It goes without saying that we over here at Java's Bachelor Pad
like pictures of beautiful women. But in order to get said pictures, you
need the talented eye of photographers such as Marco Patino.
This self-taught, west coast photographer has a knack for finding some
of the most beautiful women in California and beyond. With every picture,
his bold style celebrates the natural curves and sultry figures of the
women he photographs.
Here now is an exclusive
interview with Marco Patino.
* * * * *
Java's Bachelor Pad: You have photographed
some stunningly--and I mean stunningly--beautiful women (including two
of our Cheesecake gals, Miss Carol and Miss Jeanette). Where do you find
them?
Marco Patino: I actually found Carol
on a couple of (web) places,
Danielle
Beddics' site and I also saw her on the Viva Las Vegas website. I met
Jeanette through Carol and saw that she had spunk so I shot her as well.
As for where, anywhere really, friends, at car shows, through site as well
as on the Internet. The newest source though is MySpace.com,
there's some amazing women on there and I want to shoot them all! lol
JBP: Although you do photograph some blonde
bombshells, most of the gals you feature have more of an "exotic" look
to them. Is this something you actively search out?
MP: Yes, I find them a bit more characteristic,
"exotic" is a good word, but it seems the circles I travel tends to overlap
more with brunettes, plus I'm a sucker for them. I do plan on getting more
blondes involved, just being picky as to who they are because anyone can
dye their hair blonde, but can you "become" a blonde? To have an aura about
her, that's the hard part.
JBP: Are there any models you're
dying to work with?
MP: Dying? Well, now that I'm "older"
I don't seem to have to chase people down that I would've before because
I let my work speak for itself. As for who, Dita Von Teese comes to mind,
Lana Landis, Masuimi Max and Aria Giovanni also come to mind. But then
again, there's a lot of new gals that are just as killer and have yet to
be shown in the public light.
JBP: How did you start doing pin-up photography?
Who influences you? Why do you do what you do?
MP: Pinup is just another extension
of my repertoire, I really like creating my version of it but there are
times when I won't do it, that way I don't get burnt out on the genre.
As for influences all the greats, George Hurrell is the "Photo Zeus" of
glamour, but people like Vargas, Elvgren, Petty also are there as well
as my contemporaries such as Octavio of WinkiTiki,
Danielle Bedics and David Perry. I learn from them all and continue to
do so. I'm like a sponge with a camera attached to it! lol.
JBP: I know pin-up isn't the only style
you work in, but I would like to think it's your favorite. Am I right?
MP: Yes, it's definitely one of my favorites
because there's variations upon variations on themes, models et cetera.
JBP: What is it about retro photography
that excites you? (and don't say it's the gals you photography.)
MP: I like play with colors, lighting
and trying to take you back to a time when women were more human that a
byproduct of some plastic corporation; real curves and real hot ladies.
Grrrr! No offense to you modified gals though!
JBP: Your website features some great nudie-cutie
photos. I've always wondered this--is it harder to photograph a model with
or without clothes on?
MP: Oh, well it depends really on the
model. Some are quite comfortable with it while others would never do it.
That's one thing I'd like to stress, I always as the model what she is
comfortable with, getting input from them is very important to the final
image. As long as they're happy with what they came out with in the session
then so am I.
JBP: Tell us about this pin-up project
you're working on. Anything else going on with you right now?
MP: Well it's something that I just
started in late Fall 2004. The work title for now is "Retro-listic, the
Modern Day Pinup," which will take about two years to do and I'm shooting
something for it almost every week. Most of the gals are not professional
models but do have a photographic presence to them. It'll be broken down
in sections such as traditional portrait, cheesecake/burlesque, edgy-fetish
and the glamour nude. So there a little of something for everyone. It just
something I have to get out of my system, I understand it's been done before,
it's just my take on it. That's why I made up the work "Retro-listic,"
a realistic look at how my take on retro gals and the different themes.
I also have a second website being built that will cater more to this side
of me, pinup gals, glamour and kool cars. It'll go up in April to coincide
with my first gallery show. The show will be at the Caged Chameleon Art
Gallery in Santa Ana, California, and opens May 9th 2005, its about Female
Erotica and Pinup Photography. I'm excited and I'll be there along with
Maggie St. Thomas and Shannon Brooke, both excellent photographers in their
own right. I'm excited and will have more updated info soon on my
website. That's where you'll really get to see my work up close, not
a computer screen and possible meet some of my muses, woo hoo!
