Unbutton the top button! Here's My holiday break media diet

Over the last week and a half, I decided to get into the holiday spirit with several holiday movies. Of course I tuned in to my favorite archival streaming site, CathodeTV, for lots of them. Then there’s the couple’s movies with Tina.

I’ll try to provide links to all these movies IMDB pages, or somewhere to learn more about them.

If you’ve heard of the movie, there’s a big chance I watched it with my wife. Otherwise, most of these were broadcast at Cathode. Also, if you’re thinking, “How in the hell did you have time to watch all these?” I wasn’t always "just watching.” I often have them on when I’m cooking. Also, I’ve been reading. But this is a list even I’m in awe of.

So here’s my list.

Deadlock 1970 Roland Klick
Deadlock is a 1970 West German Spaghetti Western directed by Roland Klick. It is perhaps best known for the soundtrack supplied by the German rock band Can. This was my first viewing. I need a second watch. Odd and savory. (3.75/5)

The Family Plan 2023 Apple TV
A former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him. Not a thinking-person’s movie, but a juvenile fun ride. Worth a watch. (3.75/5)

The Holdovers (2023) Peacock 
Forced to spend Christmas break at his prep school, a curmudgeonly instructor develops an unlikely bond with a troubled student and the head cook. This one is excellently performed and executed. I would call this a must watch asap. (5/5)

The Confessional (1995)
The year is 1952, in Québec City, Québec. Rachel (Suzanne Clément), sixteen, unmarried, and pregnant, works in the church. Filled with shame, she unburdens her guilt to a young Priest under the confidentiality of the confessional. In the present year of 1994, Pierre Lamontagne (Lothaire Bluteau) has returned to Québec to attend his father’s funeral. He meets up with his adopted brother, Marc (Patrick Goyette), who has begun questioning his identity and has embarked on a quest for his roots that would lead them to the Québec of the 1950s. Past and present converge in a complex web of intrigue where the answer to the mystery lies. Don’t rush out to see this one, but it’s a good watch. (3.5/5)

Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
A horrifying tale based off the true life story of NYC schoolteacher, Roseanne Quinn, who led something of a double life. I’ve seen parts of this. It was really well executed. Diane Keaton is excellent. They describe it as Richard Gere’s breakout role. He crushes his part. It’s worth the viewing for his performance. The movie itself is terrifying. It’s ahead of its time. It’s not a feel good movie. There’s a scene in which Keaton is reading “The Godfather” which she’s in and came out in 1978. I’m guessing she was studying for the plot on set and the director was like, “This is great.” Or maybe it was planned. Who knows. Meta. (4.75/5). I can’t believe the subject matter it delves into. Prepare for rape, violence, drug, alcohol and most any trigger you can think of. There is homosexual, heterosexual and polyamory. It covers lots of bases.

Oppenheimer (2023) 
The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. This was my second viewing. My wife’s first. She loved it. I did too. (4.75/5)

True Romance (1993) 
In Detroit, a pop culture nerd steals cocaine from his new wife’s pimp and tries to sell it in Hollywood, prompting the mobsters who own the drugs to pursue the couple. One of my favorite movies of all time. One of the most violent “feel good love stories” of all time. Performances through the roof. The cast is mind blowing. (5/5)

Ghostkeeper (1981)
Three friends on a New Year’s Eve snowmobiling excursion find themselves stranded at an abandoned lodge where the elderly female innkeeper is concealing a sinister secret. This is a cult-y classic. I didn’t love it. But didn’t hate it. It’s cinema that I would have never seen before CathodeTV. (2.5/5) … with a highly recommend anyway.

Christmas at Pee-wee’s Playhouse (TV Movie 1988)
Pee-Wee Herman throws a Christmas party at his playhouse with his friends and some celebrity guests. Add this to your holiday rotation of Christmas movies and specials! (5/5)

Deadly Dreams 1988 Kristine Peterson
Deadly Dreams is a 1988 American psychological horror film directed by Kristine Peterson, and starring Mitchell Anderson, Juliette Cummins, and Xander Berkeley. Another Cathode watch. Maybe low rating, but worth a watch. (2./5)

Jack Frost aka Morozko 1964 Alexander Rou 76m
A fairy-tale about a conceited young man and a young woman with a tyrannical step-mother, who must overcome magical trials in order to be together. This movie is a rare gem. Beautiful in so many ways. Eccentric and a feast for the eyes. (4/5)

The Star Wars Holiday Special (CBS TV Movie) 1978 Steve Binder and David Acomba
The Star Wars Holiday Special[a] is a 1978 American television special that originally aired on November 17, 1978, on CBS. It is set in the universe of the sci-fi-based Star Wars media franchise. Directed by Steve Binder, it was the first Star Wars spin-off film, set between the events of the original film and the then-unreleased sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It stars the main cast of the original Star Wars and introduces the character of Boba Fett, who appeared in later films. This film was a complete flop and a diabolical travesty to release it. (0/5) There’s a 2023 documentary about this failure of marketing and ideation.

Blood Tracks (1985)
A film crew producing a rock music video decides to shoot at an abandoned factory above the snow line. When an avalanche strands them, a murderous family. This movie is a hilariously bad train wreck. (2/5)

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Little Billy witness his parents getting killed by Santa. Now Billy is 18 and he has just become Santa, himself. Again, crazy nutbag ride of cinematic hilarity. (2/5)

Game Over aka Deadly Games (1989)
Basically ‘Home Alone’ ripped off this French holiday horror romp! On Christmas Eve, a resourceful young boy has to defend himself and his grandfather from a killer dressed as Santa Claus. This was my second viewing. It’s such a ripoff of Home Alone. I’m not sure it has redeemable qualities, but it has a ridiculously weird story execution. (2.5/5)

The Amy Fisher Story (1993)
The true story of the Long Island teen who shoots and wounds the wife of a man she called her lover. With Drew Barrymore as Amy. We ended up putting this on our big screen from Cathode. Tina didn’t recognize Drew Barrymore, so she must have been doing something right. Crazy story. hilarious Tv adaptation of her story. (2.75/5)

intentions

We’re in North Carolina at our AirBnB for as much of the winter as we can. While here, we have a long to-do list of house maintenance. We also have work that we carry with us.

But for the most part, I have more time to focus on personal creativity projects. While here, at least for January, I’m trying to accomplish a list of goals. One is creating and sharing a photo per week. The others are reading a book a week, average 10k steps per day, write every day, create some short films & knockout a mean house maintenance todo list.

This photo we made last Friday is just a quick idea, inspired by Greg Crewdson. I plan on doing several more like it while here.

Contemplating Twenty Twenty Three

I’m with all of you who think of the new year is a miraculous fantasy machine. A contraption that when it notch clicks from 2022 to 2023, the promises made are intoxicating.

Twenty twenty three, a coup de foudre of doughy-eyed promises, ecstasies. Whispers of magical potions, grandiose ambitions and impossible possibilities.

Surf’s up. I’m riding this wave. It’s fun to dream. Imagine. To create. Love and be loved. Show compassion and receive it.

Twenty twenty three. With abandon, let’s do this.

a portrait of my dad

Pops. Piet. Short for Pieter. The Dutch spelling of Peter. 

Dadums. 

Opa. The dutch word we use for grandpa. 

I don’t really call him dadums. 

Strong. Like Bull. 

Maddeningly opinionated.

A man without a middle name.

Jovial. Filterless. At times he drops an offensive observation like he’s lighting a fire cracker fuse and throws it into a crowd. When it explodes and they squeal and scream, he kicks his head back with laughter.

PIET! The chorus of a four letter word.

Story-filled and jam-packed with book smarts. He can read a book four times as fast as you can.

He tells stories. Long stories. Ones that you wonder when they’ll end or what the point is. But they’re a ride, with detours and road blocks. Back tracking and a lingering inquiry, “Where is this ride going?” 

We grew up with three uncles on my dad’s side. My Uncle Rich. My Uncle Herm and My Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam was always asking for my dad’s money. Uncle Sam called again for the money you owe him. Poor Uncle Sam, always looking for handouts.

My most cherished compliments are those from women I’ve worked with over the years who said they appreciated that I treated women equally, respectfully, honorably and affably.  My dad inspired the design in the fabric of that part of my personality.

When I hit a rebellious period of letting go of a faith that he taught me about, so lovingly, so politely, and knowledgeably, I passed through an era of anger. The kind of anger that makes you rip off the jersey with your name printed across the back and stomp on it before burning it. The anger was not necessarily at any one person, but at everyone at the same time. Despite that, pops continued to love and support me. 

He even agreed with me once or twice. 

When we debate politics, I’m the one who loses his temper. I’m “triggered” as they say. The they. The Junior they. Puerto Rican temper they say. 

And when we’ve had fall outs, the burned bridges have been rebuilt. The war torn cityscapes after Godzilla vs. Kong battles have been re-constructed. Shining and brand new. 

The city was rebuilt thanks to reading a Steve Martin memoir. Followed by one from Amy Schumer. In both, each made a resounding argument for repairing broken ties with one’s parents, no matter how difficult. I read these books with water flooded eyes and cheeks. 

No matter how beat up and bloodied you are. 

No 

matter 

what. 

Heal. Mend. Apologize. 

Love. 

Forgive. 

For Godsakes. 

For

Piet’s

Sake.

Pops claims Divine Providence brought me to where I am today as a photographer, as a husband, as what could be considered success. I do not share that belief, but I’m glad he does. It is what makes Piet, Pops. 

My adoption into the Witteveen tribe can be seen Providentially, too. Forty five years ago, Dad picked up a pregnant hitchhiker named Maria. A 16-year old stranger. Maria. That baby bump was me. Piet and his wife Susan, my mom, eventually signed paperwork replacing my surname from Erazo on my birth certificate to a word that in Dutch means “White Peat Bog”. 

Last year, Tina and I bought a home, in part, to give the 720 mile gap separating us from my parents and siblings a shorter commute. As one would hope, it brought the tribe closer. 

At 78 years old, my dad’s hard work and sweat, bloodied hands from quick to bleed skin helped us demolish the interiors. He worked tirelessly to lend his hands freely and frequently, from chainsawing a fallen tree to laying tile to replace our hearth. These are his gifts. These are his acts of love. These are his duty. His honor. 

At seventy eight, he is still building the thing I call the fabric of my personality. 

There were countless times when I shook from envy at anyone who heralded their parents as their best friends. This year, I looked into my dad’s face after a dinner at my home. Before he got in his car to drive the 16 miles back to his home, I put my hand on his shoulder, looked him in the eye and I said, “Dad, I wanna tell you something …”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“You’re my best friend, man.” 

A firecracker exploded. Shocked him. Like he’d never heard those words. From anyone.

“You’re my best friend.” I repeated.

inspired by a snowy weekend

This past weekend was snowy and bitterly cold. I took that opportunity to experiment with some lighting ideas using our condo as a backdrop and ourselves as talent. I lighted us with a blue gel coming in from outside and individually lighted Tina with a red gel.

For my post-production, I cropped to be cinematic and I finished the images to be dark and moody. I left the blues in an other-worldly level and decided that it was a fun way to proceed.

I loved the results and I hope to use it on other talent in the near future. Enjoy these two images.

Revisiting photos from previous photo shoots

I recently revisited some work I did with model Ophelia Overdose a year or two ago. Here are a couple of the results from the return.

Michel Marice

Tina and I have traveled to France six times together.

Our first time was on our honeymoon in 2008.

Our sixth time was last December, 2018.

With each visit, it gets better and better.

In 2008, we discovered something about ourselves: that when we travel, we MUST buy art. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive art. But we have to find pieces and bring them home.

In 2013, we returned to France to travel with friends from NYC. While we were in Paris, we met an artist on a bridge named Michel Maurice. He painted in a very distinct way on pieces of bed sheets as canvas. We bought a piece that I think reflected our love and passion (first image below).

Last April, we were in Paris to meet friends again and we found Michel Maurice on a different bridge, smoking a cigarette and smelling of wine. We talked, told him we owned a piece already. He showed us several paintings and he was hoping to get €80 for a piece. I literally didn’t have 80 in my pocket so I told him we’d go get money and come back. Well, he didn’t want to lose me, so he asked for €20. So we bought the above piece.

The art is so whimsical and colorful, and reflects a part of me that I can’t quite put a finger on. I love it. And love what the art represents: our unyielding obsession with buying art where we go.

Not to mention it makes for great stories.

a year in review

I did a year in review of 2017 projects that I wished I would have vLogged, but did not. So it's a catchup video. 

Enjoy. 

I caught MEW on their US tour ...

The band MEW stopped in at JBTV last week to play seven songs the morning before their show at Park West here in Chicago. 

Above is the portrait I took of them before their performance. 

To learn a bit more, here's a bit from their Wiki: 

“Mew are a Danish alternative rock band, consisting of Jonas Bjerre (lead vocals), Johan Wohlert (bass) and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen (drums). Johan Wohlert left the band in 2006 before the birth of his first child, but made a return in 2013 while the band were in the studio, before making his first live appearances since his departure in 2014. Guitarist Bo Madsen left the band in June 2015. This was confirmed in a statement on the band’s official website on 1 July of the same year.[1]

Whilst their music may be classified as indie and on occasion progressive rock, Bo Madsen said “I usually say we are ‘indie stadium.’ A mix between ‘feelings’ and ‘thinking’ is usually good.””

Here are some stills I took of their performance: 

On my calendar for July 21, 2017, at 7 a.m. it reads, "street photography | location: downtown chicago."

If I don't book my time, I will not do something.

Lately, I've been charging myself with eschewing social media, the news, and general distractions to concentrate on me, my art and creativity.

I'm trying to build new habits and give up on ones that are mentally or even physically distracting from productivity.

Just like working out, there are times when even if it's in my schedule, I'll almost do anything to trick myself from going. But I was determined. And I went.

Armed with a Panasonic GH5 and a Hasselblad H5D-40, I set out. I drove down, left the Hasselblad in the car and just shot the GH5. I did both video and stills.

When I got back to the car, I thought, "Fuck it. I'll end today. I got some good stuff. I'm headed home."

I text Tina to tell her I was on my way. Then I looked up and saw an image that I needed to take. I reached for the door handle, stepped back out, opened the back door where my cameras were, and pulled out the Hasselblad.

I took this image:

I text Tina afterward and said, "Nix that. I'm headed out with the Hassy."

So off I went.

I took photos for another hour. I met some people.

Like a woman who saw me and yelled out: "Hey, Camera Man!"

She was sitting outside at a Dunkin Donuts across from Columbia college. "What camera is that?"

I told her.

"Wow! What are you a fashion photographer?"

"I'm mainly portraits and interiors."

"You gotta come talk to my class. I teach across the street." She pointed at Columbia.

"Cool!"

We exchanged info.

Here's her image. She called herself "The Pope."

After that I took a portrait of a guy. He asked for $10 to photograph him.

We did a short seven or eight frame session.

I said, "What's your name?"

"<unintellible multi syllable word>" he responded.

"What?"

"<unintellible multi syllable word>" he repeated.

"I'm not sure what you're saying," I said.

"Well, my friends call me: T to the M to the ACK."

"T-mack?"

"Yes!" He pointed my way.

"T-mack it is!"

Here's his portrait:

I also took more shots that I loved.

You can view those below. Enjoy.

rising from a creative slump

For about a year and a half, maybe longer, I've been in a creative slump. My goal lately has been to yank myself out using the tuft on my neck that you pick puppies and kittens up by when they're getting into something they shouldn't.

Creative slumps suck.

As an artist, it's easy to point at all the extraneous factors that are at fault. Certainly there are external factors that come into play. For example: doctor's appointments, an accident, or any other life moment that may distract from productivity.

I've seen other artists -- people in general -- complain about the current political climate and blame that for certain levels of anxiety and lack of productivity. I share that sentiment completely.

It may be too early to shout out to the world about getting out of this slump, but I'm putting myself on the path. And with hard work and perseverance, I hope to stay there.

I've been seeing a therapist lately, and we've been exploring my fears, insecurities and how they pertain to self-expression.

Like other artists, I allow fear to prevent me from creating something, for fear it's going to turn out shitty. Not creating anything defeats the purpose of the creative.

I recently completed this self portrait.

It is a motion portrait, btw, so look for movement.  It's one of many things I hope to do to stay on the path. I'm not saying it's the BEST image in the world. But it's an image. It's an executed idea. I had the vision. I made a version of it. I'm sharing it with the world. I'm moving on. 

In a way, it's a metaphor for how I want to grow out of this place of fear and become bigger in the eyes of my audience. Whoever that might be.

I designed the visual with a couple different people in mind as the subject. One girl didn't respond at all to my request. Another one told me she wasn't the one for the job. At least she responded.

The image is a compilation of eight images composited into one. I'm working on a behind the scenes video now to show how I put it together.

Enjoy.

The Orwells killed it at JBTV Music Television!

Last night, I had the great opportunity to photograph the Orwells at JBTV. It was the third time they've performed at the studio. They brought the largest crowd I've ever seen pack into the intimate space. 

These guys embody the essence rock and roll and I was so glad to get the shot above in hero angle with a 20mm lens. 

They have a new album Terrible Human Beings coming out Feb 17 and tour dates can be found on their website. 

Below are just a few more images that include their sound check and another portrait. 

Enjoy. 

Kevin Garrett is a helluva talent!

I had the opportunity to photograph singer/songwriter Kevin Garrett last Thursday at JBTV Music Television. I have to say I was pretty damn impressed by his work and talent. 

He's traveling with a band right now, but often he seems to perform solo. 

Wiki writes this about him: 

Kevin Garrett is an American musician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based out of Brooklyn, New York.

Kevin Garrett was born on March 25, 1991, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His debut EP, Mellow Drama, was released on April 7, 2015. Garrett co-wrote and co-produced "Pray You Catch Me", the lead track on Beyoncé's album, Lemonade.[7]

The show at JBTV was at noon, and while they were in the green room before their performance, he and his band were chowing on some salads they ordered in. He stuck his head out the green room and asked, "Portillo's is a big Chicago mainstay, right?" 

"Yeah," I said. "They're huge. Everyone loves that place ..." I paused and looked in to see no one had a burger, polish or fries and said, "Wait, none of you got a polish and fries?" 

"No," he said. 

We both laughed. 

Below is the photo I took of him. Facebook hated the treatment I did so I had to do another edit. Facebook pixelated the hell out of the red. To see the other version I did, check my Facebook feed. 

Check out some of his work on youtube! 

Enjoy. 

Arkells rock and SO do you!

Last Monday, I photographed a portrait and part of the performance with the band Arkells at JBTV Music Studio. 

From Wiki: 

Arkells are a Canadian rock band, formed in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records,[1] and have since signed with Universal Records Canada.[2] They have released four albums, two EPs and a number of singles that have charted in Canada. The band has won multiple Juno Awards, including one for their album High Noon in 2015.

As I photographed their sound check, I could tell these guys were super cool, very talented and definitely entertaining on stage. They were cool to meet in our quick photo session backstage and were complimentary of my camera gear. 

They did not disappoint the crowd that showed up on their lunch breaks to catch the intimate show. 

If you happened to miss them, check out anything you can find online and grab tickets next time they pass through Chicago or your town! 

Shooting with stylist Rosie Mae

A couple of months ago, my brother-in-law Michael Serafini told Tina and I about a local fashion designer named Rosie Mae who he met at his record store Gramaphone Records. 

We connected and Tina opened a discussion about a photo shoot featuring some of her designs and styling. We ended up scheduling a quick shoot the last week in June. 

And while I'm not a huge fan of photographing outside at high noon, that was what we agreed to. I'm not afraid of shooting at any time if it's approached well. We ended up shooting with a Einstein and a Photek soft lighter for most of these shots, and I couldn't be happier -- given all the factors around the shoot. 

I mixed use of a Canon 5D Mark III with a 50mm f1.4 at around f2 to f2.5 using a variable ND filter and a Hasselblad H5D-40 shooting around f4-f6.8 at 1/800th of a second. 

Our location was the bird sanctuary at Montrose Harbor. It was chosen because it's easy to get to and we didn't have a lot of time to spend running around trying to find locations. It was a Saturday and very crowded. But we make it all work. 

Our team was:

HMUA:
La'Yanna Kai

Models:
Gabija Guzauskaite
Binette Diallo

Wardrobe Stylist:
Rosie Mae

Photo Assistants: 
Adam Clayton
Luis Marin

Producer: 
Tina Serafini

Photographer:
Me.  

Enjoy these photos! 

Furiously paying homage to George Miller and Mad Max Fury Road

For 2016, I'm taking part in a monthly portrait photo challenge. April's portrait theme is homage. 

I interpreted this theme to mean I would pay homage to someone I look up to in filmmaking. The lucky winner was George Miller, the director/mind behind last year's Mad Max Fury Road. 

The movie blew me away on so many levels, namely the art direction and kinetic, non-stop, heart-pounding pace of the movie. 

Our studio space is managed by this guy named Dan Stewart. He's a body builder and an expert mechanic. Visually, he could be considered menacing, but he's probably one of the nicest guys on planet earth. 

I cast him for the shot, and then I developed a story behind the character that I wanted to photograph for this shoot. 

I named him Meady Ogre, and he's the mechanic that built the war rig that Furiosa drives in Fury Road. Meady has pissed off Immorten Joe, another character from Fury Road and now Joe is off to take out Meady. In the photo, the camera is Immorten Joe. Meady and his dog Anarchy are defending themselves. 

Of course since they live in the Fury Road world, I wanted to embellish the scene with fire and sparks. 

The image that I found to work the best is the above one, but I wanted to show one with Anarchy as well below. Also check out the accompanying behind the scenes vLog. 

Enjoy! 

Loads of creativity inspired by two 2016 Pantone colors

Around Christmas time last year, makeup artist Stephanie VanHazebroeck asked if I would be involved in a Trade photo shoot or a TF* with a team she was assembling with a look inspired by two 2016 Pantone colors. 

I love working with Stephanie. We worked together on her first big shoot, and whenever I can, I make a way to agree to her requests for TF*s. She's amazing at what she does, and she's managed to curate a network of some of the most creative people in Chicago. 

So of course I said yes. 

At first, we talked about renting a location for this Pantone-inspired shoot. There was discussion of Salvage One, which features some really cool furniture and vignettes that can photograph very well. They quoted us at $200/hour. Which we were all okay with. We'd likely only need a couple hours by doing hair and makeup off site. We scrapped idea when we heard of an old vintage bank that promised some amazing backdrops, but they wanted $1500 to shoot there. 

In February, we moved into our new space, and we started discussing using an old car that is housed in our space. 

And then I found what I was looking for ... one day I was at the studio and a door that's never closed was closed. It's a sliding metal door with tons of rusty patina and character. 

"I'm using that door," I said to myself. My voice echoed in the empty studio. I felt like the door would make the colors in our fashion palette pop like nobody's business. And, wow, that door did not disappoint. 

The day of the shoot finally came last week. 

You know what I liked about this shoot? Everything. 

Apart from Stephanie, I never heard of or met the team before, but once we all gathered, we all seemed to click. I could tell it was going to be a great day. I would go to bat for any one of this team. You MUST work with them! 

Everyone was so professional, fun and energetic. The clothes, the hair, the makeup ... EXCEPTIONAL. Our model Angelika impressed me to no end. 

I try to print images from my favorite shoots, and I think I'm going to print all of the ones I'm posting here today. Also, enjoy my behind the scenes vLog as well! 

The team was: 

Model: Angelika Rol
MUA: Stephanie VanHazebroeck
Hair: Mariefel Westa
Designer: Lupita Castaneda
Intern: Ryan Barhaug

Tina did a little consulting at the shoot, but many of these types of shoots are for me and my interest in fashion, which is why they post here at jeremywitteveen.com and not at Wittefini.com. 

For the video, I had to put a lot more effort into shooting than vLogging, so I filmed exposition yesterday. I messaged Stephanie to ask her how to say her epic last name, and I still feel like I didn't say it correctly ... but we plow forward ... I'll apologize later. 

Special thanks to our landlord Al Phillips for letting us use that big door as part of our shoot!

Meeting a stranger whom I've followed for years

At the end of February, I had a conversation with our studio partner Bill Whitmire. I explained that a German photographer commented on an image I posted at 500px who had photographed Ophelia Overdose. 

Several years ago, Bill told me about Ophelia and I started following her immediately. She's a talented German model who creates very elaborate dresses and costumes, does her own makeup and hair, and often retouches her own images. 

Bill's response about the post at 500px was that he hired her for a shoot the following week. Come to find out, he had inquired about a shoot some time ago, and she finally contacted him when she was going to pass through Chicago. 

Bill and I often share photoshoots, and it wasn't unheard of for him to ask if I would like to work with Ophelia, too, and share the images. There wasn't a whole helluva lot of time to prepare since the shoot was literally a week away, and my business schedule was jam-packed. 

After the shoot, I decided to use an image of Ophelia as my March Photo Challenge image with the theme "Stranger." I felt like it was such a cool coincidence that I was able to finally work with someone I had a long-time affinity for. She's someone I never figured I'd meet. And now that we worked together, she's no longer a stranger. 

The shoot itself was a great experience. She's every bit as talented as I assumed she was. Her personality is fun and jovial. 

On site, I got a bit star struck, I admit. When I gave her the cash I counted out for the hire, I counted out an entire $100 less than the needed. When she figured it out, she shyly approached me to let me know I shorted her. Oh man, I was embarrassed. It's hard to make such a silly mistake, and I've been beating myself up for about a month now about it. :( 

We ended up primarily photographing her with my Hasselblad. Unfortunately, none of the lighting setups were mine. But the image I chose above was the closest to something I might have setup, so I ran with that one. 

The outfit she's wearing was one she constructed. She had with her a white and black wig. Bill and I leaned toward the black one. 

For the lighting, there are images below that you can take a look at. There's a key camera right and a fill below and camera right. Camera left there's a beauty dish with a green gel on it and above her there's a highlight with a blue gel, which I darkened from its out-of-camera strength. 

I completed the image as a composite. I wanted to give her more of a story than just shooting her on a gray backdrop. So I shot plates in the studio with a very dark feel. So you wouldn't know exactly where she is, but it would be somewhere. I felt like she looked like some sort of thief or ninja intruder, like a Catherine Zeta-Jones in Entrapment. 

That I know of, Bill hasn't finished any of his images of Ophelia either. We were going to post at the same time, but I wanted to make sure I posted my Stranger portrait in March. So it's going up today, by the skin of my teeth on March 31. 

Take a look at the Behind the Scenes images below. Share any questions you have with me on Facebook or here. 

February Portrait: Ice Queen

As you may know, in 2016 I'm completing a 12-month Theme-based portrait challenge with fellow photographers Sunny Lee and Bill Whitmire.

At this point, several other folks have entered into the challenge.

February's theme is Ice. My immediate idea was to reach out to local Hair and Makeup Artist Kasha Rodig to see if she'd like to collaborate on some ideas. Tell a makeup artist "ice", and they are filled with ideas. Tell Kasha "ice" and her cup overfloweth.

One huge point of this challenge is to explore creativity that we don't often get hired for on commercial jobs. And I have full confidence in Kasha's bag of incredible tricks that she'd come up with something not only classy, but stunning.

Our first task was casting talent. We found Wilhelmina Model Haley Berge, and she jumped on board.

We then roped in Lisa Gombert to style the shoot, and of course Tina was there to art direct.

On set we had our assistant Luis Marin and our intern Nicole Siuda.

On my end, I tried the shot on white background and on black. On black I used some Atmosphere Aerosol to give it a sense of place. I wanted the image to be painterly, cold, and piercing. Haley nailed the look right away, and I took very few frames after this one.

I used two Paul C. Buff Einsteins for lighting. For light modification, I used a beauty dish without diffusion camera right for the key and a large softbox with grid for a rim up high to camera left. We used my Hasselblad H3DII-31 with a 80mm lens set at 1/800th, f9.5, ISO100.

It's amazing to collaborate with other folks and to surround myself with such talent. This is art. And it's such a feeling of heaven and gratitude when people work together like this. Thanks to all involved and thank you for taking time to take a look.

Enjoy a couple behind the scenes shots below.

Twelve-month photo challenge starts now: Levitation

For 2016, I'm participating in a 12-month, theme-based photo challenge with fellow North Carolina photographer Sunny Lee and Chicago photographer and studio partner Bill Whitmire.

The first month theme is Levitation, and above is what I came up with.

The story behind the image is not exactly fleshed out. The image is kind of documentation in a way. You see, we've decided to leave our studio space for another one, and this is a way to honor our current space with a going-away hurrah.

We move into our new studio on February 1.

For this image, I worked with model Danielle Maddox. I've wanted to work with her for about a year now, and finally got up enough nerve to ask her to be a part of this project. I knew I wanted someone athletic, as the process here is having her jump in the air and land on an air mattress.

Plus, I love Danielle's sense of humor that comes across in a lot of her work. She's got that sassy, fun, somethin' somethin' that shines through, and I love working with people like that.

She really hit this one out of the park and was incredibly thoughtful in her approach. We landed the right shot early on which shows just how professional she is. Kudos to her and I can't wait to work with her again. 

I bought and used Atmosphere Aerosol for this shoot, but the way I did my lighting ended up overpowering it, so it doesn't read in these images.

I lighted the scene using a large stripbox over head and some front fill and a light in the rear left-hand corner to embellish the sun rays.

I used our Hasselblad H3DII-31 with a  35mm f3.5, at f8, 1/800th, ISO200. 

Below are behind the scenes photos taken by Bill Whitmire.