Category: The Model’s Perspective

As always I approached this photo shoot as a collaboration with the model – blending her and my ideas together as we talked about images and meaning. She has been fighting multiple sclerosis for several years so she frequently sees meaning and metaphors in places I wouldn’t expect. In the end that’s what I love about collaborating.

This is a description of the photo written by the model.

“Complementary Curves portrays the weight of the world upon my back. As the light within the globe represents the life force within me. For Life has it’s bends and curves that has complimented my personality, as well as the person that I have worked hard to become.

“I am Imperfect, yet beautiful; I am scared, yet strong; I am concerned, yet confident; and I am inquisitive, yet smart.

“I chose to do this pose in the nude form to show my vulnerability as well as my challenges to my surroundings. Life to me is very nurturing, for I am a child of God.”

Would you like your own fine art print of “Complementary Curves?”  You can order it directly through the Man Cave Nudes gallery. The fine art nude photography wall décor prints are produced on durable aluminum sheets that are designed to be displayed without any added bother and expense of framing. Prints on aluminum provide a clean and modern look and make perfect décor for a man cave or any other space where you want to display art that makes a statement.

“Flare” is a fine art representation of a multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-up. The model in this photo was diagnosed with MS in March of 2007 and despite the battle she has continued to model whenever she can.  When we planned our photo shoot last year one of our goals was to create imagery that was both a striking visual creation and also tells her story with MS.

Her words describe this result much better than I can:

“The globe in my hands represents my brain as the luminescent light around it in black and white symbolizes the flare-ups seen in an MRI image. I’m raising it above me to symbolize my determination to keep my head held high while attempting to overcome the many obstacles that lie ahead.

“The colored shape of my body symbolizes the human form and the emotions I endure daily though strength and courage. The shadow reflected beside me represents the vulnerability and pain that is my reality.

“The jagged light tracing down my back symbolizes the electrical impulse patterns and frequencies of damaged nerve tissue that can cause an MS patient a temporary or permanent disability.

“The netting around my waist represents the numerous nerves throughout the body that can also suffer from damage.

“I’m sitting upon my knees with my feet crossed as if begging for a cure. While the electrical impulse lighting on the floor represents millions of others around me who suffer from the same disease.

“The lighted fire arising from the shadow symbolizes the fight and fire inside from all to preserve life as the fight for a cure continues.”

I think we succeeded in accomplishing our goals.

Would you like your own print of the fine art nude image “Flare?” You can order here it through Man Cave Nudes.  The images are printed on durable aluminum sheets and are ready to be displayed without any added bother and expense of framing. Prints on aluminum provide a clean and modern look and make perfect décor for a man cave or other space where you want art that makes a statement.

Purchasing this image also supports the struggle to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. A portion of all sales of “Flare” will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

I love collaborating with models and other artists to create fine art photography and this is a fantastic example of why I love the process so much. This model’s insight into this  photograph completely changed how I think and feel about the image.

This particular image really resonated with the model but I didn’t understand why until a couple months later when she asked me to prepare a framed print. It was going to be donated to a charity auction in Chicago to support domestic violence awareness.

She suggested the title for the piece, “Breaking Free.” Then she wrote the artistic statement that will accompany the piece:

The model in this photograph is a survivor of 25 years of domestic violence. She believes the piece poignantly captures the residual internal strife which remains to date, several years later.

The dark lines represent the prison bars and shackles, as she felt imprisoned in the relationship. Her hidden face is emphasized by crossed hands and raised legs, which appear an attempt to shield her from harm. The mottled shadowed areas at the rib cage, hip and underside of the arm resemble the physical bruises once endured.

The brightly lit areas represent present life. The absence of clothing is a sign of both rebirth and renewed strength.

It is the model’s hope that “Breaking Free” will raise awareness of the lingering emotional impacts of domestic violence. Additionally, she hopes this piece will simultaneously provide encouragement to current victims that there is beauty and new life in survival.

Now I understand why this image is so important to the model.

Would you like your own print of the fine art nude image “Breaking Free?” You can order here it through Man Cave Nudes.  The images are printed on durable aluminum sheets and are ready to be displayed without any added bother and expense of framing. Prints on aluminum provide a clean and modern look and make perfect décor for a man cave.