Embodying Paris
We were sitting in class when he came up with the idea. Seated in front of me while our teacher was mid-lesson, he turned around and proposed the idea.
He, a carefree adventurer, was always looking for something wild to do.
Something far from ordinary.
And I am a free spirit photographer, always looking for new projects.
What then sprouted from the idea of cheesy tourist photographs complete with baguettes, berets and bottles of wine in the typical tourist places was simply something no one had done before.
Or...well....had chosen to share with the internet from the few hours of research we completed before tackling our first of 6 photoshoots.
If you're wondering how we pulled it off, that's honestly a really great question.
If you're wondering how hard I laughed, just know I cried, giddy with a loss of words, and thought over and over for about 3 days afterwards: "holy sh*t! I just took that photo of him."
To be very clear, there was nothing photoshopped in or out of the photos. and were all shot in Paris, France.
And are all very, very real.
If you're wondering why I even took on such an insane project, well there's a few reasons, but one in particular.
And it's this: This world needs more badass, risk-taking, adventure-having female photographers.
Everyday my Instagram feed is full of male photographers exploring the world, going to new heights, testing their abilities, going where their camera takes them. Every year National Geographic comes out with their top photos of the year and very rarely is there more than 2 female photographers nominated. I watched a live feed on Instagram from a lens release event and there was not a single woman in the room. Not a single one.
This is a problem. And there is no excuse.
Women can do just what men do, and do it just as well, if not better.
So I'm starting a photo series of breaking down sexism in the world of photography and will be focusing on pushing myself and my camera to the boundaries of legality and to the ends of the Earth.
Another reason why I took on this project was that there aren't enough women who take photos of men nude. It's always the other way around, with men taking model or nude photos of women.
And finally, this photo series Embodying Paris is to empower men in a simple way. Not all guys need to be overly muscular, holding power stances with puffed-up chests and the fierce, seducing look on their face.
There should be a wider acceptance of beauty for men.
