Christopher John Ball

Username:	christopher_ball
Status:	On-line
ID Number:	127209
Member type:	Photographer
City:	london
Region:	London
Country:	United Kingdom
Status:	Professional
Level:	Advanced
Work Preference:	Lingerie Nude Topless Gothic
Date Joined:	27 December 2007
Last Updated:	18 February 2013
Last Login:	24 May 2013

Website: http://www.cjballphotography.co.uk

Experience:
Christopher John Ball BA (Hons) MA is a widely exhibited and published, award winning, London based, fine arts photographer, playwright and lecturer. With over 30 years experience as a photographer - his work is in public and private collections worldwide and he is the co-founder of the ''Association of Erotic Artists'' which can be found at http://www.associationoferoticartists.co.uk . He contributes articles on photography for various publications and acts as an external moderator for several photographic courses in London. His images have been showcased in Italian, German, Spanish, Hong Kong SAR, British and mainland Chinese publications and also displayed within the pages of several respected online galleries. He has also been interviewed, and filmed at work, for Television programmes that have been transmitted in Europe, the USA and Great Britain. Christopher was selected as a juror for both the 2008/09 'Erotic Signature' annual international arts competition and the 'Erotic Review Photographer of the Year Prize 2009.' Currently a Juror on the Juried Erotic Art Competition '12” of Sin: So Much Art You Can Barely Fit It All In' to be held in Las Vegas in 2012. He recently had work on show at the 'Erotic Heritage Museum' in Las Vegas, USA, the 'ArtBay Gallery' in Stoke on Trent, UK and the 'She Said' Gallery, Brighton, UK, Milton Keynes, UK and various London venues including 'The Trocadero' and 'Olympia'. Chris has more exhibitions, projects and publications planned for 2010. After several years within a commercial photographic background, including running his own studio, Chris became more interested in using photography as a fine arts medium and, along with exploring its role within 'community arts' and education, this is now the direction his work takes him. Chris draws his inspiration from philosophy, film and music. He believes that how we see ourselves, and how we are objectified by the camera, is an existential rationale and his work is an attempt to explore this belief. Given that he is also a writer, and because he sees in photography a strong link to literature, it should come as no surprise to find that his photographs are made to work in series so as to create a visual narrative. Rarely working from studios - the choice of everyday locations for his photographs is a deliberate intent to emphasise a mundane theatricality. He often uses non-conventional photographic equipment - such as pin-hole, Holga, Diana, home-made, adapted and vintage cameras - and alternative photographic processes, such as the cyanotype, to create a specific aesthetic. "...sensual nudes that pay homage to the female form in a manner that is both graceful and elegant. Very rarely do we come across a portfolio that strikes us so deeply..." - The New Nude Magazine Christopher also acts as a fine art/photography advisor, international photographic competition juror, portfolio consultant and exhibition curator. He has experience in facilitating and advising on art based/lifestyle TV programming - in particular fine art photography and erotic arts. In addition to his fine art work Chris has also produced several photographic projects of a socio-documentary nature that have attracted Arts Council funding. In addition to his teaching and photographic work; Chris also works in film and theatre. ''Throwing Stones'' was co-written by Christopher John Ball and Dean Sipling. 'Throwing Stones' is to be published in 2009. “Throwing Stones has just opened at the Greenwich Playhouse and it enters the dark and perverse world of child pornography in a studied and highly creative way. Indeed, it comes close to being a totally absorbing evaluation of what some might believe is true art while others might cringe in horror at the sight of what they see is an indecent image ... Anton Krause’s direction is impeccable; Helen Chadney, Christopher Vian-Smith, Shaun Stone and Geraldine Garner generate performances which are outstanding while Laura Murphy exudes sex from every pore.” - Roy Atterbury – Bexley Times “Mid-life male photographer meets young, nubile female student-cum-artistic muse - so far its old hat. But photographer turned playwright Christopher John Ball and co-writer Dean Sipling, whose background is film and television, bring the pairing into a thoroughly contemporary world of intercepted emails, sinister insinuation and sharp retorts. Their ‘guilty until proved innocent’ plot ... is thoroughly watchable and believable - perhaps as a result of Ball’s professional insights and DS Dom Lucas’ services as police advisor to the production.” - Barbara Lewis – The Stage "This is fringe theatre at its best, experimental, vaguely existential" - Clifford Thurlow - The New Nude Magazine. "The writers... bravely tackle this controversial subject to produce a challenging and thought-provoking modern drama." - Bromley Times

Comments:
Chris is happy to work/collaborate with creative models, dancers and actresses who are looking to take part in art based projects whilst building up their portfolios with artistic, intelligent and thought provoking images, on a PFT/CDFT basis initially, of the type that can be exhibited in galleries. So if you are interested in collaborating with Chris on future exhibitions or publications then please feel free to contact. Due to the nature of his work, fine art nudes, Chris will only work with models who are 18 years of age or older and proof of age may be asked for. He can make no exceptions to this rule.

Reviews from other members

There are 7 positive recommendations for christopher_ball Click here to read them all

Phantom_elfsire recommends christopher_ball

Added by Phantom_elfsire on 20 May 2013, shoot arranged for May 2013

I had my first shoot with Chis today, Pre shoot communication was very good and Chris explained fully his ideas. He has a very unique style of work which looks fab. We arranged all the details and Chris provided me with coke wooo full fat and Jaffa cakes. He was very comfortable to work with and I had a great shoot. He is very talkative which is good. The shoot was relaxed and at comfortable pace. He allowed model input and gave direction well.
I recommend him and look forward to working with him in the future and seeing the finished result.

Added by Tansy_Blue on 08 August 2011, shoot arranged for July 2011

I shot with Chris and his wife (acting as look out!) on location recently - I got the first few pictures back the other day and they look great. :) Chris is great to shoot with and I'd recommend him.

Added by AlexB on 28 October 2009, shoot arranged for October 2009

I had the opportunity to work with Chris yesterday. Chris is wonderful to be with and a great conversationalist, with an amazing knowledge of history and the arts in general. We chatted non-stop. We also did some very good work, the chosen location was gorgeous, the day very mild, so we did some excellent shots - I had a peep at the images he took. Chris used both film and digital. It was a great day, the only problem we had was that in the afternoon our chosen location became a little too crowded with visitors, so we had to finish earlier than planned. Being half term did not help!
I enjoyed working with Chris,I particularly liked that he understood what works best for me as a model and gave me a chance to contort/ do bendy poses which really suit my body type and physique. I would definitely recommend him to other models. We are planning to work together again soon enough

Added by Arrabella on 27 August 2009, shoot arranged for August 2009

I worked with Chris last week and thoroughly enjoyed it - a very intelligent and informative guy, I was impressed with the range of cameras that Chris brought to experiment with, demonstrating the utter passion that he has for the art of photography.

I very much look forward to seeing what he has produced from our shoot as I love his work!

Chris was both professional yet friendly throughout the shoot and a pleasure to work with - I would recommend him to any model.

Added by nsonias on 21 August 2009, shoot arranged for August 2009

I really enjoyed working with Chris and given this was the first shoot I had done in Fine Art, it was easy to feel relaxed with Chris's excellent guidance. I am impressed with the thought he puts into the style of images he wants to create and the assortment of cameras he uses will make for a worthwhile and varied portfolio. Chris is clearly an an accomplished photographer, yet is very good at thinking on his feet as sometimes almost accidental poses by me were used. I would without a shadow of doubt recommend Chris and I hope to work with him again soon.

Fine Art Nude