Robert Russell McCall - Photographer

Entre Nous Fine Art Photography

8390 Chase Way  Arvada, CO  80003          303.503.4404

rmc4photo@aol.com

WHO AM I?

Hi. My name is Robert Russell McCall, but you can call me Rusty. I've had that nickname since I was born. I am the founder and your host at this growing collection of my photography. I hope you will visit often.

I have been a photographer since I was in the seventh grade thanks to the guidance and encouragement of my science teacher and camera club sponsor Judith Mayo. She had the trust and clear creative vision to keep a working darkroom in the library wing of Oak Park Junior High in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to sell us home-rolled Tri-X film for a buck a pop, and to otherwise cut me loose in the darkroom.

Having been raised surrounded by art and literature, I took to photography feverishly and as an art form. Even so, I studied music in college and am self taught, aside from one half semester of photography at McNeese State University. In 1996, I met Phillip Linke when we were both managers of CPI Photo retail stores in Michigan and I was encouraged to realize that with my talent and attraction to nude photography, pursuing nudes as a subject hinged only on attracting models. Soon I had my first model recruited for the sole purpose of nude work. The results of this session shook my world and I knew that this was to be my life's work.

ISN'T YOUR WORK PORNOGRAPHY?

If you say so…

Seriously, the debate of art vs. pornography has been raging for as long as the human figure has taken a prominent place in art and imagery. It will continue for centuries to come. In my personal searching and contemplation, I have come to a couple of important conclusions:

I tend to see both art and pornography as being subjective to the different classifications of intent and use. The art critic Robert Hughes has said that art is "anything created with aesthetic intent." I stand squarely behind this definition and I think that such a distinction is important for one major reason: it allows for bad art. There is too much pontificating when it comes to art, and everyone has opinions based upon their own personal tastes. These tastes are too frequently framed in the judgment of whether an individual piece is "art" or is "not art". On the other hand, the big tent of art has been drastically re-staked by twentieth century artists such as Warhol, Koons, Mapplethorpe, and Hirst. With the potential for literally anything to be classified as art, it is crucially important to accept that an object may be classified as art, it just may not be "good" art by your standards.

On the other hand, the historic benchmarks of obscene materials such as "community standards", "prurient interests", "educational value", or "intention to titillate" are all painfully subjective. I prefer a much simpler standard. To me, pornography (from the Greek "whore-pictures") is defined by its use. I have known individuals to be sexually gratified by lingerie advertisements, swimsuit magazines, and even children's cartoons. Some of these are designed to be titillating, some are not but if you ask the creators and editors of each, all will flatly deny creating pornography. The viewer or reader however christens any individual media artifact as pornographic by using it as such.

I make art. If a viewer uses it as pornography, that is the viewers choice. Does it cease to be art when that occurs? I can't see how it would. Intent and use are two very different things. Is it good art? I am told by critics that I respect that much of it is.

AM I A CHRISTIAN?

My work is frequently sprinkled with Christian references and my artist statements often contain scriptural references. I spent a big part of my life as a zealous evangelical, and although many of the experiences as such hurt me deeply, I continue to be influenced greatly by the Christian doctrine. As with many, most of my conflicts with the faith are not with the Lord, but with the Church. If pressed, I consider myself a "Post-Christian-Idealist". My art complicates things further. I have no problem reconciling my faith with my art, but I am skeptical that I will find a body of consistently orthodox believers who will be so reconciled, and willing to recognize me as a brother, nude photography and all.

DO I PHOTOGRAPH ONLY NUDES?

I have found my niche in nude photography, but in reality, I consider all of my work portraiture. When photographing people, I hope to convey something of my impression of that person. I also shoot portraits, performances, and events, as well as anything that strikes my fancy at the moment. I grew up around artists, actors, and musicians, so I really enjoy photographing such expressive individuals. Professionally, a client who hires me can request practically any setting and I will comply happily. At this stage in my career as an artist, I only hire models for nude work.

DO I ONLY PHOTOGRAPH WOMEN?

I have occasionally photographed nude men, but it is not my specialty in that I don't think that I do it well. I feel that women are much more suitable to represent abstract concepts, or to serve as subjects of beauty. Pressed into pretentious settings, a nude male form tends to appear out of place or even ridiculous. I prefer to photograph a man in his element, relating the individual to his craft or avocation. As a man, I understand how much we build our identity on the work of our hands. Women have historically been called upon to perform every task and tackle every role under the sun, and such are much better suited to be taken seriously within a symbolic or idealized image.

ISN'T SOME OF MY WORK TOO EXPLICIT TO BE ART?

I have always seen beauty in harsh, bold, and unorthodox settings. A friend of mine was once driving through a slum in the Caribbean. When asked by companions why he was taking pictures, he has told me that he thought of me when he replied, "I'm shooting squalor."

I believe that among the facets of a whole person, the sexual cannot be pushed aside to the obscure places. Sexual behavior is fascinating, and once the initial shock and prejudice subside, the more intimate sexual areas can make extremely powerful images triggering dozens of possible reactions and deeply rooted references. I have come to understand over the years that modesty lies in behavior and attitude, not a state of clothed-ness versus exposure. I have seen many a swimsuit or otherwise clothed "glamour" photo that is far more indiscreet in attitude and action than my "explicit" studies. I believe that this is a fault in the perceptions of a culture that condemns public nudity, but considers sexually provocative clothing on a 12-year-old to be "cute".

In short, aside from the merits that I see in such imagery, my "explicit" studies can finally be seen as backlash against a culture that boldly states "It can't be art if it shows this body part or that sexual organ." I consider that type of proclamation to be a personal challenge.

WHY DO I WORK IN COLOR?

This is another personal challenge. I have always been bothered by the presumption that photography is not a valid art form or that only black and white photography should be considered artistic in nature. I have worked in retail photo finishing for 15 years and have seen a definite attitude that assumes that color is the stuff of commercial photography or of snapshots. I realized that this is an extremely narrow-minded outlook and have long made a point to produce highly artistic work in the full range of chromatics available. Limiting the palate only limits the artist.

WHY ENTRE NOUS?

I have long been attracted to this name. Coming from South Louisiana, I wanted to refer to the French part of my personal and cultural heritage. Being conscious of this, I think that "entre nous", or "between us" serves my outlook and approach succinctly, I approach every model and every session with a sense of trust and intimacy that this common French phrase reflects.

Unfortunately, after many years of Louisiana Public School French classes, I have only a vague understanding of the language. Some day I hope to visit France and immerse myself sufficiently to actually become fluent.

PUBLICATIONS

· www.entrenousphoto.com Self-published since 1997. Several million visitors.

· Stern Magazine Online: Gallery published 2000. http://www.stern.de/lifestyle/liebesleben/index.html?id=500358&q=entre%20nous%20mccall

· Stern Magazine Online: Second Gallery published 2001. http://www.stern.de/lifestyle/liebesleben/index.html?id=500327&q=entre%20nous

· PHOTOMAGAZIN (Germany): Featured photographer "Nude photographers of America" article.

· Camera Craft: Nudes published 2003: Two images selected, one published.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/2884790241/qid=1089853512/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-3803866-6768157?v=glance&s=books - product-details

· Michelle 7 online gallery: Several galleries presented 1999-2001 http://www.michelle7.com/contributors/index.htm

REFERENCES

"Simply amazing! This is how I would like to describe Roberts photography. I
have worked with many shooters in the past few years with very differing
styles; including a layout for Playboy as well as several high-fashion
sessions. Many of these shots made it into my portfolio, but Roberts work
captured me as who I really am :) He was able to find the actual person
inside the Model! I absolutely love his creative process and felt like being
on a mountain hike with a friend, with posing in a beautiful natural
environment.
Being European I grew-up having a very comfortable relationship with my own
nudity and Robert made the whole experience even more enjoyable. He is very
reassuring and understands the complicated science of perfect lighting as
well as posing. I would say that his photographs turned out the highest
percentage of great pictures of any shoot I have done. Many now adorn the
walls of my house :) Thank you Robert!"

                                     -Sacha Marion

The pictures that Russell McCall makes capture the real-ness and the fires within his models. Not only are they beautiful in an exotic and unique way, the girls he works with appear so natural and comfortable that anyone can identify with them. Their eyes and body language reach out to you. The locations are different and compelling. It is nice to see a woman somewhere other than on the beach. He has an amazing sense of vision that looks beyond just the model, and captures her among the elements.

Working with Russell is also a pleasure because he makes me feel so comfortable. He is always supportive and complimentary while still giving a model good direction and remaining appropriate. I never once felt uncomfortable in my own skin and he made me feel like I actually belonged in front of his camera. I was amazed at how good he made me look. He is patient and was a pleasure to work with. I loved the angles and the way he used my positive assets to compliment the picture, rather than just taking pictures that would not have been as artistic.

                                                                                                -Sarah Force

"All right, I admit it … I do have a wild streak.

But who doesn't on occasion enjoy skydiving or a monster truck rally? So when I saw the flyers for "Fine Art Photography," I couldn't resist.

Unlike a lot of people, nudity doesn't scare me. I went to elementary school in Germany and spent a summer on the nude beaches in southern France, so I have become comfortable in "my own skin," pun intended. But this was different. I was the only one naked.

I pictured an old, dirty man luring innocent, stupid college women who were desperate for money into his cheap apartment to take pictures with his disposable camera.

Thoughts of pornography and Playboy crossed my mind. I figured I didn't have anything to lose. I checked the Web site, which was a bit risqué for my Gap-style, but it was worth a shot.

I read somewhere that one of the top-100 things you should do before you turn 40 is to pose nude. Being a firm follower of self-help books, I really took it to heart. So I called the photographer and informed him, rather accusingly, of my concerns and skepticism. He was professional and answered all of my questions, from where the pictures would be published to what I should bring and wear (duh).

Next thing I knew, I had scheduled a "session." I was a model now. Then later that day, while I was getting ready for bed, there were the love handles, suddenly glaring at me. They seemed the size of Texas. Standing there, I became brutally aware of all of my imperfections and what a huge mistake I had made thinking I could ever be naked in front of a complete stranger. Everything from my nose to my calves looked hideous. Self-critical questions raced through my mind. Where did those hips come from? Were my boobs really that small? Had I really gained that much weight since high school?

I began having second thoughts and pitying the photographer that would have to take pictures of me in a few days.

I thought about canceling several times. My excuse for not going was the body blues. But I held true to my word and showed up at exactly 5 p.m. to begin my modeling shoot. I stared at the door and waited several minutes before knocking. I wondered if the apartment building looked like a psycho's building. I called my roommate and left a message giving detailed information about the apartment building and everything I knew about the guy.

The door opened, and a nice-looking man in his thirties smiled and greeted me. He informed me of the process and asked information about my comfort level. The first thing he asked me to do was change into a silk robe and put on some makeup. Silly me, I thought mascara and lip-gloss covered it. Then Robert asked me to come out and do a few basic poses so he could get a feel of the best angles for my body.

After circling me like a hawk for several minutes, while I prayed he didn't notice my hips or the extra weight around the middle, Robert said something I will never forget.

"You are lovely, do you know that?"

Having been single for a few months, those words were music to my ears. I gained the confidence to continue.

First, we went to a vacant apartment studio in his building. At first, I waited in my robe patiently while he set up the lights and scrutinized the shadows and available space. I slipped the robe off my shoulders and let it fall to the floor.

He photographed me and experimented with shadows on my body and face. At first I felt awkward, but as the hours passed, I had a new confidence.

We returned to his apartment to discuss my payment and the next time I might be available. He asked me what I thought.

"My hips are just hideous, and you just spent three hours taking pictures of them," I said. Then he motioned to the television, where he plugged in his digital camera and nude pictures appeared on the screen. It was I. But it was a different Becky, one with poise, confidence and no clothes. These pictures were something of which I could be proud, and so was the experience.

I left floating on air feeling better than ever, in celebration of the exhilarating experience. I slept naked and didn't even poke and scrutinize my hips in the mirror on the way to bed."

                                                   - Becky Farrar    

(Originally published 2/14/04 University of Northern Colorado Mirror Newspaper)

"This was my third time modeling. I actually think that it was one of the best experiences I have had modeling. It was life changing; I felt complete, as a model I mean."

                                               - Jessica Oleksi

"The Pictures are outstanding and I'm having such a difficult time picking out the best ones!! The session was very relaxed and enjoyable. You are the man. I will call for this job again, soon. Your work is very moving, and inspiring. Even the black and white pictures are so very indescribably mysterious. Cold, dark & vintage! Well, I could go on and on, but I had only a short moment to drop you a short letter, thanking you for your time, talent, and your ability to make your subjects very comfortable. Thank you again!"

                                               - Mike Dolan

"All of Robert's work that I have seen is tactful, expressive, creative and beautiful…my experience as a model for Robert McCall was wonderful, invigorating and fun. It made me feel beautiful to be a model, and (now this is going to sound a little cheesy but it's true) anytime that I am feeling bad about myself, unattractive, fat, you know those days… I can take out the photos that he took and feel beautiful again even if only for an instant. I strongly recommend that you take part in this great experience!"

                                                    - Paige Doughty

"I have known Robert McCall in a professional capacity for 23 years. In that time I have never met a more courteous, prompt, motivated photographer ever. His rapport with people not withstanding, his work speaks for itself. Check out his lighting, color and meticulous attention to detail which is so often taken for granted when viewing such masterful work as his. I not only recommend Robert McCall as a professional grade photographer, I must insist that there is no one else that I would ever use."

                                                        - Richard A Bourk

"Working with Robert has been a creatively fulfilling
experience. Robert knows how to allow ideas to flow
and how to make room for the individual spirit of the
model to emerge in its fullness. I have to say
modeling for Robert is fun, liberating, and
intellectually engaging. The creation of each
individual shot is a brilliant collaboration between
observer and observed. Every time I work with Robert I
come away feeling renewed and energized; over the
years of our professional relationship he has grown to
be a valuable personal friend and fellow artist. I
rarely dole out such a recommendation but Robert truly
merits it." 

                                           - Brenda Cleary

I really enjoyed working with Robert McCall. He made me feel very comfortable and was always professional. I would say he's the best photographer I've ever had the opportunity to work with.

                                                                        - Megan Gironda

I have had the pleasure of working with Robert McCall as the photographer for my promotional portfolio. He made me feel comfortable and provided a professional environment for the photo shoot.

                                                                                                        - Glen Kelly