Hi. I am a Sudbury based photographer getting back into UE now that my shooting skills have seen major improvement.
If anyone in Sudbury would like to explore with me I would be happy to meet some of you and get some great shots of future adventures.
I am also looking for good locations with lots of decay and low likely hood of being disturbed for at least 4 hours to set up intricate bondage and body paint scenes with local models. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I will be visiting Toronto and Barrie near the end of April to work with models that hope to shoot with me soon. I'd love to explore with some of you down south while I am around.
If anybody else in Ontario would like to work with me feel free to contact and I might aim to head that way soon. I don't charge for this type of photography as it is a personal interest.
My photo equipment is lightweight and portable, however I use a lot of off camera flash which may attract attention, so keep that in mind when suggesting locations.

Here are the most UE related photos i have taken recently. My skills have come a long way since but most of my current work is done in studio and not really relevant here.
















Thank you.
I look forward to meeting some of you.

whats with postprocessing??

It's my personal style I maintain through all my work. Not everyone is a fan as it has a surreal feel. However there are much more people that praise how well it stands out compared to other photographers in my area than there are that admit disliking it. Fans of my work recognize my images instantly before even seeing my name attached. I still feel like I have a way to go to perfect my technique but progress isn't made without pushing my limits and exploring beyond.

I'm a fan of your work and of photomatrix's more fun settings too

That first shot is awesome.

A lot of work is put in setting up these photo shoots, but I do feel that this style is more of a "stage", (HDR-stage, just-discovered-postprocessing - stage)than a conscious effort to contribute to an already interesting photograph.

Could you at least consider redoing some of these shots with minimal processing?

"Unusual" or "different" doesn't automatically mean having great artistic merit, and a lot of people will fall for "unusual". I would not listen to those people.
I think your work will be better with less post processing, as I can't even appreciate the image without feeling like I am drinking paint.
Some slight adjustment in LR is all that is needed. Photomatix is usually an irredeemably awful thing.
That being said, I like the concepts and the ideas (heck i d do it!) just not whats done with the picture that is taken.

I get what you are trying to do and can appreciate all the time and forethought pit into your shots.

I get that the processing sets you apart and how that could potentially be a good thing in this oversaturated photog world. But dude, all the work you put into it suffers because of the processing. It's not even a matter at this point of being able to find appreciation in the wild coloring or the grunge feel. Some of these are too dark to even see what's going on at all. With the super dark ones... are, are those people pooping in tunnels and trash piles?

I get that #1, ladder boy and bloody grandma have some merit in comic book (graphic novel) style art. If that was what you were going for, I think you succeeded in your own class. #1 and girl-on-girl are set up well. Girl-on-girl could have been great if there was something to draw your eyes around to without so much flat shadowing.

I'm glad you had fun with it. If you don't hear anything else, keep the originals so you can replay with them in the future should you desire.

I appreciate the honest constructive criticism and I totally get the points you all are making.

Posted by Lars I'm a fan of your work and...

Thanks. glad you like it

Posted by Lars ...and of photomatrix's more fun settings too

Posted by strangePlaces Some slight adjustment in LR is all that is needed. Photomatix is usually an irredeemably awful thing.

The only one i used photomatix in is the one of the two models scrounging through the garbage and I don't see myself using it again. I prefer to do things manually even though it takes longer.
Mostly what I do is export from raw several times with different settings and blend them together using layer masks in an attempt to get more dynamic range, crisp gritty textures in fabrics and environment and softer skin,then I retouch skin imperfections, then dodge and burn and sometimes add textures

Posted by strangePlaces A lot of work is put in setting up these photo shoots, but I do feel that this style is more of a "stage", (HDR-stage, just-discovered-postprocessing - stage)than a conscious effort to contribute to an already interesting photograph.

I agree, most of these are from when I first started spending more time on processing. I have been taking photos for about a decade but only started shooting with models on a regular basis about a year ago. My recent work is improving but I know i still have a ways to go in honing my post processing style. Since most of my current work isn't UE related I had to dig back to my earlier work to find something relevant. The shoot with the two models in the junkyard was one of my first of these shoots and my first attempt at trying to define my own personal post processing style that stands out, I don't hold back on trying even though it is obviously overdone. with each set I edit I continue with what seems to be working for me but test out new techniques at the same time.

Posted by strangePlaces Could you at least consider redoing some of these shots with minimal processing?

I still have all my raw files in case I ever do want to go back and re-edit any although I also have about 40 shoots I still haven't touched so I'l probably just continue to explore my editing style moving forward through those.

Posted by skatchkins Some of these are too dark to even see what's going on at all. With the super dark ones...

This is something I struggle with, personally I love dark and creepy and tend to not feel right when i make things to bright (depending one the concept). Although if this makes it too hard to see what is going on then I obviously need to tone it down a bit. For some of the zombie ones I was on a movie set in Massey at 1 am with only one tiny flash at the time so I struggled a bit to get enough light, and even more to focus.

Posted by skatchkins I get that the processing sets you apart and how that could potentially be a good thing in this oversaturated photog world. But dude, all the work you put into it suffers because of the processing.

This is my goal, and I know I have a long way to go to get there. Although over processing might be more detrimental to the quality of my photos than helpful, pushing my limits and learning from my failures teaches me more than not trying anything new at all.

here are a few images that are a bit more current. These images have nothing to do with UE so I hope I am not offending anyone or breaking any rules by posting these here as that is not my intention. I am sure you will appreciate the progress I have made even though I imagine it might still be considered too much post processing I rather continue to stand out and slowly refine my ability and smooth out the rough edges.


1 December 2015 - MUA:Aly Goo Model: Lorrie Blais


2 February 2016 - Shibari ropework by me, Model: Amber Woods

3 February 2016 - Shibari ropework by me, Model: Amber Woods and Shauna Pardy

4 December 2015 - MUA/Model: Aimee Good

5 September 2015 - Model: Becky Daviau

6 October 2015 - Body-paint by me, Model: Alyssa Savarie

7 October 2015 - Body-paint by me, Model: Jeseanne Lacasse

8 January 2016 - collaborative body-paint and background painting by me and both models: Rebecca Loranger and Amber Woods. Fire, Ice and Water textures shot by me.

I'm impressed the way you reacted to the CC offered.
It usually doesn't go that way with "new" people on here.
Welcome, man. Keep having fun with it.

Posted by skatchkins I'm impressed the way you reacted to the CC offered. It usually doesn't go that way with "new" people on here. Welcome, man. Keep having fun with it.

This.

Posted by pondersmith 4 December 2015 - MUA/Model: Aimee Good click to view

I like this. Looks like a panel right out of a comic book. Not sure if thats the look you were going for, but well done.

Posted by skatchkins I'm impressed the way you reacted to the CC offered. It usually doesn't go that way with "new" people on here. Welcome, man. Keep having fun with it.

Yeah, really. Genuine advice or constructive criticism is usually met with the drama llama.

Welcome to the boards! And remember, at the end of the day, they're your photos, and not everyone will always like them. Do what makes you happy.

That 'exposed muscle' image is a really cool concept; like 'Body Worlds'...but, you know, on the living.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I really admire your reaction to folks' criticism.

J->

Thanks everyone.
The best way to keep improving is to know you will never know everything.
I try to remind myself you can learn something new or at least gain a different perspective from absolutely everyone. From a genius, from a kid, from retard, from an addict, from an internet troll... (not calling you guys retards or trolls, just saying)
The hard part is deciding what advice you feel is useful and what advice is a matter of preference or opinion.
I also took graphic design and learned to value good constructive criticism because of it. The last thing i would want to do is tell you off for being honest with your reaction and not get your feedback in future because of it.
I post stuff on Facebook and all I ever get is wow and love this, I am excited to finally be a part of a community that will be critical and help influence my progress.

I gotta say, your pictures look indistinguishable from the artwork you might find on, say, Magic cards.

Pretty impressive, to say the least. They look more like canvas paintings than photographs.

lol awesome that you say that. in the next year 3 magic cards are coming out that have been drawn from custom reference photos I was commissioned to shoot. The first one comes out with the conspiracy: take the crown set

Is Wizards Of The Coast paying you a commission, then?

Posted by Darendor Is Wizards Of The Coast paying you a commission, then?

Indirectly yes. They pay the artist for his final artwork. He provides me with specs and a budget. It's up to me how much I pay the models and how much I keep for myself. It actually pays quite well for the amount of time it takes me even after giving the model $50 for about a half hour of work. In the end it saves the artist hours of preliminary work. The lighting, expression, and body language is all there ready to be redrawn. so its a win-win-win.