Bun shoot - BTS

I feel like everyone else has blogged this beautiful fashion story so I don't need to repeat it here... but let's face it, you're dying to see the people behind-the-scenes. And the scene-behind-the-scenes. So, wait no longer!

The scene unfolds.

The scene isn't as glamorous from this angle,
but look at Joanna working so hard!

Viktoriya dangerously playing with scissors
(a feature on Bun's Chanel-inspired necklace).

Me applying a bit of hairspray.

Maybe a bit more...

Vamping Viktoriya.

The LARGE format camera with our teeny model.

Fred under the "skirt", Joanna thinking "Should I jump in....?"

We're all so pleased, great team effort!

photography - Fred Fraser
styling - Joanna Kulpa
hair/make-up/props - me
modeling - Viktoriya

La Penza

How do you create an image of someone who creates images? Lisa Penz is an artist who creates beautiful paintings of female faces with large luminous eyes, merging traditional and pop art styles with a very cool result. We set up a session to shoot Lisa with the large format camera, and Fred came up with a fun concept to hint at Lisa's trademark big-eyes look, while also creating an intriguing portrait of an artist. When the images are processed and scanned I'll post the results (or a link to Fred's blog), but for now you can have a peek at the behind-the-scenes of the second part of her session (where we shot some simpler PR portraits of Lisa).

The full scene, and Fred discussing poses with Lisa.

Fred adjusting bellows of the camera to focus. He focuses by viewing the projected image of Lisa on the ground glass back.

Having the image view upside down and backwards (camera optics) makes for an interesting challenge to compose and focus, but Fred's been shooting on this type of camera since well before he was shooting digital, so it's become second nature.

What I see when I look at the ground glass before he replaces the view back with the film back. The film back is opaque and must be removed to re-focus, so from this point until the picture is taken the model must not move!.

Fred taking a light meter reading while I snap this shot of the ground glass on the camera. I've helpfully turned it around so you can see it better. :)

Good bones?

At least I was hoping so.

I've been looking for a chaise for a long time, and what's better than a chaise? A "fainting couch". Sleek low profile, perfect for posing... or just reading on a lazy weekend.

Just the name made me want to have it! By the time we drove almost to Bunsen Lake I had pretty much decided to buy it even though when we looked closely we realized the legs would have to be replaced. And of course the pastel floral granny cover.

So here I am on a "craft" Sunday stripping the skirt off and exposing the underbelly of my fainting couch, only to realize the it really is going to be a bit of work to remove the old legs and engineer how to attach new ones (the wood is old and getting a bit brittle). I've already bought the new fabric (dull gold) and trim, but that will have to wait, we need to deal with the bones first.

Anyway, here's the work in progress, I'll post the final results when it's ready and then you ALL will be swooning over my lovely fainting couch.

Pre-visualizing the new cover and trim.

Removal of the skirt and look at that bad leg!

Beginning the unveiling.

Cool strap and coil spring construction inside.

Original legs are not worth restoring.

Courtenay from Courtenay

Ok, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm especially sorry to Courtenay who is, after all, a really nice girl... and burdened with living in the town that bears her name. Or vice versa.

Not that this has anything to do with our shoot, but a little trivia never hurt anyone. Except maybe Courtenay. Or me, if she reads this...

 

 photography by Fred Fraser

styling by the lovely Joanna Kulpa

hair/make-up by me

the model is Courtenay (of course) @ Next.ca

Commercial or caper?

These two are a laff riot. Highly recommended... not to mention the funny people not in front of the camera.

Photography, direction and music selection Fred Fraser
Styling Erin Stanley
Hair/make-up/props me
Models William and Yasmin from next.ca

Summer on a gray day

Today I was feeling the gray of the winter sky, the fog and the misting rain, and looking through images I took last summer that I somehow hadn't got around to processing.

So... I think the gray day affected my summer photos. Life's like that.

Walking through woods on a winter day

Not evening, not snowing, but just as magical and solemn and peaceful. New year's day spent traipsing around the woods with my camera and my sweetie, in and around Gibsons.

 

 

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

 

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost