Steve Diet Goedde: Extempore

Steve Diet Goedde's photographs are concerned with fetishism, but they could reasonably be regarded as fashion photographs, for they are about clothes and the roles that dressing imposes on women, or allows them to play. Indeed, Goedde has consistently rejected the visual stereotypes of 'fetish' photography. Instead he sets out to seduce and amuse, experimenting with humor, irony and elements of the surreal. Extempore brings together images that are departures in another sense. They represent stolen moments, or glimpses behind the scenes, when the models are not necessarily aware of the camera. Most of Goedde's models are drawn from his close circle of friends and in these photographs particularly one senses a shared trust and understanding.

Steve Diet Goedde grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to Chicago as a student. Inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick, his first instinct was to become a filmmaker. Only slowly did his attention turn to photography. His first book, The Beauty of Fetish, published by Edition Stemmle in 1998, brought him critical acclaim and a loyal following, both of which he has enjoyed ever since. He now lives and works in Los Angeles. Andi Campognone is the director of AC Projects, which promotes the arts and culture in Southern California. She is also the museum curator for the City of Lancaster, where she is responsible for the development of partnerships and community initiatives with local artists and businesses, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and other institutions. She is on the board of the Lancaster Museum and Public Art Foundation and is a current member of ArtTable. She has been photographed by Steve Diet Goedde.