Friend Model in an Old Fort (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

It was almost a year after I first worked with L_ when she got back in touch, and asked about doing some more work, this time outdoors. She also mentioned a friend, Krista, who wanted to try modeling as well, and asked if it would be possible for her to come along as well. I said the more the merrier, and the plans were made.

4"x5" film

Without anything specific in mind, I decided the best place to head was York Redoubt; I haven't photographed there since June with Denise, and then it was in the woods around the Fort, not the fort itself. This time, I decided to focus on the stone and concrete fort, and while I did make a couple of single-nude images, the majority of the compositions which succeeded took advantage of both models present.

The best image of the day is actually a quote of a series of earlier images that I did with Victoria in 1999; as opposed to "remaking" the original pose, and trying to improve upon it, I saw the revisiting of the space as a chance to build upon the strengths of my first images of it.

4"x5" film

The prime challenge when working with two models is creating scenes where both models are absolutely necessary - if one can be removed, and the image still work, then the second model is superfluous. In the case of this image, while the composition of Krista in the box arching back was strong, once L_ moved into the box below her, the composition grew into a different image all together, with several new layers of meaning and intent. I am not sure if this is the definitive York Redoubt Box image, but it certainly has pushed the series forward.

4"x5" film

It was very different (and far more enjoyable) working with L_ outdoors, as opposed to our previous explorations of the studio; the addition of Krista to the session, combined with the rich setting lead to a number of striking images. The decision to use 4"x5" camera was based on the fact I was working with a new model for the first time, but I doubt the larger, slower 8"x10" camera would have caused much of a problem on the session; we worked slowly, methodically, making the images that came to mind, and comfortably moving onwards when things became static and forced.