Tanya with long hair

Well, I'm very flaterred, but it's time that you let me take these .... :-)

powerful shot of a powerful lady Tanya. I wonder where you pointed the flash, some of the highlights seem just a little obvious possibly? Personally, I point it away from the subject and try to bounce the light off some wall ...

kisses, John

You are right John. It was a camera with flash on. I didn't bring my detached flash with me at the time. Geee! Flash photography is NOT that simple at all to get a desirable photo with perfect lighting.

Chicago is lot of fun. Too bad you can't join me at this time ;o(.

I love your long hair. Your look is so very intense full of feelings. This is my favorite. I think I need to travel to LA to shoot with you.

Alex

Alex! Don't worry. My San Francisco trip is coming soon. I am looking foward to seeing you again. Photo session?!!!!....hummmm....now, that makes me nervous :o).

John! Have a great time in Chicago. I am flying back to California today. For sure, i will see you in Europe next year John :o)....

I get to see you again. I do think your longer hair make you look very elegant. Looking forward to your return to San Francisco.

Alex

I think this is the first of your self-portraits to express the real conscious you (rather than your dreams or fantasies). It is very good and does you justice.

Your strength is in your mind and art - the fact that your body is very presentable as well is a bonus.

Best wishes, Jonathan

It's been a long time we haven't stayed connected. I am very happy to know that you visit my website and leave comment.

Well! Talking about "REAL" is quite an interesting subject especially on this photo because i actually wore a hairwig. So in itself, it would be an irony to say this photo is "real Tanya" consciously. However, i intentionally put it under "self-portrait" section which means this photo represents a part of "real" me as well.

I believe that as an artist, we possess multitude of character dimensions. This photo, perhaps, carries a significant magnitude of one of her core characters. Would you think that is a possibility, Jonathan?

BTW, thanks for sending me this beautiful photo http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=669162.

Waterfall

I love it so much i hang it in my bedroom. It's so cool to actually have a photo in a reputated book teaching "nude photography" hanging in my bedroom as a gift from the photographer himself is beyond my...wildest dreams :o). Thank you, Jonathan. I am completely flattered and feel honored to have such an extraordinary gift :o).

Warmly, Tanya.

Yes, it's an interesting question how (or if) we can tell what someone is really like from their appearance - certainly it's not their hair! It seems to be something about their expression, especially the eyes, but I have not been able to figure out exactly what. Obviously it's not 100% reliable but I think we generally get a pretty good idea. Quite a lot is lost in a still photo but some of the reality comes through and it is a measure of a good portrait how much is revealed. In this respect you may find Bill Brandt's portraits worth a look.

This is why I like this shot - it shows what I take to be an important part of your real self (of course I only know you from a distance and from what you have chosen to display in your photos and discussions but intuition can work well with small clues). As you say personality is complex and multi-faceted, but this strong self-awareness seems to me an important part of you, at least as an artist (maybe you hide much of it in your day-to-day life).

Best wishes, Jonathan

I've always love reading your comment. There are always substances in the content of your message for one to ponder upon.

I do find my real-self in art more often than anywhere else.