Roadside locations...great when it's cold

Sometimes it's just not convenient to haul models and stuff to locations.In Toronto I became somewhat of an expert at the "side of the freeway" nature shot.There was always a small bit of green space that could double as any place you wanted it to be.Right off the D.V.P. is a rolling bit that looks like the south of France.You need to be careful with your sightlines.. but it works quite well..anyhow..here on Hornby I am not stuck for locations.But some days it's cold and I don't want to travel at all.Besides..it munches up the wardrobe.

So I am up to the old roadside shots again.

How things are here...

I am facing the challenges of styling a shoot on a small gulf island.

Next week  I am doing a group shot of about eight women , including one gorgeous drag queen. I  trust  the drag  queen will have amazing wardrobe. God love her for that.
 Probably everyone involved has amazing stuff...I just don't know how it will all work together in one big shot.Will learn that on the day.
That's how things are here on Hornby Island.
I am not really in control of the whole thing.

Sort of weird , but I like it.
A few images...






















                                                                

sometimes I love schmaltz

Light hearted bon-bon stuff. Over sweet tea and Turkish delight.
Sentimental and cloying.
We all have our Achilles heel.
Good to clear it out of my system before I attempt a real shot.

I feel a bit naked sharing my fetish for schmaltz.But I love it in small doses.
Like Victoria magazine, it appeals to some mush brained part of myself.
Super-sweet and harmless like those pom-poms some women sew onto on drapes.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                   

Singer and Song-Writer Bee Wolf-Ray ..three minute shoot.

Finally I had the opportunity to photograph Bee.
The wind was blowing like hell..it was cold and wet .
I decided to shoot fast.
Fifteen frames or less.

In three minutes flat she was exotic, charismatic and beautiful.

Trying to be less torturous to my models these days.

God is a great lighting Director..

I really love the light in the forest. Some days it filters through in a magical sort of way.Other times it hangs darkly and broods.This type of lighting appeals to me tremendously.It speaks to me of old fairy-tales,and the romance of faith based religions .Old as the mountains, and much beyond our control.
It is an old saying among photographers and D.O.P's that God is the best lighting director.

Black & White at Little Tribune..

 I had all kinds of ideas about how to shoot this scenario.

As soon as we arrived I ditched them all, and remembered Poe.

That's all I could think about.

His poems

I often don't talk to my models.

Not because I don't like them. It's often better to not over direct.

As soon as the model talks too much something is lost.They start thinking too much about what they are doing. Then all the wonderful things that they might be get into a muddle.

I often notice really wonderful things about people when we don't talk.

There is something profoundly peaceful about photographing a person who is at ease with themselves.

I get to see amazing things sometimes.And most of them are none of my business.