Woman on the Cliff - revisited

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 19 April 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

We return for another visit with Jesse - the model (and friend) who graced my blog on Thursday and Friday. As I read the comments that were left for 'Cliff Hanger' on Friday - the need for me to expand on my words became obvious...

Jesse is an accomplished healing-arts and acupressure therapist. She started posing for me back in 2003 - and had never worked with a photographer before! Her natural talent just dazzled me. She displayed a presence in front of the lens could not have been more natural, graceful, and self-assured. I might suggest a vision I had for a setting - but I rarely needed to pose her. She instinctively knew how to employ the light and setting and would start striking poses as I clicked and re-positioned the tripod. It was like dancing with a partner that could anticipate your every move.

I write this in the past-tense because she retired from modeling two years ago - wishing to spend more time with her daughter and focusing more on music. Since first meeting her - Jesse has lived in Mexico, Europe, Ireland, and Minnesota. She was here briefly in December - before heading off to northern California on her way to San Diego. (this is not a misprint)

I have no idea where she is just now.

Finally - on this cliff series - I didn't suggest that Jesse do the pose we saw on Friday. She took one look at the rock face - and the next thing I knew - she was up on the face and contorted into that position - bracing herself as she knew darn well I wasn't ready to shoot yet! If that made you nervous - you should see her working a skateboard or riding a horse bareback - nude. We logged many miles and managed a lot of work. I am so grateful for the images we produced together. I miss her and wish her very well...
Two more favorite images - from different venues - tomorrow and Tuesday.

Find this photographer on Twitter as ' fogguy '

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