I remember the first time I saw a Helmut Newton photograph I wondered why the heck is this guy famous. I'm not really sure when it came to me that I realized why, but I think it was really only recently--maybe the last three years or so. Helmut Newton pushed the boundaries of fashion photography and I admit--I still don't always get what he was trying to do--but when he did it right...man! I was thinking about Helmut a lot last night during a photo shoot. Helmut I think allowed for the un-thought-out-ahead-of-time-idea to just go. I was searching for words to explain this last night. I have ideas and they are the impetus to get started--but its usually the discovery that yields the best results. We started out shooting with an idea and I admit--I was about to pull the plug because I just couldn't get an image I thought was good. So we switched gears and the next thing I knew we were on to something completely different and making ok images. I was thinking about Helmut Newton and hoping somehow I could somehow call up his spirit to help me out...not sure if he did come by, but I'd like to think his work still somehow helped me get through! SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.