Dear Mosquitoes,
I Hate You
A behind the scenes look at a high fashion photo shoot.
We brought mosquito repellant, but I think it was laced with honey, or cow’s blood, because it sure didn’t seem to work very well. As I write this I am experiencing the thrilling sensation of 20-30 red bumps that, like spoiled kids at the grocery store, are each demanding my full attention. I will ignore them and proceed.
We wanted to shoot four separate models wearing custom wardrobe designed by Keith Bryce. The idea was to start hair and makeup at 4PM and start shooting at 7PM and fit all four girls in before sunset at 9PM. I knew from the beginning that this was overly optimistic.
(hold on, I have to itch my knee, oh yes, so wrong but it feels so right! Uh oh, now my calf wants attention, and my ankle… maybe this is why you’re not supposed to scratch them…)
Ok, I’m back. So at 7:30 (a half hour behind schedule) I was barking orders like a mad scientist knowing full well now that the sun would set well before we finished shooting, my brain started racing with backup options. At 7:45 we took two girls out and started shooting, the rest arrived about 45 minutes later… the shoot that was supposed to be done by 9 lasted until about 11:30 which sounds about right, but the results were well worth the trouble.
Some tricky issues we had to resolve during the shoot? Lighting inside a small shed without room for ideal light placement, keeping the guy standing by the model ready to catch her if she falls off her pedestals out of the frame, balancing the pedestals on uneven ground, and for the first time in my photography career I had to edit out a mosquito that was perched on a models chest apparently going to town like it just bought her dinner. Stupid mosquitoes.
Fashion Illusions | Styling and Wardrobe by Keith Bryce | Hair by Chad Seale (assisted by Josh Parkin and Tita Tillak) | Makeup by Janelle Bentley | Photographer Assistant Ryan Muirhead
Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes Photography Courtesy of Ryan Muirhead (click for full size images)
Keith Brcye and Jake Garn Demonstrate the Pose
Jake Garn demonstrates arm placement.
Chad Seale and Josh Parkin work on Lindsey's hair
Keith Bryce admiring his finishing touches.
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i LOVE these! i want to work with keith again next time! i am planning another trip out there.. i think for OUR birthday.. oct 4.
it can be my birthday present.. hehe
so .. tell keith..
these are great.. i love your writing too jake its so funny and real. miss you all ! great work!
i am freaking DYING at how awesome these are. beyond amazing. mosquitos or not. just wanted to let you know.
Thanks Jean and thanks Cassie! Why wait until October though Cassie? Not only is that four months away it is also like a week-and-a-half after my wife’s due date… I may be slightly indisposed!!
Amazing photos Jake. Keith did a brilliant job. Love the behind-the-scenes access via Ryan…no macros of mosquitoes?
How did you setup lighting for the shot of Chloe? The light tapers off on her legs, yet the car behind her is illuminated. Or is that just an effect of the fabric?
Minnesota advice: You betcha mosquitos LOVE the cologne and perfume, so.
Sterling,
Of course we have no macros of mosquitoes, we were too busy spazzing out swatting at all of them to even begin thinking about photographing them. If someone was watching us from 100 yards away I’m sure they would have thought we were all crazed lunatics from the amount of wild flailing we were doing.
As far as the light, it’s a single strobe (with a beauty dish) directly above the model. I’m guessing there are two reasons the light hits the car better, one is that metal is a more reflective surface than black fabric and second (possibly more importantly) the car surface is parallel to the light source while the pants were perpendicular.
I know exactly what you mean about mosquitoes. I grew up on a rice farm in southeast Texas. When you’re surrounded by 800 acres of still, shallow, water you get them by the millions at night. Nowadays I run into the same problems shooting around the gulf coast. Lots of DEET applied often, and no perfumes or colognes like Pete said.
hahaha I Love this! Jake your an amazing writer where’s your novel already? This is Lindsey if you couldn’t understand from my harsh gangsta slang.. (G thursdays) but I LIED! when I told you I had two mosquito bites! I had them on my hand.. I didn’t even know what was lurking on my back! The little section of skin that was exposed from my jacket being so short was attacked! I was afraid to show people because they would have put me in quarantine..
Ldizzledog,
Word Up! Sorry about your poor back, I hope your wounds heal in time for next week because I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it… I don’t know the rest of the words to that song!
Great photos!!!
man, jake…
you’re pretty cool, ya know. lol. taking awesome pictures while getting eaten alive…that’s a major sacrifice. hats off to you!
but seriously. it would be awesome to follow you around one day! figure out how you pose and light your models…and then watch how you process your photos. not one step forgotten or neglected! great work my friend
Hello, I found you on deviantart.com and I am in awe of your photographs! You are truly an inspiring and talented person, God Bless!!!