I left work a couple minutes early today, then walked across campus and downtown to the Akron Art Space building. I was a couple minutes early when I arrived and I wandered around – postcard in hand – looking for the photographer’s studio.
We met up in the stairwell, realized we were looking for each other, and headed over to his studio.
First up was the model release form on an ipad while he got the camera set up. Then I “de-shirted” and sat on the stool facing away from the camera while he adjusted the focus.
He told me that he was pleasantly surprised at the number of people that he’d photographed that had tattoos – said it added something interesting to the photos.
He had me remove the postcard and the rest of the gear from my back pockets – and suggested I tuck the waistband of my briefs back down. Not an underwear model – this time around.
He also asked me what kind of art I did and when I told him Origami he said, “Oh, the origami guy. Did you leave a paper crane when you were last in the building for the art walk?”
I told him, yes, that’s the kind of thing I do.
Then, it was time to get started.
The nice thing about having pictures of your back taken is you don’t have to worry about your facial expression.
I smiled anyway.
He took a few shots of me seated and we had only one small awkward moment when he said my left arm looked unnatural in that position – and I had to explain that it wouldn’t straighten out any further because of the break. It wasn’t a big deal though and we moved to another pose.
Then it was time to stand up and he moved the stool out of the way. I stood where the stool was and he said I had hit the mark almost perfectly and he hardly had to adjust the focus.
Super model – naturally.
A few standing shots and we were done. I put my shirt on and before I left I quickly made him a paper crane while he told me a story about finding a small Buddhist shrine on a road trip and seeing all the paper cranes there.
We shook hands and I headed out. When the project is done, I’ll get a print of my photo.
So, I’m officially an art model. And, I have to admit, I did walk around this evening with just a little bit of a strut to my stride.
YOU.
BETTER.
WORK IT.