Darque de Sade
Dark Connections Featured Member April 2005

Name: Darque de Sade, DarkBishop

Age: 35

Orientation: Dom

Marital status: Divorced

Do you currently have a sub or play partner: Sub and play partners

Occupation: Photographer

Marquis De Sade is considered by many to be the most infamous writer in the history of French literature. He was a torturer, rapist and murderer who believed that one should follow their instincts and act on their desires. What factors were behind your decision to take his name as your own?
The Marquis de Sade was a hedonist, he saw what he wanted and indulged. Now by no means do I aspire to his reputed level of decadence but I will admit to sharing some of his hedonistic ways. Then there is his aristocratic side, which also appeals to me and my British upbringing.

Do you have any advice for the novice who is interested in becoming a fetish photographer?
Be honest above all else, honest with yourself and as a result honest with those you work with. Through that honesty, you find purity and in that purity you will find your true niche. Study the work of others, see what you like and what you dislike. As far as equipment, that’s a personal choice. My dad raised me to believe that it is the craftsman and not his tools that make the work what it is. I’ve done some amazing stuff with a Kodak disposable. A novice can start out with a 3-4 MB Digital camera and a basic lighting kit for Key & Fill lighting.

Is it difficult finding models of color to pose for you? And once you've found a model, is it challenging to get them to engage in erotic or bdsm-related poses?
It can be difficult at times, simply because what I am asking is for someone to be vulnerable (as opposed to naked) for the world to see. For most people the core of their sexuality is a very private issue and to take the step towards declaring it to the world can be extremely liberating but the process of getting there can be daunting. I spend time building a rapport with my models or clients prior to shooting, find out what it is they want to “say” and help them interpret their desires into a form of body language that says that. Each shoot is unique and the challenge comes in successfully interpreting their inner voice.

Can a fetish photographer use a standard model release form or are there special consent issues you need to address when the model is engaged in a bondage pictorial. (ie. gagged or restrained)
Not if he or she wishes to indemnify themselves from possible legal ramifications. My releases point out that all poses were entered into freely and without coercion and of course verification of them being legal.

You've created a beautiful website to showcase your images. How important is it to have an online presence in your business, and what type of software do you recommend for those with little website design experience? Thank you, Images by Dark and my upcoming Indigo Blaque project are real labors of love. Erotic/Fetish photography is based on discretion because for some it is act of sexual liberation and for others it is a step in their ongoing sexual expression. The internet allows potential clients to make this decision without fear or judgment. I use Photoshop to create my graphics, Flash for my animation and FrontPage for my web design and layout.

It’s been noted that you acknowledged your status as a Dominant it in your late teens. What specific event caused you to make this revelation at such an early age?
I’m the youngest of eight raised in a West Indian household. As a result I’ve always had a “strong personality”; I guess it was needed to keep from being picked on by my other siblings. By the time I reached my late teens I was very “precise and determined” in what I wanted.

Tell us about "House of De Sade". What exactly is a "house" and what are the demands of running a poly household? How does a Dom/me know if they can handle a poly situation? The House of De Sade got started last year after a Black Beat NY/NJ munch when my best friend (Mistress Nubian Desyre) discovered her “inner Domme” after watching Lady Z in action. She started out on the path of BDSM and asked if I would guide her. Along the way a few subs came to us seeking guidance or protection while they await their One. It requires a lot of time and patience because if there is one thing a sub requires is attention.

One has to be fully aware of themselves and their limitations. Be honest with themselves about themselves and anyone that they plan to bring in. It requires one to be a sharp judge of character and on some days a very good arbitrator.

The main question a sub needs to ask themselves is can they handle knowing that they are not the only one. Can they handle being around others subs while we are engaged in a scene with them? They must be open and honest with their feeling and intentions from the beginning. Jealousy can be the poison in your garden if you do not guard against it and actively deal with it.

Sharing this experience along with your best friend makes it even more enjoyable, because you know how the other thinks. They can tell you if you are pushing too hard or if you are letting things slide.

We happen to know that your implement of choice is the flogger. What about it appeals to you? Concerning materials, is there a preference? What flogging pointers can you give the neophyte? The balance and practicality of a flogger is what attracts me to it. It has an almost misleading look about it, as if it can do little or no harm. It can be used in smaller areas where a whip would could not. It makes such wonderful sounds from a warm thud to an acidic snap. It evokes wonderful sounds from its “sounding boards”; low moans to high pitch yelps [can’t you picture all the Sadists in the audience waving their lighters in the air?]. And it also tucks away rather nicely under a suit jacket. I usually use the leather latigo I got last year from Nubian it has a nice weight to it and it’s in red and black, 2 of my native country colors. I prefer the heavier floggers as I can “step down” the intensity; it takes more work to “step up” with lighter ones. Neophytes, be warned it takes practice (and a lot of it) to be prepared to use any instrument on another person. Practice on inanimate objects; pillows are best for learning your distance and feel it out on your thigh for the intensity of it.

 

What is your favorite comic book of all time and why? Are there any comic books with black heroes? D/s themes? My all time favorite would have to be Batman, the dark and brooding manner, the various toys, and the need/drive to control. I can relate to the duality of the character; upstanding citizen with a deep dark secret in his basement [sounds sinister when I say it like that]. There are quite a few black comics. The Black Panther is the first one that comes to mind as well as the Falcon. Neither of which have a D/s theme [well the Panther is the ruler of an African nation and I’m sure he has his share of sub-jects]. If you could create your own bdsm comic book superhero, what would he look like? When I first got on Yahoo I used an illustration of mine as an avatar. His name is Indigo X and he was basically a mysterious bad ass who had some control issues and could hit like a brick [umm he was loosely based on someone I knew] .

 

Contact Darque DeSade at profxrated@optonline.net