Right, so I may have stolen the title of this post from the amazing Mr. Patrick Watson but it's just appropriate so you will all have to deal with it. I've also made a revelation that I may or may not be the most committed blogger...The internet proves far too distracting, what with endless youtube clips and well, facebook creeping... Oh, I've just made another revelation that maybe I need to explore more of this world wide web thing...It's more of a world wide corner for me.
Anywho, on to things that are actually relevant to this blog. I just did another photo shoot last night with a beautiful girl called Alice Myles. She's a housemate of one of the girls at the hotel and a looker with legs for days. ha. Alice, I hope you read this. For my second shoot I tried to explore a more free spirited approach to the water imagery theme. For those who have seen my work in the past you'll probably think this shoot is more along the lines of the type of ethereal stuff I usually do. There were flowers, bird cages and a chair in the ocean. It all ended up looking a bit surreal and I am extremely happy with the way the photos have turned out.
I'm also amazed at the caliber of people I am working with. So far each person has been totally committed to the themes and really willing to explore and get inside a character. it's really amazing when you have wonderful people to work with because it makes things so much easier and a lot of fun.
Other then that I have been working on some short stories and poetry to go along with the images. I wish I could share these things with you guys but i really don't want to ruin the surprise for those who are going to attend the exhibition. But just to keep you updated, I'm really feel like things are coming along nicely and I'm really, really excited as I work towards the final project. It's actually been a dream of mine to do an exhibition using both images and creative writing and I can't really believe how I managed to fall backwards into it. To quote my good friend joe, "it's pretty fucking cool."
Also, I've just been speaking to my friend Thomas Xylophone Dearnely-Davison (his middle name may or may not be fictitious but is definitely awesome) who is the Online Editor of Spindle Magazine here in Brighton. I have been asked to do a shoot for the September issue! Spindle is a really cool Arts and Fashion Magazine and I'm am elated to be able to work with them and have some of my stuff IN PRINT. Tom, who I suspect may read this, has taken my career in his able hands and is going to make me a star...or crush me if I'm not up to snuff...ha. He said that I swear.
So it's looking like Brighton was a really good move for me. Amazing people and a real chance to push my limits and see what I can do. I'll be sure to keep you updated on what happens next. And for those of you who take the time to read this:
Thanks for listening,
Stephanie
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
With A Noose Around Your Neck Can You Still Feel Free?
So, I'm going to try and update this little guy as often as possible. As I get more involved with the photography and writing the posts may be less frequent but bare with me as I promise I'm trying. SO! Yesterday was the first portrait shoot for the series. It was with a really awesome guy called Joshua Mann. He has been living in Brighton for the past three years studying Performance Arts at Brighton University. I ended up connecting with him using the website Model Mayhem, www.modelmayhem.com. FYI: if you are a portrait/fashion/fine art photographer it's a really good way to connect with models, make-up artists, other photographers...whatever you need really. It's been extremely useful while being in Brighton as when I rolled up in this bohemian city I didn't know a soul...Not the best situation for someone who loves taking 'people pictures.'
With the first shoot we decided to explore the darker aspects of water imagery. We tried to expressed feeling trapped and constricted but also wanting to break free... There was rope, black clothes and eyeliner involved but I swear to you it wasn't as emo as it sounds and no black tears were harmed in the making of it. We decided to use the ocean as a backdrop and maybe centre stage for a few of the pictures. I have to say, I'm pretty happy about the photos. Although I cannot show you any as you'll have to wait until the end of July for the final unveiling of the series, I feel like we really captured the essence of being crashed down and yet wanting to escape this feeling.
Even though these portraits were meant to be quite dark, I thought I'd share with you some of the behind the scenes moments of the shoot which were actually quite hilarious. Joshua and I met on the beach where we sat and had a quick, 'hi! I just met you and now we have to get to know each other and work together chat.' I then proceeded to get up close and personal and apply eyeliner to the guy I met 5 minutes ago. I always find those moments so funny as they would only happen in this line of work. But the best moment had to be when Joshua was tied up with rope and climbed on top of a brick wall that sticks out into the ocean. Just as i was about to shoot a lifeguard came over to me and asked me to tell Joshua to come down. She looked at me with an extremely worried face and then asked, "is he going to be okay?" Ha. I think our lifeguard friend thought Joshua was going to end it all. Either that or he was the victim of stag party antics the night before.
Next up on the list, working on some short stories this weekend, meeting with potential models for the next shoot and perhaps getting a bit of sun by the sea.
Thanks for listening,
Stephanie
With the first shoot we decided to explore the darker aspects of water imagery. We tried to expressed feeling trapped and constricted but also wanting to break free... There was rope, black clothes and eyeliner involved but I swear to you it wasn't as emo as it sounds and no black tears were harmed in the making of it. We decided to use the ocean as a backdrop and maybe centre stage for a few of the pictures. I have to say, I'm pretty happy about the photos. Although I cannot show you any as you'll have to wait until the end of July for the final unveiling of the series, I feel like we really captured the essence of being crashed down and yet wanting to escape this feeling.
Even though these portraits were meant to be quite dark, I thought I'd share with you some of the behind the scenes moments of the shoot which were actually quite hilarious. Joshua and I met on the beach where we sat and had a quick, 'hi! I just met you and now we have to get to know each other and work together chat.' I then proceeded to get up close and personal and apply eyeliner to the guy I met 5 minutes ago. I always find those moments so funny as they would only happen in this line of work. But the best moment had to be when Joshua was tied up with rope and climbed on top of a brick wall that sticks out into the ocean. Just as i was about to shoot a lifeguard came over to me and asked me to tell Joshua to come down. She looked at me with an extremely worried face and then asked, "is he going to be okay?" Ha. I think our lifeguard friend thought Joshua was going to end it all. Either that or he was the victim of stag party antics the night before.
Next up on the list, working on some short stories this weekend, meeting with potential models for the next shoot and perhaps getting a bit of sun by the sea.
Thanks for listening,
Stephanie
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Inaugural Blog Post
So this will be my new world wide web space to share with anyone who is listening the experiences I am having whilst in England and specifically being The Artist in Residence at the Brighton Hotel, Artist Residence. For those of you who are not aware, I am currently living and working at a hotel and art gallery in Brighton, UK. It located on the southern tip of England, right next to a pebble beach and an ocean...oh sorry i didn't mean to go on like...or maybe I did.
Anyway, Artist's Residence is a really funky, creative hotel where each room was designed and painted by a different Artist, some of whom reside locally in Brighton. It also has a gallery space and provides opportunities for local artists to display their work. Every two months they ask a new artist to take up a residency which involves performing some light duties at the hotel in exchange for free accommodation and a studio space. I was selected for June and July and have been having an incredible experience thus far.
Brighton Beach is full of the most interesting, creative people. Everyone is extremely open and creative and it's extremely inspiring. I am actually amazed at how many fascinating people I have come across. And not just friends, you can meet people in the most intriguing ways here. For example, this morning while having a tea on the beach I was asked randomly by a guy if could sit and have a chat with me. For those of you who know me, you'll know I obviously said yes, and we began having a chat about his life. He is a writer that wants to write about corporate corruption, human existence, meditation and healing. He explained it as a mix between the old and the new. It is all about looking to the past to find solution for the issues today. He also told me he came here to focus more on his creative side and get away from his job in finance. I think that is a key theme in Brighton. People come here because they are looking for a little bit more. They are looking for something to inspire them, something sans status quo. I think I may be one of those people...
Since I have arrived, I have been looking for inspiration and have been trying to make a decision about what kind of art I want to create here. Being by the ocean has made me feel so calm and relaxed and has made me think a lot about how important water is in our lives. I remember back at Carleton University I wrote a poem about human bodies being filled with water and how water is vital to our existence. Water has the ability to make us feel free and conversely trap us, cause us to drown. I decided being next to the ocean would be an amazing way to explore these ideas. The way water can lift people up, crash them down, the aspects of survival and the romantic or secret moments it can provide us with. I've decided to create a portrait series tentatively titled, "In the Water I Am..." This series will also consist of short stories and poetry to coincide with the images. The ideas may change or develop more but this is where I am at right now. Feel free to follow along as this experience evolves and changes.
Thanks for Listening,
Steph
Anyway, Artist's Residence is a really funky, creative hotel where each room was designed and painted by a different Artist, some of whom reside locally in Brighton. It also has a gallery space and provides opportunities for local artists to display their work. Every two months they ask a new artist to take up a residency which involves performing some light duties at the hotel in exchange for free accommodation and a studio space. I was selected for June and July and have been having an incredible experience thus far.
Brighton Beach is full of the most interesting, creative people. Everyone is extremely open and creative and it's extremely inspiring. I am actually amazed at how many fascinating people I have come across. And not just friends, you can meet people in the most intriguing ways here. For example, this morning while having a tea on the beach I was asked randomly by a guy if could sit and have a chat with me. For those of you who know me, you'll know I obviously said yes, and we began having a chat about his life. He is a writer that wants to write about corporate corruption, human existence, meditation and healing. He explained it as a mix between the old and the new. It is all about looking to the past to find solution for the issues today. He also told me he came here to focus more on his creative side and get away from his job in finance. I think that is a key theme in Brighton. People come here because they are looking for a little bit more. They are looking for something to inspire them, something sans status quo. I think I may be one of those people...
Since I have arrived, I have been looking for inspiration and have been trying to make a decision about what kind of art I want to create here. Being by the ocean has made me feel so calm and relaxed and has made me think a lot about how important water is in our lives. I remember back at Carleton University I wrote a poem about human bodies being filled with water and how water is vital to our existence. Water has the ability to make us feel free and conversely trap us, cause us to drown. I decided being next to the ocean would be an amazing way to explore these ideas. The way water can lift people up, crash them down, the aspects of survival and the romantic or secret moments it can provide us with. I've decided to create a portrait series tentatively titled, "In the Water I Am..." This series will also consist of short stories and poetry to coincide with the images. The ideas may change or develop more but this is where I am at right now. Feel free to follow along as this experience evolves and changes.
Thanks for Listening,
Steph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)