The interview was featured in the Sinical Hosiery 2021 issue.
Sinical Magazine: How did you get started with fetish photography?
Perry Gallagher: Years ago I was attending a Samy’s Camera show in Los Angeles. Part of the show included a couple of gallery rooms featuring photographers and their work. This is when and where I met Steve Diet Goedde. I am sure you are aware that he is considered the Master of fetish photography. His photography is amazing and he is a very approachable and friendly guy. We spent quite a bit of time talking and sharing photographs with each other. He told me that he liked my photography and that I should share them on the internet via yahoo. I think it was yahoo, it’s been awhile. He also suggested that I check out the Fetish Ball that was happening that weekend. Thus I discovered the fetish community and dove in! From posting my photography on Yahoo I was lucky enough to capture the attention of Masuimi Max. She told me that she wanted to shoot with me the next time she was in LA, turned out that was the following week. After photographing Masuimi my audience for my photography exploded, I had no idea how well known she is around the world. That was a rather long answere!
Sinical Magazine: Who were some of your influences?
Perry Gallagher: Of course Steve Diet Goedde was and still is an influence, as well as a great friend. I was also influenced by Ed Fox, Helmut Newton, Jeanloup Seiff, Peter Lindbergh, Jonvelle(s), Roy Stewart, and Michael Helms to name a few. While most of those photographers are not fetish photographers, their asthetic in how they captured women was inspiring.
Sinical Magazine: What is the most important aspect of a photo to you?
Perry Gallagher: Intimacy. Above all else I want to create intimate images of my subjects. I have found a lot of people in the fetish community to be very open, willing to be honest without fear of being judged. This attitude was very inspiring to me to also be open about what turns me on, to be vulnerable as well in taking the photographs in a way that revealed a lot about me as well.
Sinical Magazine: What type of lighting equipment do you use?
Perry Gallagher: Honestly, 90 % of my images are captured with available light, often times window light but sometimes with whatever light is available. I resist passionately getting out my strobes for a photo shoot and only use them as a last resort. I take a lot of pride in seeing the light that is present and then photographing with that light. It is one of the reasons photographers attend my workshops, to learn how to see the light and to capture it. I want my photographs to look like life. I might also mention that my favorite lens to use is my Canon 85mm f1.2 L series lens, I use it 85 percent of the time. When photographing encasement I do experiment with wider angle lenses at times, something about encasement that makes me want to distort them with the wider lenses.
Sinical Magazine: What is it about nylon fetishism that appeals to you?
Perry Gallagher: Two things. One I find it to be beautiful, unusual, and opens up my imagination as to what is possible. The second is that for some of my models it is a big turn on, they find it comforting in some cases and highly erotic in others. The models who enjoy it are eager to push the limits artistically and excited by the results. For some it gives them the chance to be naked and still anonymous. Always my intent is so show the beauty in nylon fetishism.
An interesting note, I was told by a close friend that ran one of the largest nylon fetish sites that my images tend to be “too artistic” so I don’t know if my photos actually appeal to the True Nylon Fetishists. My close friend told me that the preference is for a more candid look, cell phone in a motel room type of photos. I would be curious what your opinion is on this subject.
Sinical Magazine: You have shot many nylon encasement-themed photo sets. Can you talk about this interest?
Perry Gallagher: I have actually never thought about a theme when shooting encasement. Each time it has been organic and taken on it’s own life. I guess with the exception of putting two nude women inside a single nylon tube. This always has a sexual theme, and probably my favorite type of nylon encasement photographs. While the photos look very dreamy and soft they are actually a lot of work for the models as they have to struggle against the nylon while being intimate with another model. I have been very fortunate to photograph some really amazing women in encasement. None of these images would exist without their adventurous and trusting attitudes.
Sinical Magazine: What type of music do you listen to?
Perry Gallagher: I have very eclectic tastes in music. I love Enigma, Pink Floyd, Tash Saltana, Nouvelle Vague, ZZ Top, Classical, Stan Getz, Alina Baraz & Galimatias, Billie Eilish, Buddha-Bar, Hotel Costez, Toto, and most Dance music, I LOVE to dance!
Sinical Magazine: What are some of your favorite movies and TV shows?
Perry Gallagher: The Secretary, Story of O, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, LA BELLE NOISEUSE, A Christmas Story, The Good the Bad and the Ugly (in fact most Clint Eastwood movies), The Princess Bride, Don’t Breathe, Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, Deadpool, Zombieland, Kick Ass, Shallow Grave, Reservoir Dogs, La Femme Nikita (the original), The God Father trilogy, The Professional (the original), I could go on and on as I LOVE to watch movies. As for TV shows, I really enjoyed Vikings, The Rake, The Boys, The Expanse, Mind Hunters, Twilight Zone, South Park, and I am having a lot of fun binge watching The Big Bang Theory right now.
Sinical Magazine: Has it been more difficult to shoot new photos during the pandemic?
Perry Gallagher: Yes!! It has been terrible how little I have been able to shoot. I think I would have died years ago if not for my photography. Photography is an essential part of my mental and physical well being. Fortunately for me my muse, and as of recently my wife, is always ready and willing to feed that part of my soul. She is beautiful and always eager to try new things. She is also a fine art artist painting and sketching all manner of things. She uses multiple mediums to create art of people, still lifes, animals and landscapes. She is not only my muse but also an huge inspiration in my own creative process. She is always saying “try it, you may surprise yourself”. So while the pandemic has severely limited the number of people I have been able to photograph, I am fortunate to wake up every morning next to my favorite subject.
Sinical Magazine: How have you kept yourself inspired and creative during this pandemic?
Perry Gallagher: I think I already answered most of this question above but I could ad that for the fun of it I have invested in a couple of 360 cameras and video that has been a lot of fun to learn. I am looking forward to experimenting with erotic applications with the 360 cameras as well. And I am just now getting ready to explore editing video. Lot’s of fun creations just ahead! |