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

`darkgoth is a sassy chick with a diverse portfolio here on deviantART who explores many areas of fetish photography, including both men and women as her subjects.

Basics and Background

Name and location?
Natasha Epperson Houston TX

How long have you been practicing photography?
Since 1999

Do you have any formal training in the arts?
Some, I’ve taken Drawing I & II & III in community college.

What cameras are your personal must-haves on a shoot?
Nikon N80/D80

How did you come to embrace the genres you prefer to work in?
I’ve always been a little weird

Art and sexuality

What initially drew you to fetish-related subject in art?
There is something forbidden about the fetish world. I guess it wouldn’t be fetish if it wasn’t forbidden. I fell into it by wanting to show women powerful and dominating, it was only natural to show them with whips and latex and leather.

How do you personally define fetish fine art versus pornographic imagery? How do you feel about the controversy overlaid on this style of photography?
To me it’s a fine line. But ultimately to me it’s the way the image is shot. You can shoot a photo of genitalia but if it’s just shot as genitalia well, it’s porno to me. But shots like Pelicah takes of genitalia it’s not porno it’s art, and fetish. An erotic response doesn’t mean porn.

Do you find influence from other mediums?
Yes, I find influence with many forms of art.

What kind of in-camera manipulations do you perform to glam up your portraits?
I would say it’s mostly a matter of shutter speed and aperture, not manipulation in-camera. I will do minor color adjustments in photoshop.

What suggestions would you give other photographers about harnessing light to create a desired mood in their imagery?
Understanding light and how it makes the subject is key. There many routes to use to use it, but it’s a basic understanding of what light is and how it effects the subject that makes all the difference in the world. I learned this basic concept from drawing class, one of the biggest things that I was taught was how light makes the subject that subject, that the shadows makeup the face to be that person.

Words of wisdom

What advice do you have for beginning photographers?
Shoot, shoot, and shoot

What advice would you give to professional photographers in a rut?
Browse other works by artists; don’t be afraid to be inspired by others.

What advice would you, at present, give yourself 5 years ago if you could reach back in time?
I honestly do not know lol I know more now than I ever did back then.

What do you hope people find in your art? Or, what do you hope they definitely don't find in it?
Inspiration, emotion, everything. Only thing I can say I hope they don’t find in my work is boredom.

What inspires you most? How do you translate that to your fetish (or nude, or expressive, or other types of glamorous portrait) photography?
the world I see, beauty, horror. Sometimes I’ll get inspired by watching a movie and wanting to translate that into a photo. My piece from Kung Fu Hustle is prime example.

Ego

Who is your favorite deviantART photographer and why?
:devPelicah:. I love his use of lighting in conjunction with effects from photoshop. I like his broad style of images, yet very recognizable. When I see a photo by his I know it’s his.

What is your favorite image of your own, so far? Why?
Façade is my favorite.

I love the mystery, the detail of the image.

Is fetish a lifestyle for you or an expressive art form? Why?
A little of both, though I’m not hardcore fetish. I like using fetish in my images as a form of expression. I’m not heavy into it personally as it’s my dark, private side and my husband isn’t into it.

Favorite ice cream flavor?
cinnamon

If you could be any other person, who would it be and why?
I like being myself, is that cheesy? Lol. I’m who I want to be, I like who I am. I wouldn’t have the experiences I’ve had or will have if I was anyone else.

Do you have your own fetish or infatuation, and if so does it influence your concept brainstorming?
Lips are a fetish for me, so are breasts and backs. I LOVE backs.

Anything else you'd like to say?
Fear is a killer in life, never be afraid and grow a thick skin for the jacka$$es out there who have no concept of what art is, specially since it's in the eye of the beholder. So if someone doesn't like your stuff, well that's their view.



#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!