DB Miller Photography: Lurking Influences

Variety makes better photographs and I am trying to stretch my art in newer directios each time. Do something a little simpler, next time more design elements, next time a lot sexier, the following time more romantic or with more interesting makeup and wardrobe. Everything starts with an idea, like "let's be sci fi..." as in this image...

Within the last week I've shot models in a snow field and at a carnival, both with no frills-- no lightstands, wireless flash, backdrops or reflectors-- and both locations were places I hadn't shot at before. The week before I did a few 4x5 shots of 2 peoples, very quiet and subdued pieces with no electronic hoohah to be found. Today I did two shoots that were largely influenced by art outside of photography-- the landscape installations of Christo and Jean Claude and architecture of Antoine Predock for one, and the design/ illustration of Alphonse Mucha for another.

I should point out that "influenced by" does not mean that the photos turn out anything like their influences. My Christo idea was essentially a big flowing fabric which is nowhere near a fabric that covers a coastline or the Reichstag, but I still like the idea of the fabric filling the sky. Didn't quite work out as I need something bigger than a bedsheet and some way to anchor it. Anyways it was simpler just to wrap up the model as I have done a couple times in the last 2 weeks. Even with my initial idea of what I wanted to do, as I sit here tonight developing photos I find myself way more attracted to the random, spontaneous bit where I saw some orange trees on my way to the shoot and decided to shoot the model amongst them. They came out so fresh feeling and pleasant I surprised myself, but of course oranges are metaphors for health and happiness so a bit of serendipity occured here.

I had bought a book on Mucha a few weeks ago under threat that I had better photograph my Wife in that style, "or else." She crocheted a headband and again we fooled around with fabric as a backdrop backlit by the sun. In many of the photos she ventured into the freezing waters of the Salt River.