*Zebrina Menace*
Canon EOS300 + Ilford Delta100
Model: Ben
Photographer: Siuding
Texture:  Tradescantia zebrina

(This week I will share some of the images that came out of an unusual session where I was the model. I’ll talk about why I did it and what I learned from it. These will not be the best Photosynthesis images you have seen, but they form an important part of the project’s history.)

While the talented Siuding took the portraits of me during this shoot, I had to plan the textures ahead, as I normally do. One area that I rarely anticipate with models, but I could and did anticipate with myself as the model was using model features to evoke a certain feeling, in this case one of menace. I felt that that would be a good visual use of my bulk.

Siuding and I set up the lights so as to underexpose my considerable back with Tradescantia zebrina, a texture I knew to be quite dark and striking, and we lit my face properly so as to have little to know texture there. Interestingly, this is the exact same lighting set up as a very successful image of Siuding herself, Bittersweet. A fitting parallel to our collaboration, I think.