Pursuing the /equi.libre/ project, I wanted to go a step further and set up a shoot with more than two models, creating balances and imbalances between them. Ideally I would have wanted to get at least one guy in the equation, but to be honest I’m slow as f.. in organizing my shoots and lately I get so easily overwhelmed that I don’t get enough time to introduce models with each other.
3 décembre 2017 — Aucun commentaire
Introducing /equi.libre/ feat. Jeanne & Louise. A tale about being human.
For a long time now, I’ve been working on trying to express how human we all are. Feminism, body positivism, equality, freedom, self-esteem are so many themes I wanted to introduce into my photography because I strongly believe we are not yet free to be ourselves, free to be. All these concepts have something in common: they describe human sides of personalities which are somewhat oppressed by some other people because of [Insert here some random bullshit people think they’re right about]. Right, humans oppressing humans for the sake of being right.
Published by ange in equi.libre
The way my photography works is directly linked to what I have to express and lately I’ve been working on a new project that would deal with couples, love, humanity, relationships … In this attempt to create something new I recruited No & Matt for several tests and working sessions and I totally failed … at creating something new.
Even if my projects evolve, /positive motion/ is one that I will pursue in the long term, at least as long as I have positive emotions to express :)
I’ve shot several series with Leah during the past two years, and each time the pleasure to discover new personality sides is renewed. She’s a very multi-sided person with a lot to offer, especially being in a kind of between two generations.
English content
It’s been a few months now that I force myself writing at least 300 words long articles when publishing images. First, it was only for improving SEO, but I realized very soon I don’t really care about getting known or improving visibility through my website. Next, it was because some people told me they actually read and feel like they understand a bit more what I’m trying to express through some series.
Strange. This is it, maybe I should stop writing this article right here, how much strange was this encounter with Nicolas. I have already written about how hard it is to find valuable masculine collaborations: a lot of the men contacting me are either « wesh-wesh » with no intend to create imaginative imagery or bodybuilders who only wants to show their muscle. Nicolas is neither of that, but man, what a strange person.
During a conversation with a model, I’ve discovered the notion of body-positivism, which is basically being confident with one self-body and stop being ashamed and harassed by fashion dictates. I didn’t know I was part of something bigger like this, but this is a state of mind I totally rely on. I’ve got often contacts from people who have never posed and just want to have a first experience, see what’s like to be in the shoes of a model (with no shoes :wink:) or who want to face their own body in front of a camera and their approach is often to be related to body-positivism.
When I first saw Alma’s portfolio I was totally amazed and felt like she was what I qualified as « an expression of humanity ». I don’t know how to describe it better, but when I first looked at her pictures, they just sounded real and right, like the truth of a human body deeply settled in a physical reality. Meeting her in person didn’t deny this feeling of humanity and even added a huge load of kindness. Honestly, this is one of the more truthful encounters I had in the past months.
As a photographer, a big part of my job is to connect and help my model to express themselves by participating in a common creation of imagery. Sometimes I think I fail and something emerges out of the ashes … sometimes I just fail. I never blame the models, and I won’t this time neither, but I must admit that this shoot didn’t work as intended at all.
Get in touch?
Currently in Montréal, QC Canada
I speak French, English and even a bit of Italian!
Email: hello@angeswadman.com
Twitter: @angeswadman
Instagram: @angeswadman
© ange swadman, since 2007
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