The Rockabilly Lifestyle » Photography

Bunny Yeager – Pinup Photographer

Darkman — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:18:56 +0000

Article by Mike at Glamour Photographers

For most people, Bunny Yeager is best known for her photography work involving Bettie Page. Bunny has many tasteful collections of many other models she’s photographed, but most don’t know she started herself as a model for US Camera and it wasn’t long before she decided to go on the other side of the lens.

In 1956, Hollywood glamour photographer Danny Rouzer had written this regarding Miss Yeager: “One of the finest pin-up photographers is Bunny Yeager, who is highly successful because she knows exactly what the procedure is for profitable pin-up work. A former model herself, she makes her own bikinis and pin-up costumes, but she gives her models the opportunity to select a costume that doesn’t conflict with their personalities. Bunny is a pin-up photographer who goes so far as to create something new in the way of costumes for every girl she photographs.”

I assume this kind of high compliment coming from a fellow glamour photographer would not be that impressive, apart from the reality that merely 4 years previous, Bunny Yeager had been a glamour model with very little practical experience behind the camera. She had only just recently begun taking a photography class right after watching a friend develop and print the pictures he’d taken of her. She was fascinated with the entire process, and wanted to learn, partially since it was relevant to her own work as a model. When Roy Pinney, a photographer she’d worked with the year before, learned that she was taking the class, he recognized it would make for a great photo write-up which he could submit to a magazine. The resulting article, featuring Bunny shooting a model on the beach, came out in a magazine supplement to a large number of nationwide and local newspapers, and she became famous over night. A similar write-up came out in U.S. Camera in Aug. 1953, in which she was announced “The World’s Prettiest Photographer”. Soon, she was receiving offers from several agencies, and after selecting one, sold her very first photo to Eye magazine, for their March 1954 issue. Her first photograph sale as well as her first magazine cover being a real pin-up photographer!

In an incredibly short time, Bunny had perfected the technical elements of photography, lighting, and had quickly obtained the professional photographic equipment she’d need. 1954 also was the year in which Bunny met Bettie Page, and the photographs they produced collectively were destined to become legendary glamour images. That same year, she took pictures of a Christmas themed pin-up of her new model, intending to submit it to a calendar company. Not knowing where to find one, she chose to send it to Playboy instead. Hugh Hefner immediately grabbed it up and released it in the January 1955 Holiday issue. In under 2 years after being thrust into the position of a glamour photographer, Bunny had photographed her first Playmate of the Month, where there were more to come:

Lisa Winters (Miss Dec. 1956)

Myrna Weber (Miss Aug. 1958)

Joyce Nizarri (Miss Dec. 1958)

Cindy Fuller (Miss May 1959)

Sandra Settani (Miss April 1963)

Bunny’s fast achievements might have been partly as a result of her previously being a model first. She undoubtedly knew posing and the ways to get the best from her models, but regardless of being hesitantly pushed into the job of photographer, she also had a great artistic eye and sense of style. She was obviously a born photographer if ever there was one. Actually, in Rogue magazine she was quoted as stating “I took up photography because I’m a frustrated painter who was never good enough to be the best, and photography is the closest thing to being an artist”. You can only hope if she had not been prodded by Roy Pinney, she’d have realized this goal on her own. When Bunny was initially starting out, two of her big influences were Andre de Dienes and Peter Gowland. Bunny, nevertheless, had launched a style like no other. With the sunny beaches of Miami among her backdrops, she uncovered and captured images of among the most gorgeous models in south Florida. She famously approached one young woman who’d turn out to be her second Playmate, Lisa Winters, on a Miami bus, and after a little coaxing, persuaded her to pose. Miss Winters turned out to be among the list of favorites with the readers with the then three year old Playboy magazine, as well as one of Hef’s as well.

One of the numerous photographic skills that Bunny had at her fingertips was the cabability to get the proper backdrops for her glamour photos. She’d often get approval to photograph in glamorous bachelor residences, and even utilized the model’s own apartments, whenever she believed they had the appropriate style. Constantly in search of new and interesting backdrops, she got permission occasionally to use the home of well-known Miami sculptor Sepy Debronyi and created some extremely eye catching photographs there.

Right after being prompted by her agent, Bunny authored the first of her numerous photography books in 1957 (Photographing the Female Figure). This became not just a showcase for her glamour photos, but also an informative tome for all those thinking about pursuing a similar career. Additional books followed, including:

Bunny Yeager’s Photo Studies (1960)

Bunny Yeager’s Art of Glamour Photography (1962)

How to Take Figure Photos (1962)

How I photograph Nudes (1963)

How to Photograph the Figure (1963)

How I Photograph Myself (1964)

Bunny Yeager’s ABCs of Figure Photography (1964)

Bunny Yeager Photographs Famous Models (1965)

100 Girls (1965)

Bunny Yeager’s Camera in the Caribbean (1965)

Bunny Yeager’s New Photo Studies (1966)

Bunny Yeager Photographs 50 New Models (1967)

Bunny Yeager’s Camera in Mexico (1967)

Bunny Yeager’s Camera in Jamaica (1967)

Bunny’s Honey’s (1996)

Bunny Yeager’s Pin-up Girls of the 1950s (2002)

Photographing Girls in Jamaica (2003)

Bunny Yeager’s Bikini Girls of the 1950s (2004)

Striptease Artists of the 1950s (2007)

Bunny Yeager’s Pin-up Girls of the 1960s (2007)

Bikini Girls of the 1960s (2007)

Bunny Yeager’s Flirts of the Fifties (2007)

Femmes Fatales of the 1950s (2008)

Bunny Yeager’s Bouffant Beauties (2009)

Bunny had been the topic of two semi-documentary films by Barry Mahon entitled Bunny Yeager’s Nude Camera (1963) and Bunny Yeager’s Nude Las Vegas (1964). Even though films are in no way a true portrayal of her photography because of the setups and lighting being controlled by producer/director/cameraman Barry Mahon (who seemingly had very little understanding of motion picture or still photography lighting), it’s still a pleasure to be able to watch Bunny work together with a few of her models, which includes an uncredited Lisa Winters in Nude Camera.

As the title of one of her books in the above list indicates (How I Photograph Myself), Bunny frequently merged her talents and took glamour photographs of herself, as well as her lovely models. It was this particular book that got the interest of the producers of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and she was asked to appear on the program as a guest in the mid 1960s.

Camera gear used by Bunny in those years included her Rolleiflex (with the Zeiss Tessar 75mm f/3.5 lens), a 4×5 Speed Graphic, and her Burke and James 8×10 camera which she used to shoot her Playboy centerfolds. For b&w medium format (her Rolleiflex), she used quite a lot of Tri-X and for medium and large format color, It looks like she used Ektachrome transparency film.

Apart from her work with Playboy, Bunny’s photos were presented in numerous other men’s magazines for the day. One of the higher quality magazines that frequently used her work had been Rogue.

Bunny Yeager

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Lessons for Pinup Models & Photographers from Michelle “Bombshell” McGee

Darkman — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:19:52 +0000

Michelle Bombshell Nude Gallery HERE!

Pictures of tattooed web pr0n girl, Michelle “So Cal Bombshell” McGee, have been circulating all around the internet lately, due to the “Bombshell” blast of media coverage of her affair with TV show star Jesse James. James, of Monster Garage fame, as many of you know is the husband of Oscar winning Actress Sandra Bullock, allegedly had an affair with Michelle McGee and was caught, causing his wife Sandra Bullock to leave him and go into hiding.

Supposedly, McGee was paid $30,000 for the story about her and James, by In Touch Magazine Weekly. In Touch Weekly then contacted Bullocks PR Person, as a courtesy, to alert her of the pending story. This happening shortly after she took an Oscar for her performance in the movie “Blind Sided”. Talk about being Blind Sided. Bullock moved out just days before the news broke of the torrid affair, leaving her devastated and pushed her into hiding.

Ok my opinion in this, being a photographer with a little bit of a name in So Cal, and almost photographing Michelle “So Cal Bombshell” McGee at one point, when you become a high profile figure, or get involved with a high profile figure, all eyes are on you. Duh. You become an easy target for words and gossip.

What was Jesse James thinking? Oh wait, in his recent TV show “Jesse James is a Dead Man”, sorta rings true now. Your credibility is Dead, your public image is Dead, your marriage is most likely dead and you were with a tattooed web porn girl? She’s not even a real pr0n movie star, and his(James) wife was a real life Oscar Winning Movie Star. Duh. Let’s make one think clear here, someone was not thinking with his right head.

If some of you don’t know of my photography please see my website, Darkmans Darkroom, and familiarize yourself with my work. I say this only for the next section of this article.

My “almost” photo shoot with Michelle Bombshell was a couple years ago. I was scheduling her to photo with me, we were going to do some Hollywood glamour meets nude artwork, and she said she was bringing her son, stating he occupies himself on the couch while she’s shooting. Personally I didn’t feel at all comfortable with this and told her we could reschedule when she was able to get a baby sitter. At that point in my life I wasn’t a father yet but had my own opinions of this type of behavior: leave the children at home while doing nude photography, please.

Shortly thereafter I was told by a friend who had talked to her, she was bad mouthing Me, for not allowing her to bring her little boy to the photo shoot! Can you believe that? I’m the bad guy for not allowing her little boy to come watch a stranger photo his mommy in the nude! At that point I un-friended her from any social networks I might be on and have her as a friend.

I have a steadfast motto, being a photographer and a somewhat high profile one at that, ” I don’t f*** who I photo, and I don’t photo who I f***” A motto that has served me well and has kept my reputation spotless when it comes to model photographer relations. I have heard from other photographers who have photoed models I have photoed, with remarks about being professional, nice and not a GWC.

A GWC, meaning “Guy with Camera”, is a derogatory term for a guy who uses his camera to get close to models with the intent to photo them nude. Most usually Amateur photographers, if you can call them that, preying on Amateur models who don’t know any better or know the difference between good photography and bad.

Models and Photographers, take this as a lesson in ethics, if you’re going to play a game with your “Career”, be prepared to pay the ultimate price. Michelle “Bombshell” McGee may now have sudden notoriety, but at what price? I say if you’re going to be in the biz, play it clean and play it safe, because you never know who may be watching and photographing.

Oh and if you’re going to get tattooed, don’t get your face tattooed, who knows what it’s going to look like in 20-30 years, and if you do, at least make sure it’s legible, MMKay?

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Michelle “Bombshell” McGee Nude Gallery and Apologizes to Sandra Bullock

Legendary Pinup Photographer Peter Gowland Dies

Darkman — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:34:43 +0000

Peter Gowland, one of the most incredible pinup and innovative photographers of the old days and of our days, has passed away. He was 93.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Alice and Peter Gowland, at which time they invited me to their home in Santa Monica and talked to me about photography. Peter’s life in the photography and hollywood business started many years ago back in 1936, doing small parts, usually uncredited, but made his main living doing photography of stars, and pinup models, at his home or on set or on location.

Peter was the first person to photograph Jane Mansfield in a bikini, and has photoed many stars and celebrities through out his career. He is the son of Movie star Gibson Gowland and Sylvia Andrew, and has his own IMDB page Here. Peter didn’t act much, he took more to photography and made a life of it. He told me he never worked a day in his life, as he enjoyed what he did.

I had the fortunate experience of spending the afternoon with the Gowland’s 2-3 years ago, when I had gone to The Queen Mary in Long Beach. There was an exhibit of George Hurrell Photo on exhibit and I was not going to miss this. At the same time I asked Alice and Peter if I could come by and buy a couple of their books and talk for a few minutes. They told me they liked to sleep in the afternoon(Nap) and that I could only stay a few minutes. Well that few minutes turned into a couple of hours and some hearty discussion about Peter’s career and innovations to cameras and the industry.

I have several old magazines that Peter is published in, talking about how to shoot pinup and the article includes photos. I had started collecting magazines with pictures and articles of my favorite photographers, one of which is a 1951 US Camera magazine, with the article about pinups in it.

I had emailed Alice and Peter a week and a half ago, I wanted to buy some more photographs from Peter and start a bigger collection of his work, and that is when I found out Peter had broken his hip and was in the hospital. Peter was almost 94! He passed the operation to repair his hip with flying colors, but a few days later Peter passed away, on St. Patrick’s Day.

I found this out Peter had passed when I emailed Alice to find out and make sure Peter made it home from the hospital OK, when I received her response back, telling me of his passing, and how devastated she was. She said being in the hospital was too much for Peter. I can’t imagine being married to someone as long as they were married, and then losing my partner. My heart goes out to you Alice.

Rest in Peace Peter Gowland, Thanks for the memories and letting me meet you, one of the hugest legends in photography.

To see all of Peters great photography and achievements please see his website:
http://www.petergowland.com

Peter Gowland

The Gowlands and Larry Darkman Clark

Jane Mansfield Gallery by Peter Gowland

Various Stars and celebrities by Peter Gowland
including Rock Hudson, Tina Louise, Hugh Hefner and a wall of some of peters magazine covers, part of over 1000 covers.

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4 Reasons to use a Makeup Artist before a Photo Shoot

Darkman — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:02:53 +0000

Makeup Artist at work, Wedding Day

Why You Should Use a Makeup Artist.

Many times new photographers ask the question of “Why should you use a makeup artist before a shoot?”. I will tell you some of the reasons why I use a makeup artist with my photo shoots, and why I always recommend to client and new photographer to use a makeup artist before any shoot.

Make Your Best Impression.

When you show up to a job interview, you want to look your best and put your best foot forward. You want to make a good impression on the person interviewing you, right? The same is true when you are going to be taking photographs. With the exception that a photograph lasts virtually forever. It will definitely leave an impression on everyone who’s seen that picture, whether it’s a good impression or not is up to you.

4 Reasons why you should always have your makeup done professionally:

1. You don’t know how to do makeup very well and want to look your best.
2. It’s Your wedding day and you want to look your best.
3. It’s a photo shoot and you want to look your best.
4. It’s a modeling gig that pays and you want to look your best.

The common denominator here folks is “You want to look Your Best”.

I always suggest to my clientele to have their makeup professionally done before doing a shoot with me, you just never know when you might get something really good or you might not have a second chance to make something good. So you just don’t want your “One in a Million” chance to be a “Could’ve been a Good Shot” if you can help it.

What Makeup Can or Can’t Do for a Shoot.

I have setup shoots with models in the past who said they could do their own makeup, and when they showed up with their makeup already done by themselves I was very disappointed. I wouldn’t be able to work with these people with the way their makeup was, so that day was a scrap.

From then on I had learned if I need a model to do a shoot for something in my portfolio, I will either pay for her makeup to be done, or I will do a trade with a makeup artist for prints for their portfolio in exchange for their services. I will give you two examples of makeup that really helped with a shoot.

Example one, is a model I worked with in the past. Great model, pretty girl, but has some blemishes that needed to “Disappear” in front of the camera, so that’s what we did. We made them disappear. Minimal Photo shop in these pictures folks. I’ll tell you why in a minute.

Model: Platinum Kitten - A fetish model, MUA - Marissa Freeman, Photo: Darkman

Pretty Amazing huh? I thought so. It was a team effort here and everyone made the shoot, but what the makeup artist did was use a “Reflective” type of foundation on the model made by MAC. It had zinc oxide in the formula and when it was struck by the light of the strobe, it reflected back to the camera and virtually smoothed the models skin out. A good makeup artist will know things like this.

Example number two is a young lady who had no experience whatsoever about modeling. I liked her look for several reasons, she has a natural beauty that didn’t need much help but a little enhancement can go along way as you can see in the photo. The model also had a slightly off center nose which was corrected by the makeup artist, by using highlighting and shadowing techniques, in the photo her nose looks fine.

Model: Erin, MUA: Marissa Freeman, Photo: Darkman

The young lady in the second example as I said has a great look and with a little enhancement is a “Bombshell”. The makeup artist used shadowing techniques with her eyes as well to bring her big bright eyes down to a sultry, sexy, smokey look. Again not much Photo shop in this example either.

Getting your makeup done professionally.

When you are going to have a photo shoot there are several ways you can go about getting your makeup professionally done. If you don’t know a professional makeup artist personally, you can ask the photographer if he has any suggestions or contacts. Chances are they will and will be more than happy to refer you to a good makeup artist. If they don’t know of someone you can always look one up either online at Model Mayhem, Google Search for a local Makeup Artist, or go to your local mall. One other way of finding a makeup artist is ask your friends who just got married, or a wedding boutique. Chances are your friend may have had her makeup done on her special day, or the boutique will probably know of a few makeup artists.

When looking for a makeup artist, look at their portfolio first, ask questions, and ask how much they charge. Prices will vary according to what you need, their experience, and believe it or not, their Ego. One “Look” from a makeup artist can be anywhere from $60-$150+, and if you want more, it will be more money.

When going to your local mall or makeup counter, I highly suggest that you be honest with the ladies and guys there, and let them know you are going to a shoot. Also be prepared to Buy something of significance from them. These people make their living from selling product and they will be spending a good 45 minutes to an hour+ doing your makeup. So reward them for a job well done by purchasing some product from them. It’s a good gesture to “Pay” them for their time, if you don’t you will be insulting them.

Dress Rehearsal

One thing I can suggest before you show up to your shoot with a bad makeup job from a professional makeup artist is to do a practice run. Sometimes a professional will still need to take a look at you and try a few different colors to find the best match, or the best foundation for your skin tone. If you can, schedule a private consultation, preferably in the privacy of your own home, this way you aren’t rushed and can spend some time working out the kinks. Don’t leave things to chance, always be prepared for your shoots and give your best face forward.

I’ll leave you with a couple of photos from each of these Ladies shoots.

Enjoy…

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John Willie and Bizarre Magazine, aka John Alexander Scott Coutts

Darkman — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:21:17 +0000

Drop your long Johns and play with your Willie

Guest Post by Elana Kluner

Classic John Willie

John Willie, formally known as John Alexander Scott Coutts, lived a life full of fetishes and bondage. He was an accomplished illustrator and photographer who published his own magazine in New York. The title of it, Bizarre, accurately described his images, as they were mostly about a fictional woman named Sweet Gwendoline who had wild interactions with a depiction of himself; Sir Dystic d’Arcy. His magazine grew while catering to his fan’s suggestion letters. They covered topics spreading from high heels, corsets and body modifications to sadomasochism and transvestism. Willie was an innovative man with a complex imagination. No one can describe him better then himself, and he did so wonderfully when he said “I’ve tried a corset on myself and it was nothing else but damned uncomfortable. It gives a woman a beautiful shape, which I like, but I shall get double pleasure out of using it as an ‘instrument of correction’. I don’t like extreme cruelty. I simply apply as much as is needed to correct disobedience”, but if his own disobedience was corrected, his success would have never flourished.

On December 9th, 1902, the fourth child of the Coutts family, John Alexander Scott, was born. The family moved to England years later to settle and raise their children. At age 18, John Alexander Scott Coutts went to train for the army at Sandhurts and was given the title of Second Lieutenant in The Royal Scotts two years later. Soon after, without permission, he married a woman by the name of Eveline Fisher who worked as a hostess at a nightclub. He was forced to resign and moved to Australia, where he filed for divorce in 1929. This allowed him the freedom to begin his work as an illustrator and photographer for a Sydney based fetish club. This lasted him for twelve years, but it wasn’t long until his desire for women lead him to fall in love and marry one of his models, Holly Faram. A few years later, Coutts followed his heart to New York, changed his name to John Willie, and published his fetish and bondage magazine, Bizarre.

Bizarre sold unstably to private clients throughout the late ‘40s and ‘50s. When the magazine started, it consisted of photographs of his wife and drawings of costume designs. Willie published 20 issues of Bizarre and the graphics within them became more dramatic with each one. In a few of the publications, he popularized a famous bondage method called the G-String tie. He was ask to sensor some of his pieces since his publicist, Irving Klaw, felt that some people wouldn’t be able to handle the truths of such a severe lifestyle. Most of Willie’s images were quite twisted, but his studio space kept a happy vibe. He influenced many illustrators to come because of his perfected skills and intricate detailing that gave off such strong emotions. Bizarre turned into a successful mail order business, but started to take a wrong turn when Willie handed it down to his secretary and moved to California. After retirement, he developed a brain tumor and returned home to England where he passed away in 1962. John Willie’s legacy will forever remain as a man who played with the dark side and was never afraid to follow his heart or his hand.

John Willie - The Whipping Fence

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Pinup Models and Pinup Modeling Tips

Darkman — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:13:43 +0000

Pinup Models and Pinup Modeling

A pin-up model specializes in provocative poses, however, pin-up photography is not pornography. It features fully-clothed women in playful and suggestive stances. Traditional pin-up art never shows nudity and prefers to leave a lot to the imagination. The women in these photos, often times smiling and friendly-looking, suggesting the “girl-next-door” look, in contrast to the more overtly sexual expression in porn. Pin-up girls are also known as “Cheesecakes.”

History of Pinup Modeling

Pin-up models became popular during the end of the nineteenth century. It was the end of the Victorian age, where women and sexuality were severely repressed. During the twentieth century, especially during the swinging 1920s, western culture began to rebel against Victorian repression and started celebrating sensuality. The first pin-up models were painted or illustrated. During the 1930s and 1940s, photographers started capturing pin-up models on film. These images converted into calendars and posters and were marketed to the masses. Posters were particularly popular with soldiers during war time, who took these posters and calendars with them overseas. The most popular pin up models were Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford, to name a few.

Types

In modern times, pin-up models are used in photography. Before photography was a popular medium, pin-up models were often the muse in illustrations. Even after the advent of photography, pin-up models were employed to model for paintings, drawings or other art work. Many people think Betty Boop, a very popular cartoon in the 1930s, was a caricature of various pin-up models during that time.

Features

The most successful pin-up model is one who can balance sexual innuendo with a deliberate innocence. Modern pin-up models are often stylized in a retro-1950s appearance. Hair is polished and reminiscent of the pin curl, or wave look. Makeup is bright, especially featuring red lips and defined eyes with heavy mascara. Clothing is also retro-inspired, in keeping with the WWII era, where fashion dictated tight bodices, pantyhose and high heels.

Misconceptions

Pin-up is not porn. It is also not a fetish. Many aspiring pin-up models are confused on the history of pin-up modeling, and believe that anyone dressed up in a retro style is a pin-up model. A true pin-up photograph leaves more to suggestion than it ever reveals.

Any model looking to get into pin-up or any other niche of modeling must be at least 18-years-old. It is necessary, for the liability of the photographer and the company that purchases the photos. Although pin-up models are fully clothed, it is sexually provocative and vulnerable minors should never be in a position of evoking lust.

Models: Jennifer, Sandee Betty and Heidi from Fresno

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The Rockabilly Lifestyle » Photography

Bunny Yeager – Pinup Photographer

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Pinup Models and Pinup Modeling Tips

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