National Nude Day, Pornochic, and the Creativity of AI
Today is National Nude Day, and my view of the nude has probably always been a little different than the holiday intended.
I’ve long been drawn to what I think of as pornochic, where fashion, sexuality, fantasy, and photography overlap. I’m not interested in photographing the nude simply because it is nude. I’m interested in creating images that have attitude, mystery, confidence, and enough sexuality to make the viewer stop and wonder what is happening beyond the frame.
This image is an AI creation based on one of my original photographs from a studio session with model Shauna Toerner in downtown Los Angeles. AI allowed me to take that photograph and push it into a surreal fantasy. The repeated figures, identical red masks, and bold red chair create a scene that never existed in front of my camera, yet every element began with one of my own photographs.
What excites me about AI is not that it replaces photography. It doesn’t. It gives me another creative tool for exploring ideas that would be impossible to produce in a real studio. I still begin with my own camera, my own lighting, and my own photographs. AI simply lets me continue the creative process after the shutter has been released.
For me, photography has never been limited to recording reality. Sometimes the most interesting images are the ones that exist somewhere between reality, sexuality, and fantasy.
You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
Thank You!
National Camera Day: Emily Steps Behind the Camera
Today is National Camera Day.
For most photographers, that means sharing one of their favorite photographs or perhaps a picture of the camera they use.
I decided to do something a little different.
Over the past couple of years, many of you have come to know Emily as my evolving AI muse and assistant. She has appeared in restaurants, diners, food trucks, kitchens, airports, and all sorts of imagined places. But today she steps into one of the most familiar places in my world.
The studio.
And this time she isn’t in front of the camera.
She’s behind it.
The model is Desiree, someone many of you already know. She has appeared with us before in photographs and videos ranging from elegant fashion to some very sexy pornochic work. She even managed to go grocery shopping completely nude, which remains one of my favorite adventures we have shared together.
Today was different.
Instead of standing in front of my camera, Desiree found herself in front of Emily’s.
Watching the video, it is easy to forget that Emily began as nothing more than words on a screen. She moves naturally around the set, changes her position, works different angles, crouches for a lower perspective, and photographs Desiree exactly the way I would expect another photographer to work during a studio session.
It is a small moment, but it also feels like another step in Emily’s continuing story. She is no longer just appearing in my photographs. She has become part of the process of creating them.
Happy National Camera Day.
You can see more of my photography, projects, Motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.SecondFocus.com Thank you!
National Bike Month
I just found out that May is National Bike Month. Established in 1956, the League of American Bicyclists says it “… is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try”. So I hope you find my photograph encouraging. Thanks!
So Much More…
Artists Council Highlight
Very fun to be featured by the Artists Council for May 2024. The Artists Council, in it’s sixth year as an independent organization, was previously part of the prestigious Palm Springs Art Museum. It occupies the award winning Galen Building in Palm Desert California. It is a museum quality facility hosting numerous gallery shows throughout the year. Thank You Artists Council!
Kalura Trattoria
I just happened to notice that one of my all time favorite restaurants is still using my photograph at the top of their Facebook page. That is 10 years now. It is the view from the bar out onto the patio and Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. Love it!
National Camera Day
This is the iconic Rolleiflex TLR. A camera used by many legendary photographers of the past and still coveted by some today.
I photographed this Rolleiflex using modern innovation – a Hasselblad X1D11 50c camera paired with the Broncolor F160 LED monolight. Thinking about it; it is a fusion of tradition and innovation.
Let me also announce the first major change to my website in 20 years. Head over to http://SecondFocus.com to take a look. Stay tuned as I’ll be adding much more, so be sure to visit often. Thank you for your continued support! 🌟🖥️ #NationalCameraDay #Photography #Rolleiflex #Hasselblad #Broncolor #SecondFocus #CameraWest
National Pretzel Day
APA Sourcebook 2024
I always look forward to the annual publication of the APA Sourcebook. It is very exciting to be alongside some of the best photographers in the world. This year one of my all time favorite photographs, Natalie Lyle. American Photographic Artists 2024.
Animal Crackers
My food photographs are at http://FoodArtPhotos.com Snack foods, fast foods, foods from our American experience and more. Photographed much differently than you might expect. Keep checking back to see your favorites. I will be adding much more. Thanks!
30,000 People Per Month
Have you ever visited my website? https://www.secondfocus.com It is a site created on liveBooks which I subscribed to at least 20 years ago. liveBooks became the de facto standard for professional photography. I was one of the very first to use them. Likely now I am the longest running photographer on their huge platform. It is visited by some 30,000 people per month. I will be making some changes to it in the next few weeks to exhibit my new projects. But for now, take a look and Thank You! https://www.secondfocus.com
Fashion Behind The Scenes – A.I.
“No Butter”
Very fun! My photograph “No Butter” was given it’s own wall space at the newly opened “Through The Lens” photography show at the Artists Council Center at the Galen in Palm Desert California. The show is up through April 21 2024.
Just the popcorn. Everybody loves popcorn. No boxes, no special preparation. Just popcorn poured out on all black. An original photograph displayed by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum. The result is a magical luminescence.
Chainmaille Fashion Art
Muscles At The Movies
I have always loved this adaptation of a photograph I shot of bodybuilder John Hansen. It is the featured photograph for his Facebook group “Muscles At The Movies”. Check it out https://www.facebook.com/groups/459483167410883
No Butter
I Had No Idea Then
I shot these photographs at an airshow in 2004. About 12 or 13 years later I would be flying in both of them. Thank You Tom and Mark!
The Ace Show
This is fun… My photograph submission has been selected for the juried Artists Council Exhibition (ACE Show) 2024 at the Artists Center at the Galen in Palm Desert California. Previously the Galen was the East Exhibition Facility for the Palm Springs Art Museum. The show will run from February 7 through March 3rd. The ticketed opening reception is Friday February 9th, 5-7PM. It is always a sold out event. I am not showing the photograph online for now. Tickets for the opening reception available here… http://tinyurl.com/2ma7r5n3 Thanks!
Landing From The North
Aircraft landing from the North have always been among my favorite for photographs in Palm Springs. The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
The New Reno Air Races?
SecondFocus Blog 