RouseGallery...The Blog

Gretchen: The Classics...Color Portfolio

 

Even though it's virtually impossible to top the sheer visual impact of yesterday's black and white portfolio featuring Gretchen, I also wanted to show you the early work in color...especially since color work, particularly color negative, was becoming all the rage for commercial photographers in the mid to late nineties. So, feast your eyes, photography fans. Oh, and film fanatics, don't forget to see the P.S.!

R

 

Film buffs/fanatics: As is the case with most of the great photographs in history...one camera, one lens. The Mamiya RZ and the 140 Macro. During these sessions, I shot some Kodak PMZ (1000 speed on 120 size!) but you won't see it here...a short-lived and kind of wacky film. These images were recorded on my favorite film of the era: Kodak PMC 400...the predecessor to NC 400 and the first great 400 speed color film that Kodak developed for professional, medium format use.

Gretchen: The Classics Edition Two

On the blog recently , I introduced you to Gretchen, my photographic muse from ten years ago (see the post from February 16 or the MODEL archives)...when I was fresh out of the photography institute and ready to dive headfirst into the art and take on the world. Working with her enabled me to grow my art and shape my artistic vision (and since her and I are back in touch now, maybe we'll have some new Gretchen portraits to show you someday!). Through my recent scanning of those classic images, I can share with you a portfolio that I will always view as containing some of my best work.

So, let me take you back to the summer of 1997. The radio is playing Savage Garden, Oasis and The Spice Girls . Kate Moss is staring at us from the cover of every fashion magazine. And somewhere in the heartland, at a deserted theater still ringing with echoes of long-since faded applause, the artistry is coming to life...

R

   

SHUTTERBUG MUSINGS: All of us film purists are in absolute heaven now. TMAX 400 black and white film, shot on the 6x7 Mamiya and processed in TMAX developer 75 degrees for the time duration recommended by the Kodak data guide for that speed. Printing was on kodak paper as I recall, even though I have preferred Ilford through the years, and that is noteworthy considering these are not negative but PRINT scans from 8X10 optical prints. I know; I couldn't believe my eyes either.

I take great pride in posting these images as you will not see this kind of incredible richness and the stunning depth of the black and white tones in a computer conversion from a digital SLR, as much as I love my new Nikons. Only optical prints or quality scans from film will render drama and beauty like this.

One Great Collage Deserves Another.

I trust you're enjoying the "greatest hits" parade here at Ron Rouse Photography!

Most of all, you now are able to be introduced to the girls on the official 2008 talent roster. I am very proud of these girls. And this portfolio.

R

It's all about The Brand, you know...

Gretchen...and an All-Time Classic

This is the coolest story.

Ten years ago, when yours truly is fresh out of photography institute and seeking newfound fame and fortune, he meets a gorgeous young college student named Gretchen, is instantly smitten with her photogenic attributes and promptly pronounces her to be his photographic muse, commencing a flurry of shutter-snapping and light adjusting and wardrobe perusing!

Fast foward a decade. In this first week of my major scan project, I come across the negative bearing this image of Gretchen, untouched for half a decade or more. And out of the blue, the same day, Gretchen calls to say hello, after we have been out of touch for several years. Too cool. I always love it when this ESP thing happens.

It's been so good to get back in touch with Gretchen. I'm very proud of the work we've done over the years. And working with Gretchen, even early on in my career, taught me the value of collaborating with a model who has actressing qualities. That versatility, that emotiveness, that sense of shared vision is paramount to realizing your artistic aspirations.

I'm sharing with you not just an image of Gretchen but one of the images I am most fond of creating in the span of my entire career. I hope the tranquil and endearing sensibilities of this image are as transparent for you as they are for me. More than anything, this photograph provides you with a good excuse to just get lost in the sense of solitude and the hush before...or perhaps after the performance. I'll let you decide.

R

P.S. Oh yeah...the technical nitty-gritty for shutterbugs. TMAX 400 ("TMY") 120 size film on the Mamiya, 140 lens (of course). Developed in TMAX developer at 75 degrees for contrast latitude...and for that, uh, 'ooh-lah-lah' factor!

What this talent stuff is all about...

 

The Great MacKenzie BlogMania...The Grand Finale!

Sometimes one image will just leave you speechless...

R

The Great MacKenzie Blogathon...Take Two!!

It was so cool to catch up with Kenzi on my trip to Grand Forks the other day...and share a mutually-beneficial venting session!

Makes me reminisce about great times Kenzi and I have shared over the years...like sitting at the kitchen counter, conjuring up vocabulary-laden conversations (example: think..."garrulous"..."insolent" or all the all-time epic "prolegomenon". By the way, let me warn you, conversing this way will often result in clearing everybody else out of the room!)

And I remember cheering at the top of my lungs at numerous high school varsity swimming and diving meets, as in, example: "Go Kenzi...Go Hard!!!"

Enjoy some classic Kenzi that brings some great memories to mind for me...

R

The Great MacKenzie BlogFest...Take One!

Omigosh...I have been waiting soooo long to feature Kenzi's images on the blog...like since the debut of the blog last May! But, around here apparently, we operate under the premise that good things come to those who wait...and we evidently believe as well in saving the best for last!

So, as we careen toward a rapidly approaching New Year, we cap off the Model Archives with images of Kenzi, many of the same ones that you'll see on our commercial photography portfolio at www.ronrousephotography.com. In fact, Kenzi has the distinction of having more images featured on that image portfolio than any other model (we should award a plaque for that or something, I think!). I'm very proud of having that honor for MacKenzie, especially with the portfolio being reviewed by a number of the top commercial agencies in the world in recent weeks (and the amazing, mind-blowing results of that portfolio review are under wraps for a little while yet...as in, yes, most of you will unfortunately be kept in suspense for a while longer!!)

For now, enjoy the beauty and personality and radiance captured in these images of Kenzi...culled from perhaps my most consistent and successful session ever. (yes, now you have that in writing)

R

P.S. Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

 

Cassie, Kami and Katie...The Encore Post

We're running this post, which originally appeared on the blog in late May, again...something that we haven't done before. It's back by popular demand! And to coincide with the re-launch of www.ronrousephotography.com (where you'll find most of these images as well).

We're also re-posting so that you can be properly introduced to Cassie, Kami and Katie ..or, Cassandra...Kamrin...and Katherine. I love, absolutely love the full pronunciation of those names, very elegant and regal...just like this trio of young ladies. Our Grand Forks girls!

They have been so wonderful to work with. I don't know what I did to deserve having these three talented, beautiful and kind ladies to work with...but I'm certainly glad they wound up in front of my lens. Their pleasant demeanor, optimism and faith are readily evident whenever I'm around them...and it's been a true pleasure to get to know them and work with them. So, I thought it would be nice for you to get to know them too.

CASSIE

Cassie and I wandered through the rain for a good chunk of her shoot! Goes to show what perseverance will do for you. But even the all the funky, eye-catching urban scenes we captured can't top for me the hammock shot right in Cassie's backyard...maybe because it captures so well the radiance of Cassie's spirit and her carefree summer smile:

KAMI...

This girl is probably wondering when I'm going to stop taking her on five hour shoots in 90 degree+ heat!! Regardless, though, Kami's actressing skills have been such an asset in every photograph we've done. As you can see from this indoor portfolio, her range allows her to go from a playful, spontaneous moment to an introspective and totally captivating expression...as you'll see in the window-light portrait below that has garnered so much attention:

KATIE...

Katie is such a sweetheart! We've worked together on a diverse group of images...doing the urban motif, in the country at twilight, etc. But my favorites will always be the dance images...especially the one featured below, one of my all time favorite creations. It shows my love...and my respect...for the beauty, the very power of lighting. And I couldn't have done it without such a gracious and accommodating model: