MFIAP – Travels with a Muse

I have worked towards many distinctions on my photographic journey, and found them useful to give me a goal, and also give some structure to my photography.

I applied late last year for the Master Photographer of FIAP (MFIAP), which according to FIAP is the highest photographic distinction of the International Federation of Photographic Art.

I like to think that with the MFIAP, as with Fellowship panels, that the panel should be distinctive, and be instantly identifiable as that authors work. Indeed the original guidance for the MFIAP included something along those lines “For the jury what is important is the eye of the photographer, not so much what he looked at. There must be the transmission of a message characterised by the distinguishing mark of its author“

You have to produce a panel of 20 prints, and here is the introductory text for my submission.

“I began model photography in 2009, and I enjoyed it so much that my images have largely been in this genre ever since.

In early 2014 I had my first shoot with a model called Lulu and quickly discovered that we shared a common vision and passion for the type of images we wanted to create.  I have worked with her many times since, so much so that we are now very close friends.

Since we began working together I knew that I wanted to create a panel of images capturing her beauty in the natural environment. Rocks are one of our favourite locations, with their great variety of textures, shapes and colours. They are a perfect playground for Lulu.

Lulu is able to interact and integrate with the rocks, producing a wide variety of interesting poses.  She also contrasts with the rocks in a number of ways.  Her pale skin provides a contrast of colour, and the smoothness and softness of her skin contrasts with the texture and solidity of the rocks.

Images in the panel have being taken over a period of time from our earliest shoots to very recent ones, and from a wide variety of locations in Norway, Iceland, France, Corsica, Scotland, Ireland and England.

I have placed the images in an order to show the changing colours of the rocks, from yellows, oranges, reds, greys through to greens,

My interest in photography had plateaued when I first met Lulu.   She rejuvenated my interest and continues to inspire me every time we work together.  This portfolio represents my artistic journey with Lulu.  The changing colours and wide variety of locations symbolise the growth and flow of our working relationship.”

Here are the 20 images.

Many thanks to a number of my photographic friends – you know who you are – who gave me advice on the panel, without which I do not feel I would have succeeded.

The primary aim of my photography is to enjoy it, which I do immensely. I have now produced both an MFIAP and FIPF panel solely with images of Lulu, showing what a great variety of images you can produce with a single talented model. Thank you Lulu for being such a great friend and model, and letting me live the dream!