I think Ilford Delta is the best B&W film. So I would go with the Ilford Delta 400.

Julie does all the styling, and where things bleed over into art direction its a collaboration between her and I.

Typically I drink coffee before bed; that not normal?

Well hot damn that’s one hell of a compliment. Thanks you!

This question fascinates me because it confuses me. My first instict was to think this was sent to the wrong person, but maybe Im being naivete.

So Ill answer anyway.

To the idea that my shoots look like crime scenes, I simply don’t see that. I’m not sure what makes you feel that way; but its super interesting. Is it the feeling the Polaroids give you? Is it the couple shoots I did with masks? This will seemingly contradict what I will say below, but, to me there is something interesting about standing for a photo masked. There’s some interesting level of contradiction there. Something Ive always been interested in. Because I personally don’t see the “crime scene” part at all, there’s really not more I can say to that; however, if you’d like to elaborate I’m happy to discuss.

As to nudity being “darkness” or “evil,” well my gray faced friend there we simply disagree; in fact, 100%. I see the nudity of a person as a lightness. There is something pure and simple about being nude and exposed. Its profoundly simple, but true, people just look more exposed when they are not hiding behind clothing; unguarded, honst. There’s something there that I just like to shoot. Personally I don’t see anything I shoot as “darkness.” Of course I sometimes play with darker themes in my work, and quite frankly most of the time that’s just some experimenting. I do enjoy darker art. Ive always loved David Lynch’s work, Pedro Almodovar, and Louis Bunuel who are all filmmakers that explore the darker side if sexuality, and at times that does come through in what I shoot, but even then I wouldn’t say it “brings out the evil in the viewer.” To me that seems to speak more largely to your personal feels about nude women. Which, despite everything you said, is the most fascinating part of your question. I never like to be the guy that turns the question on the viewer, cause it feels like a cop out, but you do make a profound statement that I think is very subjective and interesting.

Thus, in the end. I like the kind of existential question you raise, though I think we both come to this existential crossing from different roads and therefore see it through different eyes. I respect the time and thought put into your question, but ultimately all I can say is that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and so is the inverse. We can’t see anything without the bias of our existence and at this cross roads we simple will have to agree to disagree. All the same, thank your for your question. I enjoyed it. And thank you for your compliment. Nudity, ironically, is not for everyone, but its what inspires me to shoot.

Thanks,

Derek

Depends on the model and the shoot. Everything is case by case.

Sorry I do not. However, I am also super bad at paying attention to where people live/work. So anyone have any suggestions?!?!

Its almost entirely straight so pretty much takes up what ever shape its told to.

No product. I trim it to tame it really.

Absolutely. One of the great things about shooting film is that getting started inst very expensive. Depending what you like to shoot Id have more specific suggestions.

Generally Id say start with something simple and fun. I got back into film with a LC-A, a lomography camera. Simple settings, and set distances for focus. You can get the older russian ones on ebay for like $100 or so. Then you can get super cheap film at Rite-Aid/CVS/Walgreens. Its pretty crappy film but not a bad way to experiment. Lomography has the LC-A, its newer and better internal parts but its about $300. While your at the lomography site, they have lots of inexpensive “toy” cameras. For both 35mm and 120mm (medium format). Another good one is the Olympus XA. It a small range finder camera you can find on ebay. They are usually pretty cheap but hard to find a good working one. Or if you have SLR lenses usually you can get a good old film SLR for cheap now a days. My EOS-3, which roughly like the film version of the 5D you can get for like $400 on ebay no a days and if you have lenses for a 5D, or full frame canon lenses, they will all fit. The same goes for Nikon if you shoot Nikon. Hope that all is helpful and not just too much info.

Derek

LOL.