The following is the first of a series of interviews launched for Fetish Portraiture photography week in Project Educate 2008.

*ronni is a creative photographer who takes fetish photography directly from its surreal roots to the fetish genre while keeping a sense of humor about his work.

Basics and Background

Name and location?
Aaron Dunn, better know on the internets as therealAARONDUNN (or ronni as the case may be with DA) and I’m located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

How long have you been practicing photography?
The first picture I remember taking was also my first Polaroid, it was of my Playmobile Esso Gas Station when I was 6 or 7. More recently, photographs have acted as reference material for my paintings. As a medium of its own, just shy of 3 years now.

Do you have any formal training in the arts?
I have my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alberta College of Art and Design with a major in painting.

What cameras are your personal must-haves on a shoot?
All depends on what I’m shooting that day I suppose… film work is done with my Mamiya RB67. Polaroid work is done with a Sun 600, One Step Express, One 600, Land 420 or my Mamiya. Digital work in the past had been produced with my Nikon D70s, or more recently, my Nikon D200

How did you come to embrace the genres you prefer to work in?
I’m endlessly fascinated by people… I suppose I simply wanted to photograph what fascinates me.

Art and sexuality

What initially drew you to fetish-related subject in art?
I wanted to explore ideas of human sexuality that were not simply based on aesthetics. The ideas that I found interesting all fell under the “fetish” umbrella.

How do you personally define fetish fine art versus pornographic imagery? How do you feel about the controversy overlaid on this style of photography?
I believe it’s simply a matter of intention… It’s rarely difficult to determine the intention of an image. I find that the vast majority of people are simply uncomfortable with their own sexuality; therefore imagery dealing with sexuality becomes offensive. People tend to fear what they don’t understand.

Do you find influence from other mediums?
Absolutely – everything from classical painting to television. The problem then becomes one of filtration and reduction.

What kind of in-camera manipulations do you perform to glam up your portraits?
I try to keep my images as truthful as possible. Therefore I tend to do very little in-camera manipulation.

What suggestions would you give other photographers about harnessing light to create a desired mood in their imagery?
Pay attention to what you’re doing. It’s really that simple… figure out what kind of light is associated with what emotion and exploit accordingly.

Words of wisdom

What advice do you have for beginning photographers?
Put the little dial to M and learn how to use your camera. Read anything you can get your hands on. Look at everything that you can get your hands on… this is the beautiful thing about photography, it’s everywhere. Never use “art” as an excuse or as a way to attempt to bring validity to your work. Never use the word “artsy”. Learn, and fully understand, the rules prior to breaking them. Cite your sources. Understand the history and application of your chosen medium. Realize that making an image B/W does not make it “art”.

What advice would you give to professional photographers in a rut?
I suppose I’d first have to ask them if they enjoy the rut they’re in. There are many pros out there that I’d consider to be in a rut, but the rut is in fact what they consider their “style.” If they were attempting, and indeed wanted to get themselves out of the rut, I’d recommend that they try to think back on what it was that used to get them excited to go grab their camera… get back to shooting that. And eat more sushi… sushi inspires everyone.

What advice would you, at present, give yourself 5 years ago if you could reach back in time?
Take part in every show you were asked to be in. Be more confident in your work. Don’t leave the studio early that day.

What do you hope people find in your art? Or, what do you hope they definitely don't find in it?
Humor, intelligence, hope, sensuality, playfulness, respect, confusion and honesty. As far as what I don’t want them to find?? Right-winged, fear-mongering puritan values… but I don’t think that should be a problem.

What inspires you most? How do you translate that to your fetish (or nude, or expressive, or other types of glamorous portrait) photography?
Everyday life is probably my greatest inspiration; it truthfully comes from everywhere… I write down those strange ideas that everyone has throughout the day in a little black sketch book. It’s the equivalent of automatic painting; allowing the subconscious to be unfiltered. Then using the analytical part of the brain to determine what is of value.

Ego

Who is your favorite deviantART photographer and why?
That’s an impossible question… it’ll have to be more than one photographer. JoSchwab for his technical perfection, minon-minon for her self-reflection, sitamae for her honesty, tobias37 for his ingenuity, KaosBeautyKlinik for his spelling and Sublime for his sensibility. And where would photographers be without models?? e-string for her natural approach, Altashrugged777 for the best eyebrows on DA, Porcelain (porsylin here on DA) for eating brains and MissShyly for well, if you can’t figure it out then you’re simply not paying attention. There’s plenty of interesting work here on DA… check out my “Friends” list as well as my “Favorites” for more wonderful work.

What is your favorite image of your own, so far? Why?
Britney VI
The image captures that perfect moment between photographer and model; I believe in the simplicity and honesty that is within the image.

Is fetish a lifestyle for you or an expressive art form? Why?
More so an expressive art form, I suppose… but we all have our own idiosyncrasies. I do have a thing for redheads…

Favorite ice cream flavor?
I don’t eat dairy products (allergy) but I’m quite fond of Soy Good’s Vanilla drumsticks.

If you could be any other person, who would it be and why?
I enjoy my life far too much to wish I were someone else.

Do you have your own fetish or infatuation, and if so does it influence your concept brainstorming?
As I stated prior, I’m endlessly fascinated by people… I want to explore all facets.

Anything else you'd like to say?
If you’ve read up to this point, I’d like to thank you. And please come visit



#thevaginamafia is the dAmn headquarters for fetish portraiture week. Be sure to drop by this week to meet the artists interviewed in this series, myself, and many other photographers of varied types here on deviantART!