Ashton, Window Light, October, 2004

Usually, the time between setting up a sitting & the sitting itself is maybe a week or at most two, but because of Ashton's long trip down to Los Angeles, we had to wait almost two whole months before getting together. Such sweet anticipation!

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather here is typically overcast from September to April, but Ashton arrived on a rare, sunny October afternoon. I know I've used the bright sunlight coming through this particular window before (with Leona; click here to see one of the best of these shots reworked), but that window is the only one that faces south, and a sunny Autumn day is so rare, I couldn't resist putting Ashton in that light.

I admit that I had planned to start things off with my typical "Getting Started" setup, where I set up some nice lights & ask the model to remove her street clothes. But since the sun presented this opportunity, I scrambled to get things ready for Ashton. While she ran a brush through her hair, I took down the backdrop, moved the lighting equipment out of the way, opened the window shade, moved the camera, and generally fidgeted...

... While I was keeping myself busy, I tried not to get nervous. Yes, even after dozens of sittings with dozens of beautiful models, I get a bit nervous about that first glance at a nude model. I had shouted to Ashton that she had to hurry, because the sun waits for no one, and while my back was turned, she plopped down, nude, in the sunlight.

Ashton is gorgeous, confident, and down to earth. I immediately knew that she was going to be a joy to work with.

Ashton does a lot of modeling, mostly sexy glamour (think naked cowgirls in the barn), and many of the poses you'll see here are indicative of her experience. But as you will see, she does great with fine art photography like mine, too.

(Ashton has her own website, too.)

I suspect that I'll grab any sunny Autumn day, but the window light is really difficult to work with. It is bright & contrasty. Further, there is an electric plug in the wall that we've always got to hide (in this case, it's hidden in the shadows.

I am definitely enjoying getting to know Ashton, but I am aware that the light is difficult and that I'm really not making an improvement on my previous sitting, with Leona, two years ago. (Ashton & Leona kinda look alike, too, don't they?) I don't mind returning to previous concepts as long as I'm making an improvement to them, but I didn't feel it. So, we closed the window shades, set up the lights, and moved on.

This sitting continues with Bench Photos.