Curved Platforms

Curved platforms continue that tradition but soften the geometry. This set includes circular discs, cylinders, half-round forms, and other rounded supports that contrast—or sometimes echo—the contours of the body.

1. Paul Strand seated angled away from the camera on a curved red box with a red background. Notice the combination of curved shapes in the lower right.

2. George Rugg in profile arms support with one knee up on curved box.

3. David Selhime reclining on a cylinder with arms supporting from behind and knees apart.

Where square platforms emphasize angles, curved forms tend to complement them. Light moves differently across their smooth surfaces than it does across skin, muscles, and body hair, creating a quiet dialogue between simple geometry and the complexity of the human figure.

4. Jimmy Lewis lying on his side with elbow support in a posing strap on a draped round platform.

5. Peter George in a curved standing profile pose on a small disc with hands folded tightly together.

6. Mike Riley in a similar pose to Peter George's above--only kneeling instead of standing.

I'll admit these props don't always work for me. Sometimes the platforms disappear into the composition. Other times they pull my attention away from the model altogether. A round platform can make a figure resemble a wedding cake topper, while a square one can feel like a stage waiting for a speech or a song.

7. Wallace Howard seated on a small round platform.

8. Fred Massaro seated on a round draped platform with legs bent at profile and upper body twisted toward the camera.

Still, their widespread use says something about the priorities of the studio. These photographs value control—of light, composition, posture, and presentation. The platforms become part of that discipline, elevating the model while quietly reminding us that every studio photograph is, in some sense, a performance.

9. Forrester Millard seated on a large round platform with cropped to place floor and platform at an angle with strong shadow in the background.

10. Joe Marcy seating against a round draped stand with upper body twisted to show his back.

Please leave thoughts, questions or corrections in the comments. Thank you, bns