Photo Tips - Natural Beauty
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Empowered Beauty Workshops and Melbourne & VictoriaHave just finished a series of shots with some models and it was a very emotionally testing time. I felt that the women had a great need and dependancy on the result. Further they had collectively utilised cosmetic surgery, hair pieces, expensive jewellery and provocative poses and expressions to enhance their appearances.
I think this is an aspect of life that is becoming more and more conditioned into our physche. I believe we are so less connected to believing in our hearts than ever. We have so little faith in ourselves or fate and turn to all of the things that society says will make us happy and beautiful.
The women I was photographing were all attractive and all seemed to possess a deep ability to feel. However both their feeling and their natural aesthetic beauty was in my opinion being tarnished by all the unconscious need and external additives. I think it is so important for photographers to be aware of this and to truly reach inside to bring out the essence beauty of their subjects.
I have seen model’s features change dramatically during shoots due to their emotional state. I honestyl believe that our minds heavily dictate our emotions and that our emotions drastically change our appearances both short term and long term. Many people seem to want to get instant gratification in life and this is especially apparent in our aesthetic appearances.
However my firm belief is that if people really trusted life and their own emotions that they would look and feel the most beautiful they could ever be. The main model involved in this shoot has in my opinion placed so much passion into appearances both in a physical and emotional sense yet so little passion into understanding her own feelings. As a result I have found her looks to suffer and also that being around her during shoots to be very painful.
I have recently communicated this to her and we had a deep discussion about appearances, emotions and awareness. Following this talk we had a reshoot and the results have been incredible. Whilst still having some dependancy on the result she was noticeably more surrendered and trusting. The shots are in my opinion the best she has ever had with me and I have photogrpahed her over a period of 20 years.
Think that this story is a great one for life in general. I believe that the best anyone can be is their natural and humble self. That when we accept life and ourselves that we allow the space and freedom for our best to shine through.
Outdoors2
I have found this “instant gratification” also holds true in the workplace. I have been in the heavy earthmoving business for 28 years,working my way up the proverbial ladder to a superintendents position. Starting out with menial wages and taking every nickle raise I was rewarded with. The kids nowadays think that, if they can make a bulldozer move they are a top operator wanting top pay. Little do they realize there is so much more to the position than just making the blade go up and down. ie: what to do with the dirt. I think this holds true in many professions, with young ambitious thoughts of jumping the rungs and heading right to the top. As you mentioned a tactful counsel is somewhat necessary… to humble at times.
Thanks for your insight.
~R
EmpoweredBeauty replied
Sorry it took me so long to reply. Think I too find myself wanting things too quickly. It is mostly unconscious although if I discipline myself to think I do become aware of how much I am pulled into the future. Think many of us feel incomplete and are in s much of a rush to find something external to fill this void.
Matt Bottos
Very true, modern media has a lot to do with the conditioning of how we feel. In order to be accepted by others we’re lead to believe that we have to look a certain way or drive a certain car, wear X brand deodorant etc. We are hammered with it on a daily basis and most of us don’t even know its happening.
I had the pleasure of taking some photos of senior citizens at a nursing home recently. It was an amazing experience for me. I guess it has a little to do with them coming from a generation that has not had the media exposure that we do today as well as the fact that the years tend to break down the desire to be accepted by others leaving an inner peace within themselves. The tranquility & contentment they had allowed me to see “beauty” in a way I would not have seen previously.