No Attitude But Perhaps Edgy
My career as a magazine photographer here in Vancouver which began in 1976 has been a balance of dealing with some of the best art directors around and with some that insisted in using words I had no concept for.
When I showed my portraits that were attempts to fashion to the latter art directors they would use an expression, “Your photos need to show attitude”.
When I showed my well lit portraits to them they often said, “These are too well lit. You need to be edgy.”
When I showed those portraits in which it was obvious I had used a stylist and talked at length with my subjects they would say, “You need to be a fly on the wall and shoot.”
There was no way I could ever satisfy them. Now being 75 and obsolete, redundant & retired I need not shoot anything where I have to please any of those guys. I must interject that I did deal with a fantastic woman magazine art director called Barbara Solowan. She would send me faxes with her drawings. Once the instructions were, “Make believe it is a cover for Vanity Fair.”
For many years I have been dealing with a personal interest in shooting images that are erotic. In my waning life I have found that Eros is more subtle. This means that fewer private parts (if any) have to show. I have discovered in shooting that if the message is confusing and difficult to interpret, it is all for the better. I believe that I have found (finally!) an awareness of what those guys meant when they said, “Shoot edgy.”
Originally published at blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
