“My art is not about the figure or the environment; it’s about the way they come together” this from photographer Robert Cheshire, a 25 year professional who has dabbled in everything from commercial to fashion photography who is now focusing on what he defines as photographic art. He was the photographer whose work impressed me enough to venture into this area of modeling.  Along with the reasons just mentioned I choose Robert Cheshire because my figure would not be the focus of his art, only a part of it and that aspect was quite alluring to me. Sure it’s a “celebration of the female figure” but the art is not the figure on its own. The combination is what tells a story and sometimes many stories. That is the beauty of this type of art, it was so much more than taking off my cloths and lying around naked.  It was truly a liberating and empowering experience. I went in with an open mind and checked my insecurities at the door, even though artists like Cheshire would argue that insecurities add to the whole process of making art. If it’s there, use it or become a part of it; the harshest objects and environments, when combined with the female figure, transform into something almost magical and they become one or they reject each other. The possibilities are endless but the story it tells is one of unique distinction, one that will never be retold because it’s exclusive to the viewer's mind and even if we decide to share, you or I will not see it in the same way because this art tells a different story every time. This was definitely not a fashion shoot, no rapid movements with preconceived poses practiced in the mirror before hand, no overzealous, time restrained stylists defining what the shot should be and most importantly there were no defined objectives.  It was almost like a fine dance, where every small gesture and movement meant something to the process. The performance wasn’t just about me (the model) or Robert (the photographer), I don’t think it was even about us at all, because there was so much more than us to consider.  At times I felt lost in the environment which had never happened to me before in any fashion photo shoot. I wonder if it has ever happened in the history of fashion photography.  It was nice to get lost in the shot, not to be magnified to the point of invisibility. It is obvious that my presence there was important but unlike modeling for fashion, commercial or any other aspect of the modeling industry, if I were not there, there would still be a story. I was just a part of a puzzle that didn’t have to fit in the right way or even fit at all. It wasn’t intense to the point of boredom or in the least repetitive. Every shot was a new experience that meant something completely different from the last. I felt that I had something other than my body to contribute to the process and that in itself was a nice surprise. The most surprising aspect of it all was that it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It struck me that this area of modeling had purpose beyond aesthetics which, before that moment, had seemed impossible in the world of modeling, and I was a part of that purpose.    Next Page
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