I have been quite fascinated with the Japanese art of rope bondage, Shibari, for the past year but have been rather apprehensive of it. Enter Rod MacDonald, experienced rigger and photographer based in Cambridge. Twice before, I had the opportunity to work with him in group shoots but only when he was rigger and not photographer and also for a short period. At one group shoot in Brighton, I was tied to the back of a big farm truck and another time to a small wagon in a nuclear bunker!
It was through the fetish website, FetLife, when Rod's partner and model, Alex Ramsay (aka Boykitten) contacted me and suggested we do a shoot together. He also mentioned that Rod was doing a Shibari workshop for models for free at their place on 20 June so I figured I should stay for the weekend and shoot the next day whilst there. I was quite chuffed Alex wanted to do a shoot with me because he is quite renowned and a very experienced alternative model whereas I'm quite a newbie. Further, it was an opportunity for me to shoot with Rod directly and enhance my portfolio in the fetish and bondage scene with a proper rigger and to pose with another model. I was very excited!
I got picked up at Cambridge train station and after a chat over coffee, the other workshop participants arrived. There were only 4 of us which was ideal, and all were quite a fascinating mixture from the fetish scene and one of the most genuine people I have ever met. Rod demonstrated the ins and outs of proper rope bondage, all the do's and dont's down to what sort of ropes to use and how to knot and hitch properly. Hemp rope is the best as it doesn't scratch the skin. We practised on each other basic sorts of shibari techniques... all looked easy while demonstrated but takes lots of patience and correct technique when doing. I doubt I'd ever use that in practice at the moment but it's good to know if in future I work with a rigger, I'd know if he's doing it right.
Next morning after a leisurely breakfast, Rod and I decided to shoot outside in the garden as it was such a beautiful day. I wore my red Japanese happi coat and he bound me in ropes. With such an awesome scenery with the bench and foliage behind me, we nailed a few good images. Funnily enough, it looked quite "Japanese" of me. The next set, Alex joined me and we sat together on the settee to do some erotic nudes which turned out awesome in black and white, followed by me clad in a white leather corset being a domme with Alex worshipping my boots and finally the piece-de-resistance of me trampling over him at the doorstep in my red ankle boots!
For the final set of the day, I was able to get suspended on a tree at last!! I have always been apprehensive to try suspension because of my dodgy back but with the expertise of Rod's ways to get the knots in the right places, I was able to trust him. So there I was hanging on a big branch of a tree, legs and arms sprawled out. I actually found it quite theraeutic surprisingly... I could just let loose in limbo and let the world go by. I have been told that some people do get a little emotional afterwards but as I'm always emotional anyway, I was fine!
The weekend went very well. It was one of the most memorable shoots I have done as a lot of the stuff was new to me as I'm enthusiastically getting into the fetish-BDSM scene. It helps to have supportive togs and models like Rod and Alex as well. I really enjoyed my shoot with Rod who is meticulous about his images and takes pride in his rigging skills yet is relaxed, approachable and very patient. Further, I'm very pleased with the images which arrived sooner than I expected. I would recommend and definitely work with him and Alex again. THANKS GUYS!
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