L_ Models in Toronto

L_  and I didn't manage to meet up the last time I was in Toronto, but fortunately this trip had a little more time (as the Naked in the House exhibition was at night). After meeting up with her at the exhibition and crashing on her couch for the night, we had most of the next day to work together.
The real issue was not finding the time to make photographs, but rather a location. You'd think in a city the size of Toronto these would be a dime a dozen but in early March it was far from warm enough to work outdoors,and L_ only had a limited number of indoor places she had access to model in. As luck would have it though, a friend of a friend of mine in Moncton, whom I'd met at the Naked in the House 05 opening the night before, offered us access to a house she was house-sitting for a friend who had moved to Japan.

Digital infrared original, 19 frame stitch

With the choice of working in an unknown location, or not working at all, both L_ and I took up the offered location and, as strange as it was, began working in the house of a stranger, three people removed (half way to Kevin Bacon, I'm sure.).

As it turned out, the location was fabulous to work in; while the house was small, it had some wonderful architectural features, including a wonderful, railing-less stairway, which was the first location work worked with. After a couple of sketches, we settled on an elongated pose, with L_ 's head disappearing behind the ceiling - it both worked with the space, and with the lighting, creating a beautifully delicate image with a strong pose and composition.

Digital infrared original

The last part of the session was spent making a series of portraits on a couch in the living room. L_ has such a wonderful presence in front of the camera, and every time I have a chance to work with her, I set aside some time for portraits, seeking to build a series of portraits stretching over the years of our work together.

Digital infrared original, 4 frame stitch

While I am terminally frustrated that L_ 's moved to Toronto (in regards to how that limits our ability to work together regularly), it was such a treat to work with her again, and see such strong images come out of our time spent together in the house of a friend of a friend of a friend of mine.