21 Comments
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violette's avatar

Finally gave this a read and it’s incredible. You used repetition so well here - like an echo

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thanks so much for reading it, Genevieve! Yes, an echo!

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Myriam Effert's avatar

I find these photos very beautiful. For their aesthetic appeal, but also for the mystery they exude. And also for the different interpretations you can give them. The bodies are like objects in the middle of the stage.

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thank you for reading and commenting, Myriam! Yes, Laura Stevens is so talented, and I agree — the bodies are in the middle of the stage, and in the middle of something, some thought or action. You can see more of her work here: https://laurastevens.co.uk/Information or here: https://www.instagram.com/___laurastevens___. In her commercial work, she does a lot of portraits of directors, actors, musicians, artists, and writers for European publications.

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Amanda Murphy's avatar

Yet again beautiful and courageous. In some ways you are my Laura 🙂

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Aw that's so kind of you to say Amanda, thank you. :) I'm happy that we can all play the role of muse, inspiration, support, and cheerleader for each other.

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Yann Rousselot's avatar

You hide your sadness well, you've made it an art form <3

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thank you, Yann, I think that's about right. And you as well, your sadness in words and wood. ;)

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GEORGE BISHOP JR's avatar

Nice. Randy sent me this when he saw I'd moderated a panel on photography and literature at the Tennessee Williams Fest. I especially like the 2023 pond photo here.

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thank you for reading it and for your comment, George! That means so much. Yes, Laura's photos are just so powerful. What a joy to be photographed by her.

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Greg Molchan's avatar

I love this study of you, the doubling in on yourself in repetition and the deeper dive in the second part of the study. And I wish that I studied myself in this way when I write. And when I compose a photo. Very inspiring.

I didn't know Laura's work before your post, but how amazing that you and she had these intimate interactions (I think you're right about the brutality of the pond photo though).

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thank you, Greg! ❤️ Yes, as a photographer I'm sure you find Laura's work interesting. In Paris, she is also a sought-after portrait photographer, shooting a lot of celebrities and writers for magazines. She's very inspiring! (And one of my best friends here.)

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Greg Molchan's avatar

C'est merveilleuse :-)

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John Sannaee's avatar

Extraordinary depth and perception, and beautiful images.

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Oh gosh, thank you so much, John! That's so nice of you to say. ❤️

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Randy Fertel's avatar

Gorgeous writing, brimming with honesty. Ekphrasis: art describing art, artfully. Thanks, Kristin.

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thanks for reading and for your kind words, Randy! ❤️ Yes, ekphrasis, exactly! A prose poem that I wrote about this photo (a sort of distillation of this long essay) was published last year in an anthology of ekphrastic art, called "Dancing About Architecture" (https://madhat-press.com/products/dancing-about-architecture). I didn't think about how this essay is *also* ekphrasis!

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Benoît Gausseron's avatar

👍

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thank you for reading this and for your thumbs-up, Benoît! Hope you're doing well.

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Jen Roberts's avatar

Beautiful, Kristin.

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Kristin D. Sanders's avatar

Thanks so much, Jen. ❤️

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