Many who check out FH on a regular basis know how much I love ritual and tradition. Every year I think of changing up or modernizing the layout and format, but then, fall back to my habitual way of posting. I especially hold on to traditions at Christmas. Although I've done holiday posts for many years, since 2015, every Christmas has included the work of photographers Gordon Nebeker and Tom Nakielski from Lights On Studio.
As any of you know, this year, Tom had to stop shooting due to health and mobility issues. It was difficult for us both, but especially for Tom, who found himself unable to continue the career and passion he's devoted himself to for decades. Tom has spent most of his life in a studio, even opening his own photography studio and processing film and prints. He did senor pictures, family photos, weddings, pets and Christmas portraits. The studio quickly took off and before long, Tom had to hire a small staff to meet the studio's demands.
Tom wanted to continue, and even did a Scream themed Halloween shoot in his living room for the site.
Given the shoot went well, Tom thought he might be able to venture back in the studio for a Christmas themed session. He and I tossed around ideas and settled on a Santa spanking his naughty elf. The idea inspired my 'naughty' themed posts yesterday.
The idea arose for two reasons. One, we liked the concept, and two, Tom could use model Hansel Wellington as Santa. Given their long history of collaborating together, having Hansel involved would ensure Tom had someone around to assist and do the 'heavy lifting.' As December grew closer however, Tom realized he wouldn't be physically up to returning back in the studio.
Coincidently, last week there was piece on our local news about how many people are struggling this year with giving up Christmas traditions. Given inflation, and the state of our economy, many have had to make changes in how they celebrate. Buying less, not having a party, or fewer people over to dinner. Changes in what food and decorations are bought and utilized. One of the biggest things people were struggling with was the Christmas meal.
Many families who always bought a large turkey for Christmas dinner were this year buying a chicken, or making a lasagna, or alternative or cheaper food alternative. There were parents interviewed who spoke of how hard it was to tell their children they wouldn't be getting as much this year, or that they wouldn't be having the big turkey dinner they were used to.
This had me thinking that traditions were never really meant to be permanent, but improvised to meet the needs of a particular time and place. Our Christmas' change constantly, from those holidays we had as kids, to the ones as teens, young adults and beyond. There were several Christmas's I never made it home to see my family, choosing to be with friends, or a partner instead. My parents didn't like it, but they understood that traditions need not end, but must be modified year to year.
That being said, I wasn't quite ready to give up featuring Tom's work over Christmas, at least not yet. I was going to go back to an older post when I remembered there was a model Tom worked with that I'd featured before. I also remembered they did a few Christmas shots. I have featured a few of those shots, but never did a full piece featuring Tom's work with artmodel Josh. You can see some of Josh's non-holiday shots in previous post HERE:
'I've never had a problem posing nude. I used to work in nightclubs not wearing much or anything, so it's never been a thing. 'I love the nude form as art. Viewing it, posing for it, shooting it. Photographically and sensually. It's a release, and way of coping, and a way of sharing art with the world. '
Once again, Tom tug back into his archives and found his original shoot with Josh to send my way. Most of these images were ever featured on FH, or anywhere else before. I was so excited to open the Dropbox folder Tom sent on to find original Christmas themed images to feature this year. Traditions do have to change, but sometimes... you can squeeze more year out of them, and hold on tightly, just a little bit longer.
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