I am an Artist; I have expressed my vision through photography for over 50 years.
Yes, I started young. I felt compelled to capture images of Liz, the student who sat next to me in grade 9 Art class. I exchanged my model trains for a camera and began my lifelong photographic journey.
My informal photo education included high school art class, contributions to a few Yearbooks, and a stint as photo club president. I attempted to enroll in the Ryerson photographic program, but was diverted to the business administration course. Consequently, I enrolled in a correspondence course with New York Institute of Photography, earning my diploma in 1968. I gained experience by 'shadowing' wedding photographers, then began to photograph weddings myself. Much of my equipment was purchased with the money I earned from shooting weddings.
The earliest session shooting nudes was under the guidance of Jean Straker in Soho, London. He taught me the value of the collaborative process between photographer and model, an alliance that is essential to achieve truly inspired results. Since then I have gained knowledge from seminars with Peter Gowland, and by studying the work of Bunny Yeager, Bettie Page's primary photographer. When Playmate Phyllis Sherwood visited Toronto following her publication, I was invited to photograph at her 'celebration shoot'. Although I aspired to shoot for Playboy, it was Penthouse that used several of my images to promote their auto racing sponsorship.
My first full-time photo employment was as a aerial photo technician at Lockwood Survey. On evenings and weekends I built my portfolio by shooting the 'Yorkville scene' and 'downtown hotspots'. Later I was employed by Carlton Cards as the assistant buyer in technical purchasing. One day they needed a quick photo for a report - I was pleased to accommodate. I continued to shoot on a part-time basis, and contemplated starting my own business while convalescing from injuries I sustained in a car crash in 1970.
I made the big move in 1973 and started Gemini Enterprises, specializing in Aerial, Commercial and Industrial photography. I augmented my income by shooting some news paper photos, portraits and weddings. Then a very special model friend asked me to do some fashion photos with her. She helped me to secure my first accounts. Lifestyle advertising and business portraits soon followed.
Serendipity happens! The skipper of the sailing craft I crewed on insisted that I speak with his graduating class at Sheridan College. I reluctantly took on the task. The hour and forty-five minute "talk" lasted almost three hours. It led to me teaching on a part-time basis from 1973 to 2005 at Sheridan in the School of Visual Arts. This was the transition period from traditional silver-based to digital photography. I loved the challenge of teaching and embraced the changes and technological advances in the digital field.
From the beginning, I was drawn to photograph people, with particular emphasis on the female nude. Although I was a member of the Parkway Camera Club (which employed nude models) I often helped with lighting and posing in lieu of shooting. Toni Wallachy and her Pink Panther Studios have revived my interest. My involvement with Model Mayhem is entirely due the model (MM#1753960) at a shoot I attended. She was most persuasive in my applying myself to the fruition of our mutual desires...
Want more of my work? See URL http://web.photodex.com /view/g4xgc28
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Copyright J.E.H. Porter

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