Greetings,

It is nice to have some new shoots to edit after hiding in the mountains for so long. I’m still being careful but, being in the fall of my time means I need to squeeze as much life out of it as I can. I can still handle flying around on the dunes and sleeping in the back of my truck, so I still have time before I’m plant food.

I finally got down to editing some of the Star Wars themed images we took at the dunes. So much fun and I love how they turned out. Elley outdid herself with an amazing costume for Rea. It might be because she just knows me so well that she created it about as sexy as we could get away with and still look 100% Star Wars. Or, Rea in her later years. Defiant and confident. Elley brought out her acting skills and just blew away every look. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Since this issue is devoted to our work, I will expand on Elley and my relationship. I expect some people are scratching their heads and letting their imaginations run amuck. That’s always fun I suppose. That’s why people buy lottery tickets. To imagine what they would do on the off chance they would win more than $8.

I met Elley in 2017 or 18 and we hit it off right away. I was, and am, struck by her beauty and outgoing personality. I later found out she is about as driven as anyone I know. She has lofty goals and anyone should be careful to doubt she’ll achieve them. You’d have to meet her to get the vide.

I also later found out I was the first photographer that she shot nudes with. I asked first of course, and had no clue she hadn’t done nude art before, other than some slips in an underwater shoot.. She rocked everything we tried. Fine art nudes are the hardest thing to create art from. No props typically and just the shapes and expression. Painters and scuptors know they have made it when they can create a lifelike hand, foot, or the muscle structure of the human body. I like it because of the challenge. In a way, being a photographer I have a disadvantage because I can’t create a subject out of my head like other artists. I am presented with the shape and it is up to me to turn that into art.

Elley and I are good friends at this point. We’ve gone on countless weekend adventures. From a horse ranch, dunes, Bonita several times, a movie set, and even given classes in California and Chandler many, many times. On that note I think she could easily give lighting classes herself. She and Dan have driven me into the wilderness often, to find old mining camps and outstanding rock formations to shoot at. And to just enjoy the ride. She has come to visit often and sleeps in the studio, for shoots or when she has extended business in the valley. And I’ve slept on Elley and Dan’s couch more than once in Bagdad.

Some photographers like to shoot a lot of different models. I get their desire for variety and I enjoy that aspect of the arts too. And I do shoot many others that I love working with. And they all give me some wonderful material to create my art with.

The thing with Elley and I are much like it must have been with Marilyn Monroe and her friend Milton Green back in the day. They would often just meet in his studio or they would run off to some villa in the country and do a shoot. I have a book with just 50 of their shoots and it’s amazing to feel the chemistry going on. He captures her expressions so perfectly. I think a lot of that comes from them knowing each other better than just a passing photographer/model thing.

David Bailey was pretty much the same way. When he saw Jean Shrimpton the first time that was pretty much it. For many years, if he was hired for a fashion shoot they also got Jean, and if Jean was hired for a job you automatically got David. They were close (in their case, biblically - grin) and they worked together perfectly.

So there you have it. I hope I experiance many years of creativity with her. And, as with all of the models I work with, I’ll enjoy watching her grow and jump on opportunities as they come around. There is no doubt in my mind that none of these ladies have any idea what an impact they all have on this old man’s heart and soul. Their youth really is contagious and rubs off keeping me young. Evidently, they keep their beauty to themselves.

Until next week. Stay warm, dry, happy, and healthy. Please!

Dave

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Enough about me. Enjoy this month’s art and let me know what you think.

Until next week, enjoy!!! And stay safe.

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