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"So, there's going to be barbed wire underneath me, just in case I fall, right?" my model asks.
I blink. Several seconds go by in befuddled silence. Perched in the makeshift suspension rig a few feet above my studio floor, I stare down at the metal plating below. My imagination takes hold, envisioning a vicious net of barbed wire beneath where my model will be hanging. No, no I couldn't possibly have heard what I thought I just heard.
"Uh, no?" I stammer, almost at a complete loss for words. "Um, uh. NO. We won't be doing that."
Shauna bursts out laughing, cheeks red with embarrassment.
"Wait, that didn't come out right!" she giggles. "Oh, wow, that's not what I meant at all!"
"Good," I nod solemnly. "You were starting to scare me there."
We laugh, the insanity of the miscommunication hitting home. She points to where several pre-stretched barbed wire lengths lay to the right of the set, explaining her concern about where the extra pieces would be when we actually started shooting. With good natured humor we attend the safety concern, making sure nothing but hard metal plates will break her fall if something goes terribly wrong.
Hours of setup later, Shauna and I stare at the completed barbed wire suspension rig, psyching ourselves up to the final challenge. Nine Inch Nails blasts on the stereo. The lights are set. Every safety check made. Twice. We've rehearsed the sequence several times, training our motions to the nest of barbed wire. The risks are very, very real, and we have no spotter. Just the two of us. We really shouldn't be doing what we're about to do.
In a long history of dangerous shoots, It's a rare thing when I can feel my heart pounding and adrenaline spiking my veins. The forgotten rush. Not the reason why I push, but a welcome friend returning in the moment of action. I smile, looking at my model and seeing the same energy pulsing through her.
"You ready for this?" I ask
"Yes I am."
"Let's Rock."
Twelve hours of setup. Five minutes getting her into the nest of barbed wire. Thirty seconds shooting. Get the image in one take.
I rush in, moving supports to take up her body weight while the most vicious strands of metal are cut away, falling at my feet on the floor beneath her. Shauna is breathing hard, red welts and scratches already visible on her skin. But, there's a triumphant smile on her face despite the pain. She glances down, and my eyes follow to the one part of the exit strategy we hadn't rehearsed. Coils and strands of sprung barbed wire lay about the floor beneath her. We laugh.
"Don't worry," I admonish. "That wire will totally cushion your fall."
"And to think I was worried," Shauna laughs, eyes aglow. "Looks like I got my barbed wire safety net after all!"
I blink. Several seconds go by in befuddled silence. Perched in the makeshift suspension rig a few feet above my studio floor, I stare down at the metal plating below. My imagination takes hold, envisioning a vicious net of barbed wire beneath where my model will be hanging. No, no I couldn't possibly have heard what I thought I just heard.
"Uh, no?" I stammer, almost at a complete loss for words. "Um, uh. NO. We won't be doing that."
Shauna bursts out laughing, cheeks red with embarrassment.
"Wait, that didn't come out right!" she giggles. "Oh, wow, that's not what I meant at all!"
"Good," I nod solemnly. "You were starting to scare me there."
We laugh, the insanity of the miscommunication hitting home. She points to where several pre-stretched barbed wire lengths lay to the right of the set, explaining her concern about where the extra pieces would be when we actually started shooting. With good natured humor we attend the safety concern, making sure nothing but hard metal plates will break her fall if something goes terribly wrong.
Hours of setup later, Shauna and I stare at the completed barbed wire suspension rig, psyching ourselves up to the final challenge. Nine Inch Nails blasts on the stereo. The lights are set. Every safety check made. Twice. We've rehearsed the sequence several times, training our motions to the nest of barbed wire. The risks are very, very real, and we have no spotter. Just the two of us. We really shouldn't be doing what we're about to do.
In a long history of dangerous shoots, It's a rare thing when I can feel my heart pounding and adrenaline spiking my veins. The forgotten rush. Not the reason why I push, but a welcome friend returning in the moment of action. I smile, looking at my model and seeing the same energy pulsing through her.
"You ready for this?" I ask
"Yes I am."
"Let's Rock."
Twelve hours of setup. Five minutes getting her into the nest of barbed wire. Thirty seconds shooting. Get the image in one take.
Mature Content
I rush in, moving supports to take up her body weight while the most vicious strands of metal are cut away, falling at my feet on the floor beneath her. Shauna is breathing hard, red welts and scratches already visible on her skin. But, there's a triumphant smile on her face despite the pain. She glances down, and my eyes follow to the one part of the exit strategy we hadn't rehearsed. Coils and strands of sprung barbed wire lay about the floor beneath her. We laugh.
"Don't worry," I admonish. "That wire will totally cushion your fall."
"And to think I was worried," Shauna laughs, eyes aglow. "Looks like I got my barbed wire safety net after all!"
Gone but not idle
Gone, but not idle.
Near the end of 2011, I once again found myself at the creative crossroads. Making a living at something you enjoy is the surest way to suck the life from it. Barring the occasional favor to friends and clients, I put the camera away to collect dust. A lesson learned the hard way long ago. Sometimes it's better to walk away than grow to hate what you love.
Mind and muse shifted to the tactile. Melting metal, singed flesh, engine grease, bruised knuckles, and dust on the road. As the production designer for Wasteland Weekend, and one of the event's lead organizers, there have been no shortage of opportunities to put the c
May 1st Lighting Workshop - Recap
May 1st Lighting Workshop - Recap
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The May 1st lighting workshop hosted by wynnesome (https://www.deviantart.com/wynnesome) was a fantastic kick-off to the 2011 events, with makeup and styling by Battledress (https://www.deviantart.com/battledress), and featuring the incredible Kyara Tyler. We had an awesome group of photographers attending, each taking away something unique and personal from the workshop. I always love seeing photographers leave a workshop filled with enthusiasm to explore their own ideas and creative direction.
Rebelflowers (https://www.deviantart.com/rebelflowers), has already posted several of her images from the workshop here on DA. Wonderful eye and gallery.
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Seven Years in the Making
Seven years ago I went out and bought lumber and poles for a fence to section off a storage area. No sooner did I get started when I was called away for a paying gig far from home. Pulling into my driveway three months later, putting up a gate to the storage area wasn't at the top of my To-Do list.
Somehow, year after year, the fence never got finished. Sometimes I would pull the termite infested wood out of the weeds, search for scattered hardware, and make an effort to complete the project, but something else always came up. Paid gigs, personal projects, a lazy WOW day, even writing pointless, rambling journal entries always seemed to take
Summer 2011
Summer, 2011
Gearing up for summer projects, with a flurry of set builds already underway. In addition to a number of personal art projects, I will be holding several workshops and theme events over summer months.
On the agenda for Summer, 2011
April 22 - D.M. Gremlin Studios Open House hosted by wynnesome (https://www.deviantart.com/wynnesome). Always a good time, a chance to relax, meet new people, and rub shoulders with some very creative folk.
May 1st - Introductory Studio Lighting Workshop
**NOW BOOKING**
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Featuring Kyara Tyler
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Full Details and Workshop Registration
June 5th "Shadowplay" Workshop
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I love hearing your photo shoot stories!