We finally hit the final stages of the cutover project this week. A lot of 12hr days should be behind us now and I can get back to doing what I like to do. Anyway, did take a break to go to an event Monday. Here are a few of the images.

Oh does that mean we will see some duck images. For that top one I would like to know what it is in the background. Looks really nice. Both do.

Amazing you get any sleep at all. Misha thinks you need to hire Sidhe for a trip to the rain forest. Somehow Laura Rose is the most haunting. These look like very controlled lighting. Are you doing something different?

I like Sidhe the best of all. But they all have the same "flavor" if I can put it that way. What is the project, anyway? (if I may ask)

I like the image of Laura Rose the most. The only improvement I could find is if she lost those damned stupid rings on her face. Jewelry should enhance natural beauty. These detract from it.

She seems a much more intriguing person, more interesting than any of the rest, but those rings scream obscenities at my mind, which detract from her inner beauty and intelligence. They make me wish not to know or try to understand her.

Hehe, well, Joe, don't hold back or anything...let your true thoughts out (smile/grin). I could be wrong but I believe L. Rose fits the "look" Holman is going for. Did you see those shots of those weird shoes recently posted?

Great series of shots. Definately have a similar flavor and I like the exotic looks of these ladies. Well done!

fantastic fotos!! they have your signature style & feisty flare glad to hear you're finally getting some time of own donald

Awesome shots, not sure these are ladies to bring home to Mom or not, but looks like they could be fun.

Thanks everybody ... the visual impact of these ladies alone just blows me away. I always have such a blast photographing them. They make it easy. These were just some quick picks from the 300-400 images I took that night. Going to be some more really good ones (and some great ones too) of these ladies, plus 4-5 others. Doug - It's a wall ... has wonderful texture. It's the same one that is in all the images except the one of Sidhe (that's a black backdrop behind her). Misha - Somehow I thought you'd think that. :) No, still tungsten light. Not bright at all, these were 2 ~250Watt lights. I do think I'm getting better at using this type of lighting. Chuck - Was a project at work (Seattle Times). We're going from a 54" web to a 50" web (width of the paper rolls). Required front to back modification of the entire operation. 6 months of a lot of work. I'd like to sleep for 2 months now. 'I could be wrong but I believe L. Rose fits the "look" Holman is going for.' There's no look particular that I'm going for in most of the stuff you see here; beyond my style - which is still evolving. I just enjoy photographing people (women especially) and trying to capture a part of them. I think part of it is that many of the people I've photographed recently may not happen to fit into the traditional mold is all. I do have some long-term (1-2 year) projects that are in the planning stages that will go for a "look"/theme. And some of these ladies will figure into that. Joe - To each his/her own. There are a large number of people who would disagree with you. The sad part, in my opinion, of forming such an opinion/attitude based on outward appearance is that you run the risk of missing out on meeting/knowing some very interesting and great people. Laura is an incredible dancer. The impressions she leaves on me are of a fierce, energetic, lithe and intelligent person. There is a lot of power behind those eyes when she locks them onto you. Also in my opinion, inner beauty has very little to do with outward appearance. I have known and photographed some women who were drop dead gorgeous in the traditional sense who were just "ugly" inside (their attitudes and opinions). I've also photographed many (especially the last 3 months) women who are not traditional in their appearance who have incredible inner beauty, intelligence and creativity. Cyn - Time of my own? Bahaha .. who said that? :) I'm trying ... it's just tough. I mean, I have to struggle to find time to come here these days. Don't know where all the time goes. -=>Donald

Thanks for the long bit of information, Donald. Of course, I still don't know what your 50" to 54" web info was about scratching head (LOL). Sometimes, I think I "march out of sync" with my age group (being rather old) as I find myself attracted to Delerium, Enigma (as a few older musical groups) and Crux Shadows (goth band). Throw Eminem in there, too. Then, I'm fascinated by the goth look of today's youth. Can't walk by a Hot Topics without going in (boy, do I really look out of place there!). Anyway, when I said a similar look, I was referring to a sort of "dark" look combined with a "I'll wear what I want and look the way I wanna f------ look" sort of look. (of course, that's just my interpretation) In summary, they are not your typical portraits. Each was interesting to view. Thanks for sharing. (and have fun!)

Chuck - thanks for explaining that. It always interests me what people see in my images. Sometimes what they get out of them just amazes me. I really do think that often when people critique or comment on an image, it says more about them than about the image(s) or photographer.

Donald, by no mean was I trying to imply that the quality of your work, nor the quality of the person, is changed by piercings. Just as long hair didn't make me a bad kid either.

Imagine for just a second, that she didn't have a ring through her nose like a common farm animal.

As for the first image, it has a certain appeal of nostalgia to a day long before I was born. The image gives an air of the '30's. I especially like that Jackie-O headdress she's wearing with the mourners veil. Very classy.

I'm certain with the popularity of piercings these days that I am a minority (at least those people under the age of 30). The world changes, and not always for the better. The kids today all seem to make a social statement with their piercings that they belong to a generation given to the excesses of masochism. But that is an opinion, not of the image itself or the quality of the individual.

hmmmm when i commented before I never saw more than two images. Not sure what hiccup happened there. Donald...this one of Sidhe #4....outstanding. For me and my opinion is the best I have seen from you.

Excellent work here Donald! Can't decide between Sidhe or Stefanie. I like the haunted look that Sidhe has in her eyes in that shot, and I also like Stephanie's expressive eyes and the way she is looking at you over her shoulder, this image to me conveys attitude and I like that too! All are excellent works imo. Can't wait to see these long termed projects that you are working on! Brenda :)

Joe: Let me first say, I wasn't angry or anything when I posted my response to you. If it came across that way, I'm sorry. I think most people here who know me will atest to the fact that I don't take critiques of my work personally, in fact I relish it. I may have posted too quickly and not taken a look at the wording I used, so again I apologize for that. I've noticed I tend to get a bit defensive of the models in my images. I tend to speak quickly when I think judgements are being made towards them by those who don't know them. I had quite a bit to say to one individual who e-mailed me back when I posted my Elle series. In the midst of praising the work and the model, they threw in the word "slut". As you can imagine, my response wasn't exactly cordial. Again, sorry and thank you for taking the time to explain more. -=>Donald

Ooouuuh! Yes, that WAS completely uncalled for.

Either way, I did not intend to be contemptuous. My remarks about the rings were more of a social statement.

She's such a lovely model, probably my daughters age, & she's always wanted to model. So, I responded as any red blooded middle aged turning fuddy duddy father would have.

Her eyes are what really does it for me. And again that outfit, so familiar but with a new twist. That has got to be the best of the three.

It's always enlightening to have a professional of your caliber sharing with the rest of us. We truly are blessed by your works, you give me inspiration to consider working more with real life images, instead of the usual 3D Models of planes and cars and buildings and such.

I wait patiently to see even more of your works.

Joe

Rhino Mod.

(side comment) I think it's commendable that a photographer should "defend" "his" models against comments like, "slut", instead of not giving a damn...as if they were merely a rented piece of meat to be photographed and discarded and forgotten about. When a photographer and a model get together to discuss a shoot, the photographer is trying to get to "know" the model, to get a feeling for the model's personality, etc. This usually helps in the shoot. Personally, I don't know how a photographer could DO this and then merely forget. Well, that's my take on it (smile).

Wonderful work Donald! I love your photographs!!!!