Here’s a quick video.
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In the coming couple of weeks I will be updating this site with info about my nude art photography workshops this June in Tuscany. I will be offering two one-week workshops this year. If last year is any indication, this year will be another great experience.
]]>The facts of my absence and lack of activity on this site are not in dispute. The past months I have been very busy with several major changes in my life.
For one, in September, my wife and I moved out of our beloved 300 sqm. home/office/studio apartment. It was a bittersweet moment when we turned over the keys, however, our move did not take us far. In fact, we only moved one floor lower in the same building, but our new home is about half the size, so no real chance to have even a small studio to work in.
With this in mind, we began searching for a new studio. Joining us in our search was my good friend and fellow photographer Philippe Wiget (check out his wedding photography). Phil and I have talked about sharing a studio for the past couple of years and, finally, the planets had aligned to the point where we both could find a common solution.
Let me tell you, finding a proper studio space is not an easy task in Zürich, Switzerland. We started looking in September. I thought we would look at many, many spaces, but in actuality, we saw less than 10 total. Most spaces that were advertised were too small or the ceiling height was too low or they didn’t have basic amenities or were in the wrong location. It’s stressful shopping for a space like this, but fortunately for us, the torture ended in mid-January.
We found what I can only describe as the perfect space. It’s an old car repair shop with 170 sqm on the ground floor and another 110 sqm in the basement. It has skylights and plenty of windows and a good ceiling height of just under 4 meters. To be honest, I can’t imagine how it could be much better. Certainly, we have a lot of work to do to get it fixed up and looking sharp, but everything in good time.
A panorama of our new studio in Zürich.
As you can imagine, without a proper shooting space, I have not done much studio shooting in the past months, however, I have been shooting a lot with my iPhone (follow me on Tumblr) and I managed a few shoots in October, which I will post soon.
We will start moving into the new studio at the beginning of this coming week. The goal is to have the place in decent shape to start working out of by about mid-February. Of course, I will be offering my classes and workshops in this new space and the studio will open up new possibilities for lighting and fine art nude workshops, and for those of you interested in renting a studio in Zürich, please let me know.
Finally, since we are still in the month of January, let me offer my warm wishes for a great new year and new decade. I already see signs that this year will be better than the last, and, at least for me as an American, I am hopeful that we can begin to right some of the wrongs that came out of my country’s failed politics under the Bush administration.
Please stay tuned, I will be following with regular posts on this blog throughout the year. You can expect articles and advice, news updates and images. I have already started updating my portfolio, so be sure to check out my commercial and personal work and let me know what you think.
With warm regards,
Bryon Paul McCartney
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Test shot of model Mila.
Model Nera poses in the water basin.
Model Nera poses for a test shot with an unusual object.
Model Mila strikes a pose for one of the students.
Students Mario and Klaus work on sidelighting techniques with model Nera.
Student Hagan works on lighting techniques with model Mila.
Other than that, I am working on a portfolio update and will be moving to a new office/living space soon. Many changes are afoot.
All the best,
Bryon
]]>At first, I was a bit puzzled by the question, it was very direct and took me by surprise. I honestly don’t remember anyone ever asking me that before. So, I gave it a bit of thought, and this is what I remember saying…
There are many people who can take beautiful photos. Some people do it for fun, some for money, some do it for other reasons. I take beautiful photos, because I have to. Somewhere inside me is a motivation, a burning need to capture beauty. I don’t do it for other people, I only do it for myself. I feel somehow that I have to do it. What makes me an artist, is the fact that I take the risk that, perhaps, nobody likes my images, and still, I will keep doing creating them. If I did it only to make money or to please other people, then it wouldn’t mean anything, it would just be a nice photo.
I don’t ever want to be someone who creates for the sake of creating. I take joy and pleasure in capturing my own memories and my own understanding of what I see. It is up to the viewer to decide if they enjoy what I show them or not. But whether someone buys my work or not, I still will keep doing it. I have to. That’s what makes me an artist.
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Herb shooting Giorgia on the beach at Marina del Albarese, Tuscany, Italy
Everyone enjoyed the warm water and sun at the Bagni San Filippo, a unique shooting location in Tuscany, Italy.
Yola takes control of the ‘class photo’ on the final evening at il Poggiolo, San Quirco d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy.
Jon and Jadiz, reviewing their shots at the beach at Marina del Albarese, Tuscany, Italy.
Last week, from June 14-20, 2009, I offered my first on-location, fine art nude photography workshop. I have long dreamed of offering a class like this, and the Val d’Orcia, in Tuscany, Italy, offers amazing opportunities for shooting fine art nudes in natural light.
As this was our first on-location workshop, I wanted to ensure that we chose a place that I was familiar with and that we had reliable and talented models. On both of these points, I could not have been more pleased. Our models, Carole, Giorgia, Jadiz and Nia, were absolutely superb, and always insisted on shooting. These ladies worked hard and they even cooked for us. And what can I say about Tuscany, if you have never been there, then you will never know. It is a beautiful, mysterious and magical place. It’s the perfect setting for fine art nudes, in my humble opinion.
Our week started with a group meal on Sunday evening. Monday morning was occupied by portfolio reviews and discussions about how to work with models. Monday afternoon, I took the class through shooting exercises. During the bulk of the week, we organized several trips to local shooting locations in Tuscany, including: Marina Del Albarese on the Mediterranean Coast, Bagni San Filippo a natural hot spring, an abandoned brick factory near Pienza, local Tuscan landscapes naturally, and our home in Tuscany, il Poggiolo, with it’s authentic old word charm and rustic decor.
On Friday, I walked the students through some of my post-processing techniques and answered questions. Students then put together their final selections, and I assembled the slideshows. Later that night, after dinner, we all sat down to watch the final slideshows under the stars, it was really impressive to see everyone’s progress and development from the beginning of the week to the final shows, I was quite proud, in fact.
While I can’t speak for the students, their feedback has been more than generous. I try very hard to teach in an organic way, observing students and stepping in when appropriate to offer my suggestions and answering questions as they come up. By the end of the workshop, I was absolutely exhausted, but in a very good way, or was that the grappa?
We will certainly return to Tuscany for future workshops. I am hoping to organize the next one in late August or September. Stay tuned for details. Oh, and more photos are coming soon.
These images were taken at my first on-location fine art nudes workshop I am currently teaching in Tuscany, 14-20 June 2009. I plan to do this workshop several times per year as the location changes dramatically thorough the spring/summer/fall seasons. It’s a great location for outdoor and indoor nudes with the sea, thermal baths, rustic Italian accommodations and landscapes all within close range. Contact me directly if you would like further information.
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If you wish to use this or any of my images for any purpose, email me at info@bryonpaulmccartney.com.
© Bryon Paul McCartney | www.bryonpaulmccartney.com | All Rights Reserved
DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION
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