Broadway NY

Walking along Broadway,NYC at Midnight, I see this image on an empty retail unit, Retail Space Available!!! Now, I think why would "Such an image"be used for such a space rental opportunity!!! interesting I found. Shame there is no Garter! but may be on the next bill board!!!

Wet Dreams!!!

Is this what is usually referred to as a Wet Dream!!?? or is it just wishful thinking?? can easily misread the visual clues of the external world according to an overriding internal obsession!!! So, short of getting Paranoid, one needs to remember that not all external clues are clues!!!

Aretific Aesthetics

I must thank Pete Roberts on two accounts, firstly for his posting on my previous blog ( though I feel its much more than just a posting) & secondly for the introduction of "Aretifism" hitherto unknown to me! I had to look it up & thats not quite as easy. this is one of the descriptions that I found:
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Foot_fetishism
& I love his invention of "Aretific Aesthetics". For those two reasons, and more importantly for the way he has so elequently approached such a Taboo subject, I felt that I should bring the posting to the front page of the blog, & so here it is below: Thanks Pete.

Aretifism.

By Pete Roberts.

Johnny Jaan’s photography has been described (following Elmer Batter) as ‘leg art’, podophilia or foot fetishism, but a more artistic term would be Aretifism. Meaning the love of the naked or stockinged foot, it is an obscure word for an obscure and often furtive obsession: women’s feet.

A fetish strictly speaking involves the substitution of a worshipped object for the love of a person. But Aretifism is about the love of the person’s feet and there is a strong link between the love of free feet and the enjoyment of freedom within relationships. In other words, this kind of fetish is amongst the most gentle of the obsessions, and the respect shown by both Batter and Jaan for their models is obvious.

The compositions of the photographs are beautiful: light and shadow dance in Jaan’s work in divine fashion, illuminating the most ordinary subject- from a calloused foot to a gorgeous model. In fact, much of the work is not fetishistic at all, but a study in human anatomy- the foot being the most complex organ after the face and showing almost as much character. But the attention to light is strong in each case and the patterns of shadow form a poetic frame to the complexity of the human foot.

There is no domination in these pictures and most models are isolated, for this is art not pornography, and any excitement gained is aesthetic first then sexual rather than the other way round. Vulnerability is the key- the models are human, their acceptance of the photographer’s interest in the obscure foot shows a trust and a shared relief that this most furtive of affections can be shared. Other more fetishistic artists would concentrate on the taking off of the shoe, the striptease, the foot in the face, but Jaan is more of a still life artist- in Retro 1C the beautiful model is bathed in sunlight and strips of shadow- she has fetishy gear but the focus is soft, suggestive and tender. These are some of the most erotic aretific shots because of the fuller human presence, but there is no doubt that the stockinged feet are the key. One’s arousal and the shadowy sunshine are deeply connected- this is art as mystery, and there is nothing more mysterious than the paraphernalia of women’s feet.

When a woman comes back to your apartment, she signals her surrender to intimacy with you by slipping off her shoes- usually while you are not looking. This is her casting off the outside world, signalling that sex is on. Women drop the heels of their court shoes, play footsie, obsess about shoe shops and like to have their feet massaged and so on. But when a man declares his love of the mystery of feet, he is often rebuffed as a weirdo. The action has to be furtive and feels perverse. What Batter and Jaan are doing is trying to publicise this furtive obsession so that it can become as legitimate a desire as kissing. They are breaking the most obvious yet unspoken taboo in our culture: that women’s feet out of shoes are gorgeously exciting.

The mystery of boots, stockings, heels and shoes etc is that they involve a mystery, and like all mysteries there have to be taboos, barriers, boundaries and frustrations. For example, to maintain the mystery of Christ the church has to bar the altar with a rood screen. The mystery of money is maintained by the counter of the shop or bank. The mystery of feet is multiplied by the exoticism of the barrier boot, sock or stocking which act like sheaths to the bare foot which is itself about the mystery of soul. Sole/soul is an old pun, but there is a truth in it- the sole of the foot is a beautiful place, a mysterious lunar surface, and the woman’s shoe/stocking/sole boundaries are the boundaries of the goddess: the mystery of the surrender of the woman to her partner, to sex and to the divine.

Johnny Jaan is a major artist- his skill in the use of light, his loving focus on the softer side of leg art, his compositional skill make him a true heir to Elmer Batter’s pioneering work. They speak on behalf of those who need to be outed into a new social and artistic form I would like to call Aretific Aesthetics: the love of the mystery of women’s feet.

Elmer Batters 1919-1997

& No such blog is complete without a tribune to the guru Elmer Batters. Those who know him need to introduction, & for those who don't, there is no better introduction that Wikipedia. See my links, Elmer Batters.

Also, you can check out a numbers of his images in my website from my own Elmer Batters private collection, see also links.

Finally, Have Camera Will travel!!!

New Images

Cant get enough of the 50's & 60's retro look? Actually, thinking about it, is the 1960's now old enough to be refered to as Retro!? some new image updates.

Xmas Stockings

A merry Xmas to you all! Mike, Vince hope you have a great Stockinged Xmas! PS. this ia a picture from my collection of Elmer Batters Pictures. taken by him & the words added by me, so I guess its a merry Xmas from us both!!! some new images in the 50's 60's gallery & Elmer Batters 2. Check it out!

Soles of Feet, Souls of Feet

For those of you who like to see a Sole once in a while, please check out the new Soles Gallery at http://www.johnnyjaan.com
its the last gallery added.There will also be some new 50's & Elmer Batters images very soon.I have also a few vintage shoots comming up in the new year. but.....wait a minute, non of you like to see images of soles,feet or Nylons do you!?

Feet and Shoes formula!

Last weekend I read an article by "Kate Spicer" in the Style magazine of the sunday times. Rather fascinating to read about people's point of view. I have so verily tried to contact the writer but alas, cant find an email address. I have even emailed the editor of the online Times in which the same article appeared but alas, again no responce!!! so there we have it. The article was called "Pain No Object". Its all self explanatory & interesting read. I have inserted a link below so that anyone & all concerned are credited with this. But a very interesting part of the article reads (quoting & unquoting from the writer Kate Spicer):
""I have a few pairs of flat shoes that I wear to protect my feet from the pavement and to get me from A to B. Then I have heels, loads of them, from fierce black stilettos to barely-there mules that make my feet look indecently naked. I wear them as much as is physically practical, which is as often as I can carry flip-flops in my handbag for ease of mobility.""
Ok...The point of this you might ask me!! is a concious choice to choose a pair of Mules that make "My Feet Indecently Naked"!!!
Arrrimba!! I have never thought it was anything other than that, there has to be a correlation!! do all women REALIZE this when they make "the" choice or are some on Auto Pilot!!!
here is the link to the whole article & hope the web-boys haven't moved it!!! happy reading.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2104-2319165.html

Foot Fetish Photography "Felix"

I had always wanted to do a shoot with a female bodybuilder/fitness model! So....cut a ling story short, I met Felix, the Wrestler & Fitness model. We had a chat about it & everything was cool. Open Minded & so she agreed. Part 1 on the shoot is now uploaded at:
http://www.johnnyjaan.com/index.php?func=viewcat&fil=928&page=265

Foot Fetish Photography Etc Etc

Are you old enough to remember way back from 1950's & 60's how difficult it was to have access to decent photography! Even if you are not but you have seen 50's & 60's images, particularly the 50's, then you'd recognize a different feel about it!!! a new image of the 60's to the collection at:
http://www.johnnyjaan.com/index.php?func=viewcat&fil=922&page=265

Foot Fetish Photography Update

If you are following the updates in my photography site, then take a look at the updates in my Elmer Batters 4 gallery & a new 50's & 60's gallery. The later are a collection of images by many other photographers, genuine articles way back in the 50's & 60's when seamed stockings had a different meaning than what they do now! way back from the days when people like Elmer Batters used to get arrested for taking pictures of LEGS or NYLONED FEET!! for me, its all Nostalgic & I'm only 21!!! yeah right!
http://www.johnnyjaan.com/index.php?func=portfolio&page=265

Nike High Heel Stilettos

Are these sexy!!! Stilettos as we know it??? one thing is for sure; As luck would have it, I have a pair of Cole Haan shoes on today & they ARE comfortable but Stilettos! hmmmm......the certainly look Retro though!
take a look for yourself at
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/
femail/article.html?in_article_id=398505&in_page_id=1879

Foot Fetish and Fetish Levels

There are 4 levels of Fetishism. In Brief, Level1 describing a Mild preference for sexual stimuli, Level 2 describing a low intensity with a stronger preference, Level 3, a moderate intensity concentrating on the sexual stimuli with such focus making the stimuli the key feature of the sexual activity even as far as a part of the body ( in this case Feet) substituting genitals . Level 4 or High Level Fetishism where the specific stimuli take the place of the sexual partner ( Thank you Cameron Kippen ).
A walk around the park or the beach or any other place in the hot summer days where the eye & the mind cant resist but indulge in voyeurism!! Heaven help the 4 levelers!!

Foot and Nylon Fetish Headache

I would also have a Headache or scratching my head in this situation!
see the new images on my site www.johnnyjaan.com Elmer Batters4

Foot Massage Service.........

I read an article in the Style section of Financial Times May 6th 2006, entitled: Big Step Forward. The headline goes: Sergio Rossi is one of a number of shoemakers offering an emergency service for clients in a crisis. ( image above is not of one his shoes!).
This continues to read.....A lawyer flies to Washington from New York for a romantic rendezvous. For her tryst she wears a slinky, black Valentino dress, and high heel Prada Sandals. On her way to dinner at 8.30pm one of her heels snaps off. She finds a Deli, buys a $10 blue plastic flip-flops & thwacks her way into the chic restaurant....... & a little further down in the article......Ask any woman if she has ever had a shoe nightmare & the stories of the snapped heels, broken buckles, torn straps & evenings spent sitting at parties or propped up at the bar to disguise a no longer 4 inch heel, around......... then the writer of this article ( credit to Julie Earle-Levine ) continues to write that......some designer and retailers are happy to help women in crisis, especially if they can sell a new pair of shoes in th eprocess........Sergio Rossi has gone one step further and set up an emergency shoe hotline for women "who have no time to deal with shoe emergencies"............it continues.....if you live in Manhattan or Beverly Hills, just dial 1888-4shoe911 & fatser than you can wobble home or a shoe repair shop a Sergio representative will bring you a selection of shoes within two hours.........& the article continues on about other designers & shoemakers etc etc etc. High end shoes & high end service, good luck & why not!!! I can just hear some feeling really sorry who those women who might have spent may be a $1000 on a pair of heels who now have to wait for a couple of hours!!! what might they do other than waste that time!!! may be a good time solution & a good additional business for a young entrepreneur would be to start a new altruistic venture called; Dial A Foot Masaage While You Wait!!!! or may be this service could be an additional bolt on to shoe911!!??? something like......Why not get a Foot massage while you wait for the repair man!!! just dial 1888-pleasegivemeafootmassage911 & our experts will be at your service!!! its not really for me but any enterprising young men or indeed women, please go ahead. Good luck & why not!!!
All in the name of humanity you realize!

I was in NY a few weeks ago.........

I was in NY a few weeks ago & there in one of the windows of a department store, I saw this mannequin,
& at a closer look.........So, I thought: This is a picture for the Blog! Now don't get me the wrong way......This is symbolic & no way would I ever dream with a mannequin, but it looked so elegant & in real life so POSSIBLE that I had to bring the idea to the blog. I don't think that I need to explain more!!!
But it does spark a wonder if there are & if so howmany "mannequinophiliacs"!

Does Foot Fetish Photography Freaks Studio Owners!!

During the last few weeks, I have been ringing around trying to Hire a studio for a photoshoot in North England. I dont own a studio & hiring locations or studios is good solution for all the obvious reasons, & ofcourse sometimes the added advantage is that you can hire a location with the right settings already to suite the job. Anyhow, what's most interesting is that 90% of the times when you call to discuss rates, location & available facilities, they ask: "What do you shoot"!!?? Now, what do you say!
If you say "Legs & Feet"!! they usually Freak out! What?? in this establishment!!, so, you could say, oh I shoot "Body Parts"!!, what do you mean body Parts!!! like, dead people!!, Oh now, u know.... like, Hands, Legs, Feet!!! O, O !!
you could always say, Glamour but thats like saying I shoot cheescakes!!! & then everyone wants to hang around.
I tried, "I shoot Fetsih"!!!......Fetish??!??! Oh, Like....Ahhh... do you mean Sex!! No No, Fetish!! Nope, that wont work.
Hoisery!! Oh thats a good one!!.... Do you also wear a Grey Raincoat!!! no , no , I dont lurk in the Dark!!......I could say, Why Do you ask what I shoot? or, Non of your business!! which always means....Oh, I get it! it must be porn!!
So, do you see what I mean!? using the same locations that you have used before is ideal as people get to know you & all is cool. but not everyone that you want to shoot lives in the next block from the usual studio & you cant ask everyone to travel across the country. So, my latest answer is....."Vintage Photography"!!! & hopefully we dont get into too many details. lets just hope that they dont expect to see a ford T Model on the day!!
Let me know if you have a better answer to "& What do you shoot"?........

Long Live The eMPRESS!

Long Live The eMPRESS! & yes, its a small "e"
For those who keep up with the site, see a new gallery "eMPRESS" at www.johnnyjaan.com
every "image" has a story to tell, but perhaps its more than that! I now also think that may be, everyone think of their own story for every image!! If you acquire my drift!

Foot Fetish And Acousticophilia

Well, alas I don't ( as yet!) have a picture for this one! Last week I was in contact with Lula Shaker from Australia. Lula is a Burlesque & Tap dancer. Lula was telling me about Acouticophilia, Foot Fetish with High Heeled tap shoes & stockings. I looked up Acousticophilia & in short, its a Sound Fetish. Arousal from sounds. So, could it be a cocktail of 3 Fetishes? Foot Fetish, Retifism (shoe Fetish) & Sound Fetish all in one! Wow, even more so if one is also into Nylon!!! I had never heard of Acousticophila. But thinking back I must say, I once recall sitting in a hospital waiting room waiting for someone. It was rather "quiet" as waiting room are & no one was in conversation. I remember hearing someone walking through a side corridor approaching the waiting area. From the type of the sound, the Heels, I could tell that it was a woman walking towards where we were sitting. It was a slow walk. The sound was getting louder & louder as she approached. She eventually came into the waiting room & walked right by me into another room. It was staff member, not sure what she did but the reason for walking slowly was because she was sending a text from her mobile & was busy concentrating on pressing the alphabet buttons on the mobile. Totally engrossed in what she was doing & didn't even look up as she walked through. It was very warm in the waiting room. She had a Knee length pleated skirt on. Bare legs & was wearing a high heeled dark red Mules with pointed toes & open back. Rather a medium to largish ankles & shapely Calves ( I wasn't looking for details but it was quick look!), but what was most striking was the "sticky" slapping sound that the soles of her feet made with the arch of the shoes every time she took a step, rather like the sound that Flip-Flops make only a bit more "Sticky" as if her soles were a little moist with sweat. Now......I'm not a Acousticophiliac ( If there is such a word ) but having he interests that I have, (namely photography!) I recall the seen to have been memorable. Needless to say that I hoped that she would make a return journey while I was still sitting there & she...........

So, Thank you Lula & I look forward to your next email.

Barefoot

what I will be thinking about is this;
Is barefooting a character reflection, a personal social statement or a sign of defiance for the modern discomforts & stigmas attached to some Designer wear!!?? a bit of both may be!?
Is the attention drawn by a "Barefooted Spirit" donducive to any sensual thoughts!? an encouragement? or the opposit.