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Introduction

By Chloe Atkins

Several times a year, I gather up all my photo-studio gear, round up an assistant, and head down to Club Q, San Francisco's once-a-month, high-energy, contemporary dance party for women. I've been photographing there since 1989, ever since Page Hodel (the founder and producer) asked me to take the pictures of the women who came to the club. Picture the scene when I arrive: a dark, smoky nightclub reverberating with booming dance music and hundreds of intriguingly beautiful women of every shape, color, age, and heritage. The possibilities are tremendous: hot club dancers, flirting bartenders, fashion queens, tomboys, dream girls, tough punk dykes, leather and vanilla, artistic types, conservative gay women -- alone and in couples, or in small groups. Enter the photography studio, nine feet of white seamless paper, and a big softbox over Norman's 2000-watt seconds. And me, a middle-aged redhead with a funny, flirtatious way, a Nikon, and a lot of nervous energy.

As the women enter the club, I lure them into the light. To get them to relax and have fun, I dance with them, talk with them, flirt, act nutty, and then step back and let the magic happen. The rhythm of the dance music complements the flash, the strobe of my lights, and the women's movements. Some pose, vogue, just stand there with all their attitude, or hang onto their sweethearts. Other women dance around, pose wildly, rub their bodies, get sexy right there in front of my camera. What I am not necessarily aware of, but the subjects very much are, is the crowd that always surrounds us, sometimes watching and enjoying our display, other times oblivious. I take five or ten pictures, then the women disappear back into the crowded darkness. Some of them come back time and time again, some I never get to know beyond a smile and a friendly look.

Ever since I began photographing some twenty years ago, I have been fascinated by people, particularly women, and specifically lesbians. I have produced over eighteen thousand images of the lesbian and gay community of San Francisco at Club Q, the Box, and Wet. Over the years, I've become closer to what I am seeing and creating. I have internalized the vision and accept it as who I truly am. The thousands of pictures I've taken somehow become one image in my mind -- a portrait of the lesbian community. My photos document how our lesbian community really looks. Real lesbians appear in these photos--not models, not poseurs--looking just the way they look, reflecting our multicultural and dynamic community with all its informal camp and playful fantasy.

Not every image in Girls' Night Out was taken at Club Q. A few are from my stint as the official photographer of San Francisco's first Drag King Contest. Now that was a thrill. I set up on the roof of the Eagle bar and used the night sky as the background. As San Francisco's finest butches paraded in front of my camera, I was wearing a little miniskirt and high-heeled boots.

Included also are photographs taken at Club Confidential, a cabaret-style lounge featuring acts from the queer underground and stylish appearances from those to whom style matters. Hosted by Jordy Jones and Stafford, it playfully recalls the lesbian venues of other eras. Of course, there is also butch dyke Karlyn Lotney as Fairy Butch, and her drag queen alter ego, Shirley U. Gest. Karlyn is a local entertainer who presents the hottest strippers to the San Francisco queer community. Fairy Butch is the epitome of a sexy butch woman. She styles in a flashy tuxedo and hosts her show from a bed onstage. When the dancers finish their acts, they climb in bed with Fairy Butch to be interviewed. It's all very funny and sex positive.

Girls' Night Out is the realization of my dream to see my work shown to a large audience. This collection of fabulous women out to have a good time evokes the energy, sexy playfulness, and diversity of lesbians out on the town. To my mind, these photos show lesbians at our best. These are fresh, life-affirming images of, by, and for lesbians -- subtly erotic images that capture the essence of Girls' Night Out.

 

Please visit the photographer's own Web site or send her a a note.



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