When I first began FH, my main go-to site for connecting was Model Mayhem. Like everything on-line, trends and technology change, and many models and creators moved to social media as their primary platform for connecting and displaying their work. I still like to drop by MM now and then, for the contests, and for the clean, and easy and organized way artists can share their work.
On social media, portfolios can sometimes be complicated to view and absorb. On Model Mayhem, most creators share their best, or favorite photos, and I find it much easier to ger an overview of an artist's style and focus. That's exactly what happened on MM a few weeks ago when I came upon the work of Marty from Maleform Photography.
I was immedeately struck by how beautifully specific Marty captured the male form. Marty doesn't use a lot of 'extras' in his work, just a clean focus on the model in front of his lens. I was also drawn to the choice of models that Marty chose to capture. Most of Marty's portfolio was filled with images of mature men. Mature not as in old, but mature meaning men whose masculinity appears authentic. It's not just 'put on' for the shoot or the camera, but well earned from live experiences.
One of my favorite models in Marty's port was
Kris. The images of Kris exude a strength and confidence, and all of the qualities that first struck me about Marty's work. I think some of this is due to the relationship between the man behind the camera, with the man in front of it. Kris and Marty are not just creative collaborators, but friends, one going back to when Kris was just beginning his journey into modeling. Both have continue to pursue their love of the visual arts, and Kris has had his images displayed in various publications including DNA magazine.
The London based photographer's beginnings were in finance, working as a corporate photographer for a marketing department. During his time there, his employer purchased a pro camara, and paid for Marty's Photoshop training. Although he's since left the company, Marty's love of the art form remained. He got back into photography about three years ago after investing in his passion and buying a new dslr camera.
'I often work with actors and models and I can practice with many artists I know. I do male form and mainstream photography. I enjoy working with men, especially art nude. . I want all models I work with to feel comfortable and safe. It is nice to push the boundaries but only when both model and photographer are happy do it.'
Marty describes Kris as a great collaborator, and easy and fun to work with. This particular series, was shot while on a trip to Scotland: Edinburgh and Highlands. They began by shooting in an apartment in Edinburgh, and then shot on another day, outdoors in the mountains. I often ask photographers and models who shoot outside if they're ever discovered or watched by people passing by. For this shoot, there were observers, but not the human kind.
'The outdoor experience was funny when a few cows and a bull were watching us. The bull, (below) wasn't happy about us being there and taking pictures.'
No comments:
Post a Comment