Fashion Photographer Atlanta – Voltaire Artistry

Fashion Photographer Atlanta – Voltaire Artistry

Very excited about my upcoming trip to Atlanta. Clients look at my site.
Click here to see fashion photographer Robert Voltaire

Fashion Photographer Miami – Voltaire Artistry

Fashion Photographer Miami – Voltaire Artistry

Here is a shot from a recent trip to Miami. More at:
Robert Voltaire Photography

Fashion Photographer Miami – Art Photography – Model with Alligator.

In October 2009 I took my second trip to Miami. Funny! Miami, Florida is a haven for photographers and somehow I managed to escape the charm of this beautiful city by the Atlantic. The weather was amazing and I worked with a few lovely models while I was there.

My reason for traveling to Miami was to shoot a swimwear campaign but I knew that I wanted to take some artistic photographs for my book. I wanted unforgettable images and came up with the idea (although I am sure it has been done a million times) of shooting a model with an alligator on her shoulders. I had no idea how to pull it off and I only had 1 day to do so. We had just a few hours to photograph this vision and it could not have gone smoother from start to finish.

I asked around Miami and a few locals suggested trying “Alligator Alley.” Alligator Alley. The thought sent shivers down my spine. I figured that the model would probably have to have a stuffed alligator on her shoulders and I told myself as long as I did not get in the swamp I would be ok. Guess what? I got in the swamp. And Summer, the model, had a live alligator on her shoulder.

I found Summer through a local modeling agency. I knew she was the right girl when she said, “Sure, I love alligators.” We drove around the region and finally found a spot on the side of the road where they had live baby alligators in a fish tank. Summer had to hold his jaw shut so she didn’t get her hand bit off. The rest is history.

Ps. The reason I got in the swamp was because I wanted the best angle. There were reeds in the picture otherwise. Yeah, i know, stupid. The alligator handler said, “Don’t worry, as long as I watch the water you’ll be ok. I’ll tell you if I see Bessie comin.” Special thanks to Trevor Godinho for assisting me on the shoot, being a great friend and videotaping me in the muck! Makeup by Stephanie Flores.

Fashion Photographer Las Vegas – Voltaire Artistry

I love working as a fashion photographer in Las Vegas! I have to admit this time I was not there for a job but for a nice rest in Caesar’s Palace. This place may or may not be the coolest spot in Las Vegas (I am not that trendy to know) but it is amazingly beautiful. Here’s a couple of snapshots from my little Pentax Optio W-20 which happens to be a very cool underwater camera. That reminds me. I need to go to the pool.

Caesar's Palace Pool

Las Vegas Caesars Palace

Back to work!
Robert Voltaire Photography

Fashion Photographer Robert Voltaire

Travel photography – Rio de Janiero – Day one.

Not a breath of wind, warm sun and laid out before me – Ipanema.

I can’t easily express how happy I am to be here. I think it was a book… No, a film. I think it was a film that I saw a long time ago that took place in Brazil which inspired me to create something here.

There was a model in LA that wanted to be here but her agent said, “she doesn’t test.” Personally I can understand that she would miss work by leaving the country. But when I suggested shooting in Los Angeles her agent said, “No, she is too big to test.” Later, I told an A list actor friend of mine about this. He said, “Great. Maybe I should quit studying my craft. I guess I know everything there is to know about it right?”

It worked out for the best as things usually do. I went to a casting today at an agency in Rio and met a few amazing Brazilian models more than willing to shoot.

One is here with me now. She is very tall. Young. She just parked her bike in the sand and put her things down by the yellow beach umbrella. White tennis shoes. White shorts. Cotton shirt. Blue eyes. Black hair.

Ipanema Beach by Voltaire

Travel Photography – Greece Day 4 afternoon.

This place is like a movie set. Being here, taking pictures, is a little too easy.

It’s an incomparable pleasure. The funny thing was I couldn’t find anyone in America to travel with me on such short notice. All my friends were booked. It happened that way for a reason. Now I know why.

The streets are empty. Here I am on the studio lot during a short break. I am the director of this silent film.

There is music flowing from a distant courtyard. She perks up and begins to dance. I take a few pics. She knows all the songs but hums the lyrics. There’s a popular but very old French song playing now, one my mother used to play. I try to sing along to it but I botch the lyrics as well. Finally she relaxes, still humming and plays with her hair.

Click.

Travel Photography – Santorini, Day 4.

Olga is still asleep in our villa. I let her have my room. It’s the best. I fell asleep outside on a hammock. We’re living like kings here. Special thanks to Eric for putting a blanket on me. There’s mosquitoes at night.

It’s 5 a.m. I have already been up for an hour. I love writing to you.

There is a cobblestone road leading up to our villa. Gas powered street lamps. The sky is blue as is the air in front of me. The kind of blue light you only find in the early morning. This island is ancient.

There are white villas on both sides of the street stretching for several blocks.

Olga is awake now. We don’t speak. It’s too early.

She is a very young girl. A teenager. Barefoot. Slim. She has the longest natural hair I have ever seen on a model. “Agencies and clients love her or hate her for it,” her agent in Athens told me. She won’t cut it. I don’t want her to.

She sits down next to me and smiles. There’s still the language barrier. I like the silence. Like a great silent film we communcate with our bodies. But not now. We’ll just sit for a couple minutes. Then we will get up and walk down to the church. The white one by the sea. We’ll take a couple pictures and see what sort of magic the day will deliver.

Olga Syzmanska

Olga by Voltaire

Greek Church

Fashion Photographer – Milan, Rome, Gaeta, Italy, Day – Five

Early morning. The rain just stopped. The clean sand i was intending to shoot on is now speckled. We move to the water. Salvatore is videotaping from the shoreline.

Anna has a little dolphin tattood on her butt. Then it occures to me. “Il Delphino.” “The Dolphin.” A great idea for a series of portraits. So, I ask her to become a dolphin. And she does. She glides through the water. Jumping. Splashing. Bending. Twisting. She’s free. Women often are. They tend to be able to access emotions more quickly than men. She is free from the world.

I can see my son a distance down on the beach playing with a dinosaur toy he found this morning. He’s five years old. He loves dinosaurs. Sometimes he is a dinosaur. For hours at a time. He knows how to play as Anna does now. There are four great actors here.

The rain starts to return. The water is amazingly calm here. No waves like the Pacific or Atlantic. We are in the Mediterranean. Far away from home. The dolphins skin is shiny and wet. Everythings perfect now. Press the shutter release button. Is that what they call it? I’m not very technical. I just take photographs.

Tomorrow I need to take my family to Rome. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll go to Rome. I will take my son to the Coliseum. Better tell him about the Christians vs. the Lions before we go to sleep.

I think i got the picture. I know I did. I can’t hear anything now. I am deaf and everything is in black and white.

Travel photography – Gaeta, Italy Day – Four

I have officially fallen in love with Italy.

This is Italy. There is much beauty here. People are friendly and want to know more about me and my work. There is a post production party tonight at the restaurant with the blue shutters down by the river.

This morning we spent a lovely day at the beach and then back to shooting personal projects. I have a lot of freedom here. My wife and son are playing in the Mediterranean with Anna’s daughter. Anna, Salvatore and I had lunch at a small roadside stand. Then it was back to shooting. There is a lot of laughter here and then constructive work. I think some of these images will define my work for a long time to come.

Anna is crying. She doesn’t want us to leave. My wife is crying too. We are all friends now. We are friends with the ballet dancer and her charming husband from Italy.

Travel photography – Gaeta, Italy Day – Three

Today we shot at a farm between Gaeta and Sperlonga. We had to keep the crew small because we did a bit of trespassing. The owner of the farm didn’t seem to care but his sons were circling on their motorcycles trying to get a closer look. I am sure you can understand why. We shot lingerie images for my client and at the end images for my fine art book. I was pretty shy when the motorcycle boys came out but Anna insisted on working. What a great model. At the end of each day when i want to put down the camera she keeps going and going like the Energizer bunny.

Tonight we will have a private dinner with Anna’s family and mine at a restaurant in her hometown. The people here are so friendly! They are already trying to get us to move here. I have to admit I am a little bit tempted. This whole place is intoxicating. But, I have a life in Los Angeles that i have to get back to. Or do I have to???

I will add some video soon.