Isle of the Dead
My fast new Halloween project is on view at Snapdragon Cafe of Horror, through the end of November.
I started this project in September, with a facebook call for interested friends who wanted to do something bloody, funny, and Halloweeny. My goal was 20 photos, and possibly having somewhere to show them for a few days at the end of the project - instead I have at least 30 photos, and month plus show at my favorite cafe, and the center of our local community - Snapdragon,
My rules were no sexy witches (this is every day wear, not halloween) and no overt suicide or dead babies (these are real and upsetting, not halloween).
I started out with a lovely young ghost - Harper worked hard to make this dress fit her idea, complete with a beaded bleeding necklace, and beaded blood on the dress. We also used fake blood when shooting. She’s someone I always love working with because she’s wonderful, willing, and a great model.
Maria volunteered, and to get in the cold cold cold water one morning, so I hopped in the water for a few shots…this was back when I felt like if my model/actors were doing something uncomfortable I should also do the thing…but I got over that eventually, realizing that everything people were doing was willing, and that I would never ask them to do something I wouldn’t, though I did get in the water briefly later to get the shot I wanted.
This photo of Michael was fun, and fast.
Initially I wanted to shoot him as if a bookshelf or record shelf collapsed on him when he was getting one off the shelf (he’s a collector) and have my dog licking his pants, because it’s her hobby. But! I thought this would be more to the point.
I made dog safe fake blood, we set up the shot with the dog locked in the bathroom, and then I brought her in, and she went straight to work! I did have to photoshop her tongue but only because it was moving much faster than 1/250th of a second.
This photo starring Michaels eyes was inspired by the eggs at Snapdragon…they have a huge round plastic container of eggs - hundreds of eggs- and it creeps me out to look at. So we got some eggs, added fake blood, and popped Michaels eyes in, in Photoshop. But I love it.
We shot this in the dirt pile in front of the Mermaid Market, it’s been sitting there for a year or so. After a few ideas, Adam thought being buried here was a good option so he stripped down, and had Chris bury him. The flowers were from the bouquet on the front counter.
About two minutes into the five minute shoot he reminded Chris it was time to take the croissants out of the oven, which was so Adam...he would remind people about the croissants from the grave for real, if it came to that.
After dealing with mud in her first photo, Kristy went into this cold water to make one of the prettiest shots of the series. I loved the location, and after Kristy, Michael, Harper and I did the field of hands shot, Kristy volunteered to jump in for a second to make this happen.
One of my rules was no overt suicide, and this is not suicide, as no one tries to drown themselves in water this shallow, or this cold!
Last but not least of the posts here, is Anelaya, fabulous and badass future doctor!
After tossing around a few ideas, she decided she liked fire, and she started one in her backyard. Of course it is photoshopped, I would never put anyone in a fire. But it suits her somehow!
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