In my years as a photographer I have had the good fortune of meeting many people (quite a few were women) who inspired me to take photographs and to push the limits of what previously had been a safe photographic style. Some of these people were very good magazine designers/art directors who refused to pigeon-hole me into a type.

Some of the best memories I have (with negatives and slides to prove that they were real) were of actors, directors, politicians, rock musicians, musicians, cops and hoods. But because I am an avid heterosexual photographer I can sometimes go up to a striking woman and say, “I would like to photograph you.”

Fortunately I am not a plumber as I could not approach such a woman and say, “I would like to show you my plumbing jobs.”

Out of the blue I was contacted by a beautiful woman about to be 40 who feels she needs to record how she looks now.

As a 30, 40 and 50 year old I used to get many requests for such endeavours. At age 77 the only phone calls I receive demand I contact the Canadian Revenue Service at my peril.

When Courtenay did eventually show up at my door I was overwhelmed by unusual beauty, presence and intelligence.

It is the latter that will be the most important factor in what I hope will be an ongoing collaboration.

The photograph seen here, a Fuji Instant Print is the first photograph I took of Courtenay.