“I watched the land for as long as I could, until it disappeared behind its shawl of mist, and until I had it fixed in my mind – unchanged, mysterious and beautiful” ~ Aimee Friedman
Yet again I find myself having to state this as it seems that many people assume that Michael takes the pictures for my blog when it fact the vast majority of them are taken and edited by me. When he has taken the picture I always state that fact to differentiate from what is the norm; that I take the pictures.
I know it shouldn’t annoy me but the truth is it really pisses me off. I get that the images are of me and so to assume someone else is behind the camera is not far fetched and yet I always have a sneaky feeling that there is an element of sexism involved, that the bloke must be the one handling the equipment, with the technical knowledge etc and that I am ‘just the model’. By the way being the model takes guts and creativity too so no one is ever ‘just the model’.
Take this picture. I walked about 40 minutes to find this spot. Set up my tripod, took multiple shots of the spot to get the right settings for the light. Then took shots with me fully clothed. Once I am ready I tend to sit a bit and just listen, taking a few moments to absorb the sounds helps me to be more alert to the sound of someone coming. Then I strip off, all my clothes and walking boots are hidden down behind the log. Then I take the pictures using my cam ranger and then whip my kit back on. Actually I often just put my top on, check the images I have and do more if needed and if not, I tend to sit for a tiny bit again and enjoy being a little bit naked in the outdoors. Although on days like this that is short lived as the cold gets to you quick when you are undressed.
That is a pretty good reflection on how I take all my outdoor shots. Michael rarely comes with me. I prefer being alone, working at my own pace but now and then if I find a spot that really requires a look out I will ask him to come with me.
While we are on the topic of photography I have a question for you. Earlier this year I had a fair few bloggers who were interested in my writing a series of posts about photography and I would love to do that but I am not really sure where to start and what people want to know. So if you would like to read more posts on that subject then I would love to know what you want to read about? Leave me a comment below or email me if you prefer [email protected] either with topic ideas or actual questions. I am happy to cover absolutely anything about taking the images I do and about editing but I am just not sure what you want to know more about so hit me up and maybe I can turn it into a series of posts.
36 comments
Beautiful! And I completely agree about feeling pissed off. I regularly have to state that I’m the photographer as well as the model.
People assume a lot of things, often incorrectly. It’s frustrating when those assumptions attribute credit incorrectly and smallify your own talents.
Self-portraiture is a skill; it takes creativity, patience, environmental awareness, and spatial intelligence to do it well. And you DO do it well. This photo – as are so many you take – is stunning.
For many (most?) people, attempting to do self-portraits turns out more like a repetitive exercise in same-old-selfie-snapping than a variegated exploration of visualized self-perspective.
Perhaps, as a tutorial, it would be helpful to walk through one of your staging exercises. Like a step-by-step photo story. A description of where you go, perhaps a broadview picture of an area followed by how your mind’s eye works to narrow down the space you will use, and the environmental cues that help you determine poses. Snapshots (both visual and written) of your step-by-step, with perhaps both a “meh” and a “wow” end result would be fascinating to read.
I suspect your thinking process would give your readers insights they could then apply to their own photography — indoor, outdoor, sexy, or otherwise. 🙂
Thank you. I will think about how to do this. I suspect it would need more than one post
Mollyx
Another fabulous foto, Molly!
I love how you look to be in a vast expanse of nature, yet the tree above you gives it a sense of center or home.
Oh fucking hell, you’re a goddamn genius Molly.
I can absolutely see why you’d be annoyed that people assume you don’t take these photos yourself. Every time I look at one of your photos I see the skill and effort and time you put into it, and you should absolutely get all the credit for that. You’re so fucking talented and so very beautiful as well. This photo is erotic and haunting and almost magical in a way that so much of your work is.
Thank you
Beautiful photo. As a photographer, very partially sighted as well, I do model photoshoots and all of the models have been way better at using a camera than me and I learned so much from working with them.
I would like to do my own self shots but I don’t like being in front of the camera
I have found it a liberating experience
Mollyx
What a gorgeous shot!
I completely agree with feeling peeved. I’m often feel like that explaining I’m the photographer.
I’d love to hear about your choice of places, poses, shots and maybe a separate post about editing.
Missy x
Thank you…. What would you want to know about editing?
And I think those other things could all be separate poses
Mollyx
Wow, this is a very atmospheric shot!
This is a brilliant shot – just stunning – I know you take your own and they are always so damn good! x
I enjoy your outdoor pictures most of all,I think. Having followed you for awhile I know you take most of your own photos. Kudos to you!
Thank you
[…] Right now, Molly Moore – the sexy self-portraiture queen and host of Sinful Sunday – who *is* an expert, is offering to create some online photography tutorials. So if you have more sophisticated how-to questions, please take her up on her invitation and ask them, here. […]
I wish I’d taken thus photo and it was of me!
I can’t speak for others, but I generally assume everyone’s the Sinful photos are selfies, unless obviously otherwise. Even if they aren’t, so what? I realised the zietgiest assumes an omnipresten misogyny, but I genuinely believe this is over stated in most cases and is counterproductive for all concerned. But that’s my own personal shoulder chip …
I love this photo – it reminds me of Regents Park – and as all my Sinful photos are selfies, appreciate exactly how much it takes to set up a shot like this. My Kylie pic emphasised exactly how hard it is to be only the model, especially when you’re trying to think about exposure, composition and a remote control. Outdoor photos are still on my To Do list, and I am trepidatious of getting caught.
So when you feel besieged by expectation of sexism, please remember, it is not the norm.
In answer to your quest for suggestions, can I ask for high contrast, erotic selfies, without a DSLR? I love taking them, but generally have to edit the exposure in PS, which too often ends in crushed blacks.
Thank you. I will have to do a bit of research on this one. If I want to achieve that look then I would always reach for me DSLR as it gives me so much more control when playing with extremes.
Mollyx
I have a M43 system camera, so have plenty of options, but I’m sure there’s more to it than settings. 🙂
You are a true artist Molly.
I’m astounded every week.
?
I would love to read a series by you in photography. Thank you for sharing how this one was taken, it’s beautiful.
This is absolutely stunning and you are right in how quick people are to assume images are taken or created by someone else. All credit to your creativity, skill, imagination, perseverance and efforts.
The location of this image is stunning, the colours of the autumn leaves and the mist in the background. Beautiful.
Beautiful picture, and I hope noone else assumes it’s not you taking the picture. That’s a whole host of talent you have there 🙂
Simply gorgeous photo Molly.
I admire both your photography skills and your patience in discovering such wonderful spots.
Xxx – K
This is gorgeous and I love reading about your process behind finding the right spot for your images and how you go about getting the eventual shot. It’s absolutely fascinating and I’m hoping next year might see me venture out in this way myself as we have some glorious spots around here that I would love to share with my Sinful Sunday friends x
You take beautiful pictures Molly, whether you are in the photo or not. It’s ages since I used my camera and tripod. I was looking back at some taken a while ago earlier and want to again. A tutorial would be great. Om another topic, maybe we can have that discussion about you taking some of me and my ‘new’body soon?
It’s interesting to me that people make that leap, but maybe it’s because I know better and never would assume that. Your photos are a level of artistry (and patience) I wish I possessed. This photo is a classic example of that ability. You pick the best settings and always manage to convey so much in a photo.
Lovely image, Molly.
I would love a couple of posts about Lightroom, about how to change the feel of a photo. A step by step guide would be wonderful. Also, on how you decide just how you are going to edit an image, or do you try different edits to see where it takes you?
I love that you want to do photography posts!
Rebel xox
It’s people like me who are camera luddites that don’t really help either, sorry!
You are an awesome photographer, I wish I was half as talented as you.
This is such a gorgeous picture. Everything about it is beautiful and I can only admire what you have achieved. I am in awe of those who can take their own pictures in this sort of way. This is something I would really like to be able to do although I don’t really know where to start as mine tend to be of the selfie variety. Perhaps self portrait could be a prompt one time? I would like to know more about the sorts of things that make an image work. I do feel I have learnt a bit already since starting Sinful Sunday both from your Eroticon workshop and also from the prompts each month but it would be great to have a series of posts to refer back to. missy x
Wow this photo is just incredible. Your images are always such a pleasure to look at. I’m so excited to see that you’ve decided to do some photography posts, I’ll be grateful of any tips you have! Also reading them hopefully might re-inspire me to find the time for it again as I always enjoyed it so much.
I would be especially interested in any advice you have on doing the photography and modelling on your own. I’d love to take photos outside but have been too scared to brave it solo. Being prepared might help me pluck up the courage.
Another thing I struggle with is capturing eroticism without nudity. So I don’t know whether this is something you have any thoughts on.
As far as angles, lighting, composition etc go, I am completely clueless and just hope for the best. These are all things I’d love to read about too. Basically anything you have to say about photography, I’ll be interested in reading lol
Aurora xx
There is so much I want to ask and know regarding your work so I plan to actually write my questions down and email rather than coming over and back.
I think your work is incredible – you never fail to inspire and when I see something and think god she can beat that – you always do! <3 x
I guess a lot of people assume that someone else is involved because of their own circumstances. If you don’t have a remote, some of the images you produce are impossible on a timer. If they don’t know about your remote and camranger, they may assume another because of that.
It’s good to explain and make it clear so that you do get the credit and their knowledge of possibilities increases.
Great photo Molly, I like to read your blog ?
This is gorgeous, eerie, everything I like. Here in Scotland we call that kind of clinging mist a “harr”. Thank you for sharing such a haunting image.