'I think the Valentines shoots are always my favorite holiday to shoot. It's always a big collaborative effort. Some of the models really helped, and many had input on what would work best. Some even brought their own props.'
Abel
This Valentine's piece started with a bouquet of red balloons. Not for Valentine's, but for a photo shoot by photographer Richard Rothstein. For the shoot, model Abel Rey was holding the balloon bouquet high up on a rooftop, (HERE:) I loved the pop of color in the images, as well as Abel, who I began following on Instagram. Abel's portfolio was full of colorful, holiday imagery, many taken by New York artist and photographer Fwee Carter.
I quickly clicked follow on Fwee's Instagram page, and instantly fell in love with his work. Fwee's work captures that youthful wonderment I love so much in visuals and art. Images that take you back to the days of making Valentines out of construction paper, or scotch taping your decorated brown bag to your desk in elementary school.
When we were you, holidays were about imagination and fantasy, more than romance and reality. So many photographers of the male form shoot incredibly beautiful and serious imagery, but nude images should also be bawdy and fun. To me, Fwee's work visually harkens back to Vaudeville and burlesque, albeit with more of an erotic edge.
Inspired by comic books and anime, Fwee shares that he loves incorporating dynamic, cinematic lighting and pop-culture references in his visuals. His goal, to create stunning photos that feel like they were ripped from the pages of a comic book. Beyond the creative collaboration Fwee shares with his models, he strives to ensure his work can be an extension of his personal values. Fwee's approach celebrates diversity, embraces expansive definitions of gender and sexuality and, most importantly, believes all bodies are sexy.
'I always saw how women were constantly being sexualized in photos and in an industry at the time focused on them, I wanted to at first show geeky men can be sexy too! '
Do you remember your first visual inspirations?
My first visual Inspirations would have to be Power Rangers and the X-Men animated series.
Did you initially shoot human models, or did you have another subject in focus?
I first officially started shooting in high school as part of the school newspaper. I went to school for it but the college didn't even have a photojournalism class but I learned all about lighting products and people. I really just love taking photos of people and capturing their personality in the photos.
Do you have any memories from your first time shooting a nude model?
I was so nervous. I always want models to feel comfortable, especially in my space. Thank goodness the model was very open about it and they were really the ones that wanted to do nude photos first.
Do you prefer working with new models or more experienced models?
I love all types of models. I actually learn modeling poses so I tend to teach models how to pose and what works with them. I ask them what colors look best on them and what angles work best. If they don't know the answer then we test out different colors and angles to see what works best for them.
What would you consider your 'best' or favorite memory from a shoot?
My favorite memory from a shoot was when I was working on my Sexy Nerd Project and the model who was suppose to be Aquaman cancelled last minute. It was about 11:30pm when a model I had just met a week ago offered to come and do it since he lived a few blocks away. He came and the shoot was going great but we were throwing water on the model and it was hard to do that and take the photos. My roommate at the time left her room and I called her over to help out and she gladly helped throw water on a half naked model at midnight.
What would you consider your worst?
I think my worst memory was when I was doing a group shoot at a bar before it opened. I had a bunch of models there waiting for their turn, I had someone painting on a model when my camera stopped working. I was freaking out and lucky for me my friend who came to help out told me he found a place to rent a camera quickly so he ran and got it so i could complete the shoot. But because of the delay, two models had to leave. The shoot came out great but I try now to make sure I have backups.
What motivated you to start shooting holidays?
Honestly I started so I would have content to post for certain months but then it became much more fun and I got more and more props. I would shoot like 4 holidays with one model so i can post them throughout the year.
If money and time were not factors, do you have a dream scenario you'd love to shoot?
Oh If that were possible I would be recreating iconic moments from anime and action movies. I'd create a music video type scenario for different models.
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