*RobinJ

Well the ebay test failed.
Not a single print managed to sell - and I think I know why.

Had I been selling useless junk, on the other hand, I have no doubt it would have sold!

But I'm not disheartened. I'll just be using dA to sell prints for the time being.
Some of my shoots are on a TFCD basis and therefore can't be supplied as prints, but for the most part the ones I really like will be made available.

I'd just like to take this moment to thank everyone for their support. I could single people out but that just wouldn't be fair.
I've been through some tough things lately, but dA has always been there, with all my fellow deviants, to give me a little stability in an unstable world!

Thanks guys!

I've finally taken the plunge. Prints from RobinJ are now available through eBay!

Have a browse here: [link]

This is a huge leap of confidence for me, and not something I've rushed into.
I've chosen six of my favourite recent images and found a printer who can create posters from them for a reasonable price.

I'm only offering one print of each image, on an auction basis, to gauge interest. If all goes well, more images should follow.
They are being sold under the name RBGphotography and all start with "Sexy pin-up..." if anyone wants to take a peek.

To be honest, friends, I don't really know what I'm doing! The price is high to cover the printing costs, but will anyone truly see value in them? Only time will tell...

[edit: link added!]

Oh my, that's a lot.

Seriously, that's just crazy!

That's a hell of a lot of people taking time out to look at my humble photos.

I think it's time for a little retrospective.... (stop groaning at the bacK!)

When I first joined DA I was a bored, frustrated illustrator stuck in a dead end job. I posted a few illustrations here, not expecting anyone to notice, and continued to enjoy the other insanely talented people who belong to this community.

I was so pleased when I got my first comment. Even if it was "nice".
Let's be honest, it's no use as critique, but at least it proved to me that someone was looking!

Now here's the embarassing bit. How the hell did I turn from illustration to photography? I really don't know.
I remember making my own website selling greeting cards that I had handmade and illustrated. It still continues to rake in sales of 1 a year.
That might have prompted me to find something else to stimulate the creative juices...

So one way or another I picked up a camera. I found a model, a studio, huge amounts of courage... and that's when my soul officially belonged to the devil.

Seriously, there's no denying it. He owns me.
Does it mean I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams? No.
Have I been granted hellish super powers? No.
Am I even healthy? No.

But once a month I get to indulge in something that truly makes me happy. I love it. Every second of a shoot, the pre-planning, and the retouching afterwards.

I know what some, if not all, of you are thinking: "Your images are nothing without the models."
And you'd be right. Without their patience, commitment, and understanding my work behind the camera means nothing.
Thank you, girls. Each and every one of you is a complete star!

I may never think I'm any good at it. I may never be proud enough of my work to promote myself anywhere outside this community. But DA has been good to me and I'd like to take this opportunity to shout out a big THANK YOU to all my DA friends for all your kind words and support.

Now who's going to be first to say "see you again at 100,000"?

I hardly ever talk to other photographers. There are a few notable exceptions, but on the whole I just don't get on with them.
But occasionally I find I have to talk to them, or worse still, I choose to.

Recently I posted on a photography discussion forum about a problem that's been bothering me for some time now.
You can read it here: [link]

I managed to stomach the first two pages of answers, then gave up reading it. Now, you may read it and think I'm just talking out of my arse. But what I was trying to highlight was the increasing problem of model exploitation and safety.
Who knows, maybe I deserved those responses because it was such a poorly written piece in the first place.

I've tried to write this journal entry four times now. Each time I just end up getting angry about the situation and then my whole argument becomes nothing more than a rant!
So basically I thought I'd just give you all an insight into some of the crap that I put up with from some of "fellow photographers" on a regular basis.

Note that I said "some" photographers. We're not all like this, not by any means, but it's still a problem and I think it needs addressing.

What do you think? Are these girls stupid for putting themselves in that position in the first place? Or is this the beginning of a solid argument for a models' union? Or at the very least, better education for girls who see glamour models in magazines and think its all champagne parties and sports cars?

A revelation. It happens occassionally.

Recently I was asked by a model I've worked with before to shoot her again, this time with a friend. Normally I would be very flattered, but she added the stipulation; "but not like our last pictures. I want these to be really professional looking. you know, photoshopped..."

I was a bit stunned, but took up the challenge anyway! I ran the shoot the same way I always do, but spent 4 times as long in post-production retouching the images. I spent days researching and testing skin retouching techniques.
Well I finally sent her the CD she returned with "not bad, but I won't be using. I just look too fat!"

Fat. Curvy. Busty. Let's be honest, it's all in the eye of the beholder. I couldn't see what she was complaining about, but I've never been a fan of the waif look. So I spent more time touching up the images, smoothing out curves, eliminating any possible bulge. After all that she said they were "ok. don't give up the photoshopping, it looks great"

Now, I'm not naive. My last job was working in the imaging department of a clothing catalogue. I know what goes on before the books go to press. But I always told myself that I wouldn't get caught up in it. I would accept girls for who they are, not what they are. That somehow in my photography I would help them shine without the post-production special effects everyone raves about.

But who am I kidding. Not one of the images you see in my gallery has avoided retouching of some kind or other. And since my episode with that model I've started doing it with almost every model. Even the amazing Bec (check the gallery) who has flawless skin, underwent microscopic removal of moles and blemishes...

How did I get caught up in this? Many years ago my younger sister suffered from bulimia nervosa. Influenced by the media, magazines, and peer pressure, she starved and binged and vomited her way through her teens. I hated every magazine I saw because it featured unrealistic images of women that were far from perfection, but were ridiculously idolised by the media, driving my sister and many like her to torture themselves in pursuit of an impossible dream.

And yet here I am. Years later, getting caught up in the same charade. Have I let my sister down? Have I let myself down? Have I become that which I despised...?