Behind the Scenes: Serenity Amongst Destruction

Photo Credit: Diggie Vitt 

A few weeks back, a photographer friend of mine, Diggie Vitt (Featured in my Blog Hop. His work is amazing!) messaged out that he was looking for a place to stay with his friend Cameron, while they continued a road trip across the country. We got in touch and I told him I'd be more than happy to have them stay with me and show them around the area. After some parking troubles in DC, they made it up to the City of Brotherly Love.

Almost after immediately arriving, we found ourselves in my basement, experimenting with Diggie's new polaroid camera. We walked over to South St. and checked out a great area I know with thrift shops and antique stores. It's always fun to look for new props and wardrobes for shoots. We had nothing in mind, but you'll never know when inspiration strikes! 

The next day, we explored some better well-known spots in Philly. On our walk into the city, we found the opportunity to explore a church nearby my house. I'd never been inside and it was pretty amazing. We walked up to LOVE Park and towards the famous Rocky Steps, then along the trail on the river, back in time for lunch. We explored one of the local parks nearby and brainstormed on some concepts to shoot. 

That night, we planned a shoot for sunrise in of the the most beautiful abandoned places I know of in the area. It had been months since my last visit, so we checked out the location to see if it would still be accessible. 

I got in touch with my wonderful friend, Steph, who was excited to come along again and model for us. It was around 5am when we woke up, packed the car, picked up Steph, and made our way into the church before sunrise. Last time I shot here, it was in the middle of winter and freezing inside, so it was a nice change for it to be warm. 

The description of this photograph isn't actually far off from the truth on how we found our way inside. We patiently sat and waited for the sun once we were in, and explored some while we solidified the concepts we wanted to shoot. An amazing orange glow came in through the windows again and lasted some much longer than from what I saw back during the winter. It was perfect and I was drooling over it. 

Once I shot my plate shot of the scene, Diggie and Steph went on to shoot another concept while I continued to shoot extra images to expand my frame later in photoshop. All-together, this image is made up of around 65 individuals shots. 

We were extremely happy with how the shoot went that morning and made plans to go back home, eat, catch a little bit more sleep, then re-group with Steph again and a friend of hers to another park I love to visit. 

We went swimming and had a nice hike along the trails in the woods. Diggie managed to get Steph and I in cold water in the shade for another Polaroid idea he had. We were troopers and did it, while trying to keep our balance against the cut tent of the river and the slippery rocks beneath us. Then once out of the water, we found out he had to do another take, but it was still fun. 

The next day we slept in and Diggie and Cameron packed up again to make their way over to Long Island. It was absolutely great to meet both of them and to work along side Diggie. Those guys are so genuinely nice. Looking forward to see what they have in store as the continue their road trip across the country!

Behind the Scenes: Hold On Strong

Dedication 

Recently I've found stronger meanings in this photograph since I shot myself in this waterfall back in August. This week, I lost my cousin due to cancer. As hard as everything has been for the family, finding strength in these unimaginable times, from people that come from all walks of life, has been absolutely heartwarming and astonishing for me and my family.
This photograph is dedicated to Lt. Michael Vecsi - a real life hero. 

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With my friends Tom and Marisa, we once again planned out another photo adventure last month, and returned to Great Falls Park, but on the Maryland side of the river. A week before, Tom and Marisa met up and scouted the park for any interesting locations for us to use. After their hike, they posted some photos from their findings and I was so happy to see all the amazing places they explored! 

As soon as I saw photographs of the location, I knew I had finally found the right place to use an anchor I bought back in the winter from a local vintage shop, to use for this new concept. I had been waiting forever to put this prop to use, but I wanted it to be in a special location. Back in the spring, I met up with a good friend of mine, my art teacher (Mrs. Stevens) from high school and her daughter. We hiked along trails in the woods and found some pretty cool spots by water, but I wasn't sparked by what I had floating around in my head. 

Since then, this concept was put on the back burner, but I was happy the opportunity had finally come! Tom and I reached the park together and met up with Marisa and her friend, Lisa, as well as Marisa's nice, Audrey. We gathered in the parking lot as I unloaded a come props and wardrobe for us to rummage through. Usually, and not just on days like these, my car is filled with old trucks and other things that could be interesting to use on a shoot. Hats, books, fabric, antlers, bird wings, rope, nets, walking stocks, umbrellas, lanterns, clocks, mirrors. You never know when a photo adventure could be right around the corner. 

We had somewhat of a good hike ahead of us for the day, so we choose carefully what we would carry on our journey. So, this meant lugging around my anchor through the park, over trails, and while climbing cliffs. I didn't even care though. My body was just ready to go and explore. 

At our first location, around the edged of a secluded body of water off from the river, where these awesome rock formations were. We rested all our gear down and explored a bit. Marisa and Tim came up with some ideas while we were there, so they took turns shooting Audrey on some of the rocks in the water. I was still focusing on my concept. There were so many great opportunities, but I waited. We were going to be coming back the same way at the end of the day, so I wanted to be patient and see what more would cross our path.

We packed up our gear, said goodbye to Lisa (she had to leave early to go see a show) and took a quick group pic. We traveled along the banks of the water and climbed up to some high point on the rocks. The view was amazing, so of course I had to take a selfie.

Tom and I stared at this one huge rock formations the jutted out from the ground, and we thought it would be a cool spot to shoot some ideas. I changed my clothes and climbed to the top and we both tried out shooting different ideas. We gathered for a small break on top of the mountain. We sat and rested while drinking one of the many Gatorades we picked up earlier. The sun was strong that day, so lugging around an extra 6 bottles didn't even faze us. They were much needed that day. We packed up our gear again and headed towards the giant waterfall the fed the river.

It was massive and the current was not to be reckoned with. When we reached the side on the top, I knew I was getting in somehow. This was it; this was where I was going to finally use the anchor. Tom and Marisa set up some ideas of their own while I scouted for the right place to set up for my shot. When I was finally ready, I changed into my other clothes and with help from Marisa, I made it to the center of the waterfall (before dunking myself in the cool refreshing water) and she then handed me the anchor. Because I don't have a water proof wireless remote for my camera, Marisa kindly took the exposures of me while I was covering myself in a fishing net, wrapping rope from the anchor all around my body, and hoping I didn't slip off the rock and get taken with the current. 

All fared well though. Even more so than that. I tried out a few different poses I had wanted to do and made my way back onto dry land. I somewhat dried off, but left my went clothes on because they were keeping me so cool. Before packing up, I wandered the area around the falls and shot texture photos of the rocks. Everything had such a painterly feel to it and I love incorporating textures into a photograph from the same location as where it was shot - and I'm giving some to you in a free download below!

Behind the Scenes: Las Vegas Creative Photography Workshop Part 2

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Our group shot with smelly Jenna. 

(L to R) Jenna, Pete, Joshua, me, Ashley, and Kathy.

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Our beautiful morning sunrise.  

After shooting long-exposures of the crashed airplane we turned in for the night. A small group of us agreed to wake up super early the morning and sneak in another fun shoot on our trip together. 

We hit the road when it was still pitch-black out and drove towards our shooting location from the previous day. On our way there the day before, we had spotted some areas on the side of the desert road with some small bodies of water that we knew we would like to revisit.

The landscape looked so amazing with the towering mountains surrounding us in all directions. Well, on the road we had a bit of a hard time finding the location and the water. We had prepared a bit too early and it was still too dark out. After circling around once or twice, we found our little sweet spot on the side of the road. We sat in the car waiting for the sun and trying to keep warm. 

Once we started seeing the first signs of light, we unloaded the plethora of vintage outfits and props we had in the trunk. Our creative juices were flowing (with the help of a little coffee) and we all helped each other bring to life each others concepts. 

Because there was water, at least one of us out of the group were getting in the cat urine  smelling runoff sewage that we once viewed as beautiful and scenic. Jenna (the Super Trooper that she is) got down and dirty as I had her lay in the mud and have some water thrown at her. I shot a few concepts that morning I've yet to start working on, so keep an eye out! Jenna had a fun concept running through her mind with some rather large rope I had brought along on the trip, so I got a little wet myself to even out the playing field; it was only fair.

We dried up, quickly took a group shot and set on back to the hotel from some breakfast (WAFFLES!). After eating, Josh and Jenna continued with the workshop. We went over some editing processes and then had time to work on some of our new images. Wrapping up the editing, we took a break for lunch and finished up the workshop with learning some neat things about social networking and marketing. At the end, there was a prize giveaway!

Some of the group left after we officially ended the workshop. Those of us with still time left joined Jenna and Josh at the indoor pool at the hotel, and helped Josh out with one more shoot before he had to fly back home and move into his new apartment. 

A few of us gathered for dinner our last night together. We enjoyed some laughs at an interesting local bar and called it a night; it'd been such a long day. I luckily persuaded Jenna to wake up early again and we set out towards our first shooting location for one final last-minute shoot, and our friend Janelle joined as she set out to continue her road trip across the country. 

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Our workshop shooting location, in Eldorado Canyon. 

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Funny outtake I shot after posing for my photo. 

I really wanted to shoot a concept I had floating in my head with one of the vintage cars on the property near the dangerous cactus field and I was so excited to get a second chance to do so. We didn't wake up as early as the previous day, and when we arrived, the blazing sun against our surroundings looked amazing. 

I was so satisfied with how my shoot went and walked over to Jenna as she finished shooting a beautiful concept. We looked at the time and it was time to head out, but I started to jump up and down when lighting struck my brain! I got Jenna into a vintage dress and scoured the property for a pitchfork. I had to re-create American Gothic by Grant Wood. As Janelle shot us, Jenna and I almost lost our eyes to the blazing sun and but we were just overjoyed with our morning to really care. 

I waited with Jenna at the airport and after she left, I had some time to kill in Las Vegas, so I explored some of the strip! I went to the Luxor Hotel & Casino and checked out their Titanic Artifact Exhibition. I used to work at the one here in Philadelphia, last year during the 100th anniversary of the sinking, and I was curious to see the other items they had there on display. I even got free admission because I had my old work ID badge on me, how awesome! I explored some of the other nearby casino's and made my way back to the airport and return to reality in Philly. This workshop and trip was amazing, and the people I met were equally awesome. It's so great to meet up with other creatives. Amazing things are bound to happen.