I first looked into Frost's beautiful blue eyes, I assumed the Oklahoma athlete was entering a strange new world. It may have been new... but after reading his answers, and looking a little deeper into those eyes, it may not not have been as strange as I assumed.
One of the things I love best about Michal's images is his incredible ability to not only strip away clothing and pretense, but also hints to story. Without fashion or props, Michal's images have an almost mesmeric quality, with the focus solely on the model. Michal skillfully makes finding clues a difficult task, rarely including even a tattoo or piece of jewellery, although Michal beautifully utilized Frost's new hairstyle. Michal's shooting process is not for every model, the camera's focus is more intense, leaving little to hide behind. For some models however, it means utilizing pose, facial expressions and in Frost's case, especially their eyes to tell the story, not always the entire story, but the story they want to tell.