My version of Rapture began as a small website back in 1994. At the time, photography itself was changing dramatically! The internet was allowing many artist and photographers to show their work with very little censoring. My area of Fine Art Nudes was based upon my interest and love for the work of Robert Farber, Debenport, Helmut Newton, and many others! These are the guys who inspired me. So, I began my own exploration into the area of Fine Art Nudes and eventually into Eroticism! Cut to 1996, and a very innocent image shot in 1993 called, "Solitary Image" and you have a beginning to what was a 5 year run at the top. Solitary Image, through its popularity, became one of my most popular pieces of work and is responsible for getting known both inside the United State and in Europe.
Morning Breakfast Copyright, Kerry Ray Tracy 1999
Have you ever been published?
Yes! In various publications throughout my career. Everything from Newspapers, Periodicals to a major book. Libido was one of the main publications that for a couple of years would publish my work. Then in 2000, I submitted work for an upcoming erotic book that was in production called, The Mammoth Book of Illustrated Erotica. Long story short the book came out in 2001, and my work is featured on page 414. If you're interested the book can be purchased at any Borders Book Store, or through Amazon.com. My goal, in 2007, is just to shoot good quality nudes and enjoy myself in doing it. Getting published and seen is not as important these days as it once was when I was young. I'm more into just creating the image and publishing it myself, on my own website. Not saying I wouldn't mind being in a book again or any publication for that matter, it's just not important.
How will your new work differ from your old work?
That's a good question! In some ways I hope my work always has the same signature style that it did from the first. Yet I also hope that with a very new and refreshed energy and a want to create photographically again that it takes on an even deeper intensity! I know that my work looks to be somewhat harder and more brash then it did when I was younger. I'm also experimenting with different ways of capturing my images then when I first began.
Still live in Kansas! Doubt I will be leaving anytime soon. I'm in my 40's, in a very secure and happy relationship, the main model on Rapture, Rachel, is my wife! And Yes! we are actively looking for additional models both Male and Female, so feel free to e-mail if you're interested. I do have children and am very proud to say that they are following in my footsteps with their skills in art and open mindedness to see nudity as an expression of self and that the human body is a beautiful work of art in it's own right. I'm a hands on artist. While I like digital and what you can do with it. I am still very much in love with the old school style of producing a picture.
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Limited Edition Prints are now available
Conducted in December of 2008, Shaw interviews photographer, Kerry Ray Tracy and model, Rachel Lawrence as an addition to his book, EROTIC; An Alternative View, that he is currently writing.
EROTIC, covers the world of erotic sexuality as it is today. Where society stands on the issue, how the world sees and depicts sex, eroticism, fetish, bondage and the "Lifestyle". Once completed, Shaws book will contain photography by some of todays unknown photographers, as well as interviews with average and not so average people. The following piece is an excerpt from the book, although short, it gives you a very good idea, where some of todays unknowns are coming from, and what they see for the future of sexuality!
I wanted to update this questions verses the 2007 answer. My new work we have found is vastily different then my older work. Back then my drive was to only use B&W, nothing more. Now, the second time around I use color 96%. Very little b&w is used. My colors are also high in saturation and in some cases distorted. Content Nude is more erotic, more intensified. I've found that I explore sexuality much deeper now. My images can be extremely adult in nature to suggestive. Format is strictly 35mm digital. If I were to do film again, then due to my blindness it would have to be medium format to large.
My father had a saying, many of them actually, but his favorite was, "If you wanna keep a hard on don't fuck with it!" And you know what? I've made sure that I have fucked with it until its fucked out! If you know me, know my children, then you know I rarely if ever follow the crowd, I do my own thing. If it fucks it up, then my feeling is that in some way, it will always work itself out. Where is this going? Nothing you see on Rapture or about my career as a photographer, is exactly by the book of right and wrong. I love reading other guys sites, where they exude the same old photog bullshit of rules of the trade, techniques, how they work with models, etc. Sorry but 99% of it is bullshit. If I can say anything about my career as an arist is that the times I have went oustide the rules is when life works. Yes, I am blind in one eye, and honestly it used to be a crutch, now I find its helped my work, My vision is obscured, color rushes at me, and now I am able to see hues that I never did when I had two to use.
Rapture has evolved into alot more then Rachel and I planned on it being in the beginning. We're happy with its growing to be a collective of erotic imagery, as well as an exploration of our sexuality. After 4 years we can sit back and let other models take some of the load that Rachel took all on her own. As for our models, we try and find women and even men that share our vision. I want models who are down to earth, plain janes, house wives, the everyday girl or guy. I love working with pro models, but they are less likely to be molded and changed. A Pro brings their skills and adds them to mine. A plain jane brings nothing but themselves and allows us to create around them. Both offer exciting capabilities.
Rapture will continue to evolve. It has to, or I'm not doing it anymore.
K R Tracy
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