Welcome back to “As I See It”.

Yea, you read the title of this week’s blog correctly.

What’s your favorite position?

I don’t mean progressive or centrist.

I don’t mean left field or quarterback.

I mean exactly what you think I might mean.

What’s your favorite sexual position?

This series is so much fun to shoot. 

I don’t recall how the idea came to me.

I don’t recall the first time I shot for it.

The idea behind the series is to photographically document a thought process, in process. 

I tell the willing, but unsure, participant that I am going to ask them a question. I tell them that they don’t have to answer the question out loud. I did have one young woman shout out with glee, "On top!"

I tell them that I will be photographing them through their thought process.

I start shooting continuous frames as I ask them what is their favorite position. I shoot for several seconds as they go through the process of realizing that I am asking them about their favorite sexual position, and then imagining it.

The resulting image compilation is made up of four frames. Just like the photo strip that came out of the old time photo booths. Except that my images are generally horizontal, not vertical.

The final piece is a combination of thoughts and emotions. Initially there is often embarrassment with a side of excitement. You can see that in the first or second frame. Often the subject looks up and away, as they access that visual information in their mind. And then a look of satisfaction.

When I was a student at Santa Rosa Junior College, I took an advanced photography class with Renata Breth. A powerful no nonsense teacher. When the time came to present our ideas for our final project, I went back and forth as to whether I should use the image compilations from this series. 

What was the worst response that I would get? Would she punish me? Send me to the principal’s office? In reality, at worst, she would say no. She might not like or respect me. It took a bit to get past those fears, but I was able to build up a healthy case of the “fuck its”, and I presented the idea.

Renata loved the idea, and supported me throughout the semester as I worked on it. She gave me an “A”. My fears alleviated. She liked me. She really liked me.

It has been too long since I have shot any images for this series, and I have images that I have not yet put together into the compilation image.

Writing this piece gives me juice and excitement to pick up where I left off with this series. It is a series that I look forward to see hanging in an art gallery.

As long as we’re on the subject, what is your favorite position?

Till next time,

Be Well