Geisha Girl
Taken with a Canon Eos 400D 
This image is dedicated to Rick Gustafson who has encouraged me to explore myself more through self portraits and who has been a perfect gentleman throughout all our discussions. He has allowed me to be myself and to express my deeper inner thoughts….....so Rick thank you from the bottom of my heart and i really do mean that!!
It’s called ‘Geisha Girl’ not because i look like a Geisha but because during one of my conversations with Rick i told him that i deeply admired these exquisite creatures who knew exactly how to show their beauty without losing their modesty. It is with that in mind that i took this next image in my series of self portraits. It feels so sensual and freeing to be me, no pretences just me as i am…..the ribbon has it’s own significance.
I have now decided to include the explaination of Geisha Girl along side the image as it was suggested i join the ‘Imagewriting’ group by the lovely Cora Wandel so here it is:-
Geisha Girl.
The girl is sat in a low lit room she is surrounded and bathed entirely by darkness. Black for me if you remember from The Secret Garden is a symbol of deeper darker desires and sensual passions that cannot be seen but are known only in the inner self. The fact that she is surrounded by blackness is symbolic of her inner deeper desires coming to the surface and surrounding her totally until they are all she can see before her. The cloth is also black and wrapped around her, overflowing her, surrounding her, taking over the pure white skin symbolic of purity and innocence.
She is seated in a submissive position with her arms raised and crossed arms, open hands all figurative of submission and vulnerability, surrender, waiting, embracing, passion, yearning and anticipation of the deeper darker desires that are closing in. But she wants it, she eagerly desires it, anticipates it and wants to embrace it…….she is waiting for it to overwhelm her to take away the responsibility and to overpower her. How she yearns….deeply, deeply yearns, how she waits for its arrival, the long awaited long desired consummation.
Her hair is not pinned up, it is free, symbolizing she is not inhibited in anyway. She lifts her hair as a further act of submission to reveal the whiteness of her skin to the viewer…..to the darkness, to the one who waits in the shadows to possess her. She is willing, ready and waiting but she must wait for him but he will only step out of the shadows when he is ready, when he decides and she must be patient. She yearns for his control, she feels safe with him. She trusts him that he will love her and treat her correctly and always with respect and she in turn will obey him. Her neck is a place where life flows through her veins she is offering to him her self and her life. It is also her erogenous zone; she is inviting him to step forward and to kiss her in this intimate place, to embrace her sexuality……to mark her as his. Her shape is feminine, full of curves and inviting, she is unclothed revealing her nakedness, her readiness – nothing hidden away which shows her genuineness and honesty. She longs to allow her deeper darker desires to overtake her and yield to his touch but she sits patiently waiting. She must wait.
The ribbon.
The ribbon has special meaning. It is again black – the symbol for deeper darker desires and passion. It is tied around her neck and hangs loose down her back. She desires no necklace to adorn her neck, no jewels, no material gain…no she desires something even greater, something more precious that what this world can offer. The ribbon is around her neck where it can be picked up and held by the one in the shadows and she can be lead voluntarily to the place of passion and consummation. It is her collar. It is her symbol of ownership and of being owned. She loves her collar and the one who owns her. Her collar is her visible sign of her submissiveness for her and to her owner. She can touch and feel the representation of the one who owns her anytime she feels vunerable or alone and know he is there in the shadows, he will look after her. But she must wait. The collar forms a circle and when placed around the submissive’s neck is akin to a ring, the symbol of belonging, love and devotion. In order to receive her collar the submissive must first raise her arms above her head and cross them. In Geisha Girl she is waiting…..the ribbon is a merely a symbol of her long awaited collar.
Geisha Girl belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Amateur Photographers' Association, Artrageous RB Artists - Self Portrait Gallery, Available light, erotic/artistic, Beauty of The Human Body , Canon DSLR (One Image Per Day & A Canon Camera Must Be In The Description Before It's Accepted), Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Everyday Women, Freedom to Shine, Gods and Goddesses, ImageWriting (2/24), Live, Love, Dream: , Mature Woman, model beginnings., Models with a difference (photoshop images welcome), Personal Meaning Photography, Shameless Self-Promotion, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please** and Woman Appreciation Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

jacqleen
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE….........! your rich tones, lighting….pose and skin tone are just PERFECT….......very sensual yet elegant IMAGE!!! Proud of you sis :))) xxx
Jacqueline Baker replied
LOL and i just LOVEEEEEEEEE you my precious Jacqleen you always make me smile deep inside…..you help bring the woman out in me and i’m sooooo proud of you too sis…..my deepest love and affection to you my beautiful beautiful rare lil flower! :0)
walela
Nice shot! I love black attire.
Jacqueline Baker replied
my dearest friend Walela how wonderful is the color black, so sensual and deep and so wonderfully comforting…....thank you so so much for your lovely comment! :0)
kjgordon
no shame here wahini…......absoubtly lovely …........
Jacqueline Baker replied
Awwwww thank you my lovely kj and no i have no shame with this image far from it, i’m gaining confidence thanks to all my friends here in the big Red Bubble and you’re one of my favourites :0)
Kevin Skinner
Wonderful light and a superb pose. Lovely image. You must be delighted how this came out.
Jacqueline Baker replied
oooooh thank you Kevin i know you are like me and love B&W’s more than the air we breathe, but i’m so glad that you took a small detour and left me such a wonderful compliment…...thank you! :0)
Von McKnelly
To explore one’s true self is to know how others see you.
This image of you is done in a classical style I adore….bravo Jacqueline.
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you my dear dear friend…..i’m feeling quite soppy recently i just love my friends on RB. You are absolutely right Von i have found doing these images extremely beneficial almost theraputic and to get compliments like yours is fantastic! I love classical style images and so i’m really really happy that you like this one…..thanks Von! :0)
Rick Gustafson
Jacqueline,
Very nice again. So happy to see your progress with this series. I feel there is more to this image than meets the eye which leaves much to the imagination.
Rick
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much Rick i am so grateful for your encouragment and faith in my abilities and so i am so happy that i could dedicate this image to you dear friend! And again your intuition is correct there is a lot more to this image than immediately meets the eye…...thank you for looking deeper! :0)
Mark Weaver
this is great, wonderful pose and tonality
Jacqueline Baker replied
awwwwww thank you Mark you’re such a lovely man and so is your comment!! :0)
Marny Barnes
I have no words other than you INSPIRE ME.
I remember when I shot Raw…and we breifly chatted about the fear…and you posted a pic then took it down a short while later. I am so impressed
Jacqueline Baker replied
My dearest dearest Marny what a self journey we have both been on!! I remember our conversation and yes i posted my first image but my confidence was zero and couldn’t face it remaining there. I have been able to gain more confidence to do these images since i’ve lost 3 and a half stones in weight and am a nice size 10-12 Brit sizes. I just decided to change the things i could change and do the things i could do and leave the rest to trial and error LOL.
If i have inspired you can i expect to see some more of you? ;0)
I think you’re brilliant Marny Barnes!! :0)
shaneran
beautiful work!!
Jacqueline Baker replied
Oh thank you…...and you’re a beautiful lady too…...any self portraits in the pipe line? :0)
~ Ademac
Marvelous…...................
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much i love that word LOL :0)
Shoaib .
beautiful shot … very elegant
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much Shoaib you’re such a darling for saying so….sending a big smile your way! :0)
Nigel Donald
Well Jacqueline im going to be harsh here and give you 9/10 your black material is a bit under exposed. Apart from that perfect ;)
Jacqueline Baker replied
LOL oh bless ya Nigel if you had ripped it to shreds and given me zero or given me anything less than 7 out of 10 i would have been so sad. This is not harsh at all this is how we learn by others taking the time to help us achieve our 10 out of 10’s so no i am more than happy for you to try and help me! Sending a big hug to you :0)
Nigel Donald
Did you shoot in RAW?
Jacqueline Baker replied
yes i did why? :0)
Nigel Donald
Because you can raise the levels in the black material to make the perfect pic :)
Do you use Abobe Camera Raw & photoshop?
Jacqueline Baker replied
I just use photoshop at the moment but i’ll have a look at redoing it…thanks ole bean! :0)
Jacqueline Baker replied
Hey Nigel have a look now and let me know if you think i’ve lifted the black material enough? :0)
jdmphotography
Wow a very powerful and sexual image absolutely beautiful Jacqueline ! ....... (-;
Jacqueline Baker replied
oh thank you so much Jon that’s definately made me feel very good about myself…..i’m glad you think it is powerful and beautiful thank you!!!! ;0)
Nigel Donald
Yeah look better but how did you replace the pic on the same threat ?
Jacqueline Baker replied
Do you mean thread Nigel? If you do then i just went into my art clicked on edit next to the thumbnail then browse and reloaded the new image. I hope this is what you meant if not let me know……..do i get a 10 out of 10 now? ;0)
Nigel Donald
yeah sorry typo lol thanks for that i didnt know you could do that lol yeah looks good now ;)
Elizaday
Wonderful SP. Love your use of light and the soft tones.
Jacqueline Baker replied
what a lovely comment thank you so much….i think i like you! LOL :0)
fotopro
Great eye catching image and full of intrigue.
A fave!.
Jacqueline Baker replied
ooooooh thank you so much for a lovely comment and i have an explaination behind this image in my journal if you are interested? :0)
Jacqueline Baker replied
oh and thank you for the fav i’m so happy you like it that much! :0)
Maxoperandi
You look wonderful in this image…very sensual with your beautiful skin and capture of the blacks!
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much Max i am exploring my sensuality recently as i have suppressed it for many years but it’s a bit like Pandora’s Box so much more to come out and no going back now LOL. Anyway i have an explaination of the symbols and representations behind Geisha Girl in my journal that would help you to understand who i am as a woman if you are interested in knowing? I would like her, the sensual woman, captured by your photography when i come next week :0)
Cora Wandel
Beautiful work, Jacqueline. You may want to join the group ImageWriting.
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much Cora i have now joined and added the image and writing from my journal along side to support it. :0)
Cora Wandel
Jacqueline Baker
Oh my good grief THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! I’m absolutely delighted that you thought it was good enough to feature!!!!!! I’m just so glad i joined your group and now have the biggest smile ever!!!!!! :0D
Richard Murch
.. Very nice work.. great composition… detail and colour…. More please..~!
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much Richard for such a lovely comment and just like little Oliver you want more please LOL i’ll see what i can do! :0)
Richard Murch
.. Yes like Oliver .. more and more please…
halftone
Wow, you’re very beautiful, I’m looking forward to the Max images of you!
Jacqueline Baker replied
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment and for your comments on the Max images…..he’s brilliant :0)
Ken Mucke
wow…Just so stunning..Love the lines in this shot and the color tones are perfect…brilliant shot