John McIntire Photography: The Blog

Raynbow Studio

Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along that’s just irresistable. This opportunity came over a year ago when Raychel Perks of Raynbow Studio expressed to me her interest in trying some bodypaint. The experience was incredible, to say the absolute least, for everyone involved! The whole day was exciting and new and the results were just breathtaking. Of course, on the heels of such success, we absolutely had to do it again and then again and then yet again! This collaborative relationship between Raychel and I has not only made for an incredible collection of imagery but it’s built the foundation for a lot of great things to come.

Here’s a brief outline of some of the bodypaint specific work we’ve done since then.

The very first bodypaint session we did, involved a pair of concepts based around a Native American theme with Alexandra :

As well as a Cleopatra theme:

During our second session Raychel completely improvised an idea I had with ivy and then proceeded to turn Integra Fairbrook into a statue!

Our third bodypaint session with Rudigo saw Raychel take an aboriginal starting point and with a few twists and turns mould it into her own!

More recently, Raychel, again working with Integra Fairbrook, had the urge to convert her into a Na’vi from “Avatar”.

Very shortly after the Avatar incident, Raychel really wanted to try some UV bodypaint. We talked Madison Flint into the task and I must say it was rather spectacular to see in person!

Most recently, Kittiwake showed up for her bodypaint session with Ladybird fingernail polish! Some people might have considered that a mistake, considering the proximity of Raychel’s red paint!

In the end, over the past several months, we have immensely enjoyed making these images and I personally hope for a lot more to come. Though this post has focused on bodypaint, Raychel has done make-up on many occasions as well, but that might be a topic for another day!

Project: Tattoos – Subjects Needed

*This post was updated on 08/06/2010*

After a long time delaying, I have decided to start working on a body of personal work. The project I have decided to start with will revolve solely around tattoos and body modifications.

The aim is to build up a stylised and comprehensive body of work which displays the intricacies and the profound statements often made by tattoos and their ilk and the relation with whom they adorn.

I have now decided that the output of the project will be a self-published book and a limited run of fine-art prints. Anyone who takes part should be happy with these uses!

The Concept

As simply is possible, the underlying point of the entire project is to illustrate how tattoos are a integral facet of each individual. Their interests, their personalities and their lives. Most tattoos are an incredibly personal statement that usually transcend fashions and other fleeting aspects of culture.

Basically, what I’m looking for is anyone with tattoos. No matter how large or small, how intricate or simple, any tattoos will do. Also, I’m looking for people of all shapes and sizes, both male and female, all races and all ages. You don’t need to be or think you are model material, this project is about you and your bodyart, it is a study, if you will, into tattoos and the people whom they adorn and this project was concieved with “real” people specifically in mind.

To anyone who wishes to participate: basically, what I need, is for you to kindly donate an hour or so of your time to allow to me to create a portrait of you and your bodyart.

IMPORTANT: The nature of this concept calls for at least “implied nudity”. To keep it simple, this means that you will be nude (depending on where your tattoo is located*); however, nothing that you wish not to be visible will be displayed. I will never seek to push anyone beyond their limits and my primary concern will always be the comfort of you as the subject, the image itself is the second priority. If you are not comfortable with this, I will not push; however, it is required to ensure uniformity throughout the final body of work. (All images in this revised post are “implied nude”)

To see more samples of the project in progress, just ask!

*If your tattoo(s), for example are above your neckline, a headshot will suffice. If they are well above your waistline, then only “implied topless” is needed.

If you’re interested, please get in touch and we’ll get something sorted! (Alternatively, feel free to use Facebook to contact me if that’s easier for you.)

Photoshoot: Tamara-Marie

Here, I present you with a shoot that had been a long, long time in the making! About a year and a half to be fairly precise!

Tamara-Marie and I had been discussing the prospect of a shoot since the early days of both our portfolios. Unfortunately, distance and other committments and the ilk frequently through a plethora of spanners, screwdrivers, hammers and anything else you can name into the works.

Eventually, we said enough was enough. We picked a few concepts, set a date and just went for it.

They say good things come to those who wait. This is certainly one instance where old adages prove theirselves with merit!

With but a handful of wigs and a few strong concepts, Tamara-Marie’s versatility and natural abilities really shone through throughout the shoot! In just three sets, we managed to get a wealth of variety and, in my opinion, some wonderfully graphic images. This, I gleefully admit, is all to the credit of such a wonderfully gifted and all over lovely model!

But of course, there is no proof in words, only in photos! Enjoy!

As always, thank you very kindly for your time! I do hope you enjoyed this set even half as much as I enjoyed making it!