Meet the Artist - BlackRoomPhoto

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Ladies and Gentlemen of Castle Drachenfels,

it is an honor to introduce a very talented photographer, who has been a member of the Deviantart Community for more than 11 years.

He is very well known for his amazing Gothic & Fetish artworks, featuring a rather dark style.

Please welcome: BlackRoomPhoto

Bella 4 by BlackRoomPhoto

Toshi81: Thanks for joining us today, Serge! Please introduce yourself to the members of Castle Drachenfels.

BlackRoomPhoto: Hi everyone – I’m Serge, and go under Black Room Photo for my photography work. Thanks for inviting me for this interview – I’ve rarely done this sort of thing, but I figured that I enjoy reading about other artists, so I appreciate an opportunity to share a bit myself.

Toshi81: First of all, please let me ask you about your own lifestyle, which might have had a huge influence on your work as an artist. Is it true, that you are a Goth and a Fetishist? Does your personal wardrobe and your cultural environment represent that?

BlackRoomPhoto: Certainly – I shoot what I love, and I’ve been a part of the Goth/Industrial/Fetish scenes (and they overlap more than not) for a couple of decades at this point. That aesthetic appealed to me before I even knew about it, and once exposed to it, it instantly felt like home. While I have many different interests, and may not fit the some of the stereotypes you may associate with the dark alternative circles, I do wear black much of the time, I listen to a lot of goth, industrial, EBM and metal, and, as may be evident from my dA page, am pretty kinky.

Fetish Pinup by BlackRoomPhoto

Toshi81: When have you decided to become a photographer? Do you still remember your first steps with a camera? How did things evolve from there?

BlackRoomPhoto: I loved taking photos ever since I can remember, first doing so with my dad’s Russian Зенит camera as a kid. I first formally took a photography class in high school – back then you still used film, and had to develop and print in the school’s dark room. That bit of education was essential I think in retrospect, even if I haven’t shot film in ages – the fundamentals can’t be over-emphasized. And then things evolved naturally – I’d always take photos, mostly nature at first, but then I realized that I had something of my own to say in terms of fetish and fashion photography, so I started shooting people as well.

Toshi81: What gear do you use for your art nowadays? Do you use a lot of professional equipment despite the fact that you are "only" a hobbyist? I am asking you this question, because most of your artworks have got a very professional look, of which some seem to be made in a studio with a dark background and highly expressive lighting & shadowing. You have even got smoke effects, too.

Simplicity by BlackRoomPhoto

BlackRoomPhoto: As you can tell from my EXIF data, I shoot with a Canon 6D, mostly working in my home “studio” with a couple of AlienBee strobes and simple seamless backdrops. It’s not a huge space so it can be challenging at times, but on the other hand it keeps the expenses down and, just like working with film once did, forces you to pay more attention to the setup. I try not to get caught up in equipment too much, but certainly there are things that are more difficult to achieve without appropriate gear.

Toshi81: Most of our members enjoy the beauty of women in bondage situations very much. How and when have you noticed that you like this, too?

BlackRoomPhoto: Ever since I can remember, certainly as far back as 8 years old or so, when I’d play kid games with the girl from the apartment next door. It evolved over time of course as I matured and learned more about it, but that was the genesis as far as I can recall.

Inversion Therapy by BlackRoomPhoto

Toshi81: Where do you take your inspiration for your Bondage & Fetish artworks from? Are there any movies or books, which have inspired you?

BlackRoomPhoto: I’d of course have to mention John Willie and his Bizarre magazine. It hit the perfect mix of fetish fashion and bondage aesthetic that particularly appeals to me, so it’s perhaps not surprising that I’ve shot tributes to his work several times along the way. Beyond that, it’s hard to name specifics, as I’ve absorbed whatever I could over time, and hopefully developed my own style along the way.

Toshi81: For bondage you seem to be using ropes instead of leather and metal restraints mostly. Would you also like to put a woman in handcuffs and chains for art or private entertainment? What is the main difference between ropes and other bondage gear?

Marzipanned by BlackRoomPhoto

BlackRoomPhoto: I certainly prefer rope, as it’s infinitely more versatile, allowing for much greater creativity. I do appreciate the aesthetic of well-made restraint gear (check out Me-Se here on dA for example), but I find it’s not quite as intimate (or as strict!) as rope. That said, it just depends on the context of the shoot or the scene in hand. Straps are pretty handy when speed is of the essence.

Toshi81: How do you recruit new models for BDSM artworks? Do some of these lovely women actually send you applications?

BlackRoomPhoto: These days models mostly contact me, mainly by word of mouth from other people I’ve worked with, or sometimes just from seeing my work via social media. This is my creative outlet, so I shoot mostly trade, working with others whose interest is primarily creating art that appeals to both of us.

Minimalism by BlackRoomPhoto

Toshi81: What are your future plans as an artist?

BlackRoomPhoto: Certainly everyone in the creative fields would like to get better at what they do, so there is a vast amount of territory for me to cover in improving what I do, whether it’s rigging, shooting, or editing. One of these days I’d like to self-publish a book or two of my work. I hope to collaborate more with other creatives as well.

Toshi81: Can you name a few other artists of the Deviantart Community who have been a great inspiration? Please give us some Shoutouts :)

BlackRoomPhoto: As one might gather from the size of my Favourites gallery, it’s a long list.  I find a lot of inspiration in other people’s work, the amount of amazing work just here on dA is incredible. If I were to name a few, for photography I love the work of ropemarks, ilovefrenchgirls, SilvanusArt, IanRath, Dukkha-Photo, rumen-basheff, Lochai and twinphoto, among others. I also enjoy many dA artists like osvaldogreco, AshBond, alexanderlegrand, Tilly-Monster, Yes-I-DiD and jam-orbital.

Toshi81: Please imagine the fictional world of Castle Drachenfels for a moment. It is a medieval environment, full of mystical characters, evil creatures and brave warriors. Castle Drachenfels represents an independent territory, surrounded by different kingdoms, with the Castle itself being the central point of this anarchic area. The Castle is the one and only prison for women throughout all Kingdoms. Captured Princesses are being sent there as well Criminals or Barbarians.  What would you be, if you were a character of Drachenfels?

Rescuing Zelda by BlackRoomPhoto

BlackRoomPhoto: Sounds a bit like one of the D&D settings I used to create privately in my teens.  If I recall, I used to imagine myself as the hero who’d set those “captured princesses” and the sort free. If I were to reimagine it though, I’d be a mysterious noble with my own castle, to which the (vetted few) kinky inhabitants of the kingdom would come to have a good time on their own. Consent is sexy.

Toshi81: Last but not least, please say a few words to your new and old fans.

BlackRoomPhoto: Thanks again for having me, and thank you to anyone who supports the creatives out there. I encourage you to support them by commissioning them to create art, buy their books, etc. Or just drop a nice a word here or there.

Finally, please – don’t be an a-hole. Treat everyone with respect, especially the models that work so hard in fetish photography.



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Credits: All photos belong to BlackRoomPhoto
© 2018 - 2024 Bondage-Dungeon
Comments5
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IanRath's avatar
Thank you ,I feel honored! You do beautiful work .