Unsettled

Well, I'm moved but still unsettled. With a big assist from Ron, last night I got my stuff out of the old space, and most of it into the new space. Some went into storage, some went home, and more of it will probably end up at Goodwill, but for now, it's in a stack in the middle of the room. There's a promising amount of photogenic filth on three of the walls, and a freshly drywalled area that's just begging to be primed and painted black (or white?). I also noticed last night that in addition to no windows, there's not even a radiator, so hard to say what the temperature will be like in the closed system. I do have a couple space heaters for if it gets too cold. Anyway, I want to do a bit more cleaning before I try to "settle into" the space.

One big advantage the new space offers is the nearby restrooms are by far the cleanest I've seen in the entire studio "complex" -- I believe the machine shop next door must be responsible for that. Thanks guys! I'm sure the models will thank you, too. (And thanks again, Ron!)

This shot is the lovely Angie, who I need to get into the new space soon!

The windowless room

Well, for the many of you who have been eagerly awaiting my decision, I've opted for a small studio space, at least on a short-term basis. One substantial change... no windows, so I'll be working with studio lights, in addition to my "shoot and dash" method around the vicinity. I'll have to see how I like the space, while I keep my eyes open for other spectacular studio opportunities.

This is Danaid, who helped me inaugurate my previous studio a while back.

Let's Get Tropical.

Although this was shot in Ohio, for some reason, the foliage makes me think of California... maybe because I watched "Semi-Pro" last weekend, about the fictional ABA team, the Flint Tropics.

That's Amy Rose, soaking up the shade.

On the set

This is a shot from two Junes ago of Trishy, shortly before her "retirement" from modeling. It was excellent getting to work with her, but I thought I'd post this shot partly because it occurred to me that, although it looks like any old run-down house with peeling wallpaper, it was actually part of a movie location set in the Antelope Valley. I think that Jennifer Lopez movie "U-Turn" was shot, in part, at this location, as well as various others.

Compare the shot of Trishy with this shot of Xaina, from an actual abandoned hotel in Detroit. Shooting at the set had something of an advantage in that the building was actually somewhat structurally sound, and was certainly easier to get around. But there was a lot more variety in Detroit, along with a lot more broken glass. To her credit, for Xaina, the grungier a location is, the better.

Thanks to both models for their dedication!

Studio change

Since I got serious about photography, I've had three "permanent" studio spaces, in addition to the countless borrowed spaces, surreptitious locations, hotels and such. So, seems the time is drawing near to leave studio space number 3, and I'm considering a few other options... the space I'm leaving had a lot going for it, as well as a few problems, but overall it's been a very productive time there. One of the big attractions of the space was the giant wall of windows that sometimes worked for me, and sometimes worked against me. The nasty hardwood floor also had a lot of charm to it. Still, it was starting to feel a bit "used up" in some respects, so moving on may be just the thing...

That's Galetea at the top and bottom, with Alexis in between.

Red Dress

Another one from a while back, Jennifer B in what amounts to her trashing her prom dress a few years after the fact. She'd already removed the lining and was left with sort of tattered lace shell, which she pretty much destroyed during the shoot. I like the warm colors from that chilly basement.

Fall

Definitely autumn here in Ohio... chilly to downright cold, winter coat out, space heaters going, furnace on for that first blast of faintly smoky "furnace air" that I enjoy on some primordial level, a little like the distant smell of burning leaves... we'll "fall back" in a couple weeks so it doesn't get dark quite so soon. Supposed to have a bit of "Indian Summer" this week, so I may try to get out and enjoy that while it lasts.

So, to counter that somewhat, here's a couple shots from June when things were quite a bit warmer... although you can't really tell from these shots. The model has changed her stage name at least twice since then, so I'll just refer to her as it was when I shot with her: Cry Kitten.

Resurfacing

This is Victoria out in the middle of farm country, northwest Ohio.

Outside looking in

Is that the same as insight?

Model: Victoria Vertuga, shot in plain view of the street on a Sunday morning.

Boxed in...

Model: Tomika D

On the rocks...

Well, asphalt, actually...

Model: Victoria Vertuga

Blog Neglect

Sorry for being absent from the blog of late. A wide variety of distractions, good and bad, happening, and much of the time I simply don't know what to say.

Here's Kira Nova from our most recent shoot. She's been working out and is getting quite buff, so I thought I'd try to show off that aspect of her physique. Thanks Kira!

Kinsey show ending...

If you'd intended to get over to scenic Bloomington, IN, to check out the Kinsey Institute Juried Art Show, you have less than two weeks to do it, as the show comes down July 31. But if you can't make the trip, you can see JPGs of most pieces in the show's online gallery.

This shot is Nozimova, not from the show, but from a shoot I did with her in Bloomington the day of the show's opening party. Not sure who the limestone faces are, if it was part of a tombstone or some memorial plaque, or maybe just practice for one of the artisans that used to work in that location.

Marquis Exhibit

Will have a few pieces on display and for sale at the Marquis de Sade Ball in exotic Pontiac, MI, this weekend. It promises to be a very lavish affair (no jeans or street clothes) and while I won't be there in person, just try to think of me as locked away in my dungeon, wearing my powdered wig, sternly reprimanding some helpless lady of the court. Or something.

Joshua Trish

Here's Trish from last summer's desert workshop outing. Have cherry picked a few shots here and there from that trip, but need to go back into them and do a serious edit. Actually catching up on editing recent shoots, and have been limited my shooting as I've always said I would, so I may get to turn my attention back to some of the long neglected shoots that have been somewhat haunting me.

Sorry for the lack of updates recently... anyone still out there?