I recently had a photograph selected to be featured in a magazine (I’ll share another time, after it’s released). While discussing it with the publisher, I asked what else I could do for a future edition, to get on the cover. I love assignments that test my creativity. They made no promises, but they gave me a topic.
Hmmm…
How can you photograph an abstraction?
Menopause is a real thing, of course. There’s nothing abstract about it for women who experience symptoms. But these are not visible symptoms. So where do you even start?
First I asked a few women for guidance. Of course I’ve encountered the topic, but I asked what really stood out for those who have been through it, or are in the midst of it. Next I looked for online images to see what’s been done before. I wanted to make something different. Finally, I asked a few other artists about their thoughts on the topic.
Any cover image needs to resonate broadly. And the layout has to “pop” to help sell more copies. After all, that’s the magazine’s objective. Catch peoples’ eyes, get them to purchase or subscribe.
The direction
No surprise, but I settled on the sufferers’ experience of being HOT, even when the temperature isn’t. I wanted to depict a relatable experience of someone trying to cope with it.
Brainstorming per my “10 Ideas Practice”, I made a list. As you may recall, the practice does not expect them all to be good ideas, and they weren’t. But I settled on one…
Recruiting
I made a sketch which depicted part of my idea, and posted it onto social media to see if I could find a local woman who wanted to work with me. I could have hired a model, but didn’t think I needed to. Here’s what I posted:
I need some help. Seeking a model for a photo project. Here is my photography website, for reference of other work: https://www.dobkinphoto.com/
I’m looking for a woman with long grey hair that can be braided for a photo project – see my miserably bad sketch. The image I want to make will be sort of as sketched, i.e. anonymous. Looking for a person with medium build if possible. I could possibly work with hair that is not grey, but grey is the objective.
Are you willing to work with me? I’ll make other images for you to have in exchange. Just message me or reply to this, we can talk about it in more detail.
Messaging tip: Ask for help. You get a better response that way, and it worked. The lady who answered has blond hair, but overall is an excellent match.
Making the image
I filled her in on my objective. Despite learning my plan, which would be physically uncomfortable for her, she agreed to work with me. We chose her property because it had the two things I needed: A hose bib and a background that does not look like it’s hot outside. I checked weather and picked a day that forecasted direct sun. A cloudy day wouldn’t work as well to execute my vision. I wanted her head and shoulders to be highlighted, as if they needed to be cooled off.
I set up in her yard at 3pm, demonstrated the arm angle and arc of the water, and had her practice without quite getting wet until everything was in place. It was important that the water give the impression of being a welcome relief from overheating, and not cold and jarring. I.e., I needed her to keep her shoulders relaxed when the cold water drenched her (acting is not for wussies!). This time of year it’s still not warm outside.
She needed to be back-lit (sun in front of us) to create the effect I wanted, that hard, harsh light on head, shoulders, and water. But her torso would have been too dark without fill light, so I used a large reflector to bounce the sunlight onto her arms and back. I didn’t use strobes because even powerful ones need time to recharge between shots. I wanted to use burst mode (rapid-fire) on the camera to get lots of images so I could pick the shape of the water that I felt was best.
My model and I were both ready. A few annoying clouds arrived while we’d been preparing (of course), so we waited for them to pass. Finally she doused herself while I started shooting.
This is the outcome, in mock-up form:
As you see, it’s still a conceptual design. Conceptual because it was not chosen by the targeted magazine (Living the Life is an imaginary publication). The publishers said they liked it and were impressed, but they’re going with an illustration for this edition. I may have missed my chance by taking too long (waiting for tolerable weather), or they may have gone with illustrations regardless of what I presented. When submitting work speculatively you can’t expect to be selected every time.
But a different magazine may still want this. I’ll shop it around. If you’d like to help me do that, feel free! I think it should be marketable.
And regardless, I’m happy with the experience. I was able to do something I love with photography, i.e. creative problem-solving. That’s always a pleasure.
Until next time,
Limited Edition Prints for Sale
Another channel of my photography. Oof. But as promised, I’ve got this new set of Limited Edition prints available for purchase. Any unsold African wildlife images from last fall, as promised, have been retired from circulation.
Each edition consists of ten Numbered Prints and two Artists Prints, 16x24” silver halide, with certificate of authentication. As before, these are limited both by number and duration of the offer. If you’d like one or more for that special person, don’t hesitate. You wouldn't want to become he who is lost!
Is there something here you like or dislike? Questions? Have anything else to say? Let us all know by clicking on the Comments button below, and express yourself. Don’t be shy, now.
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Loved the framework of discovery while being different & showing ‘the view behind’ your camera. Very interesting & helpful, specially & generally.
This certainly does not seem to be an easy topic to visualize. I loved reading about the process and research. And, I really like the image.
Without the headline, I would not have necessarily associated with menopause, but it makes sense with the title, and it turned out beautifully.
Rejections are part of life, but the process of creating matters regardless.