"Bottles and Taps" by WExX
Wow. Its been a very long time since I have posted anything. I had become rather complacent for a bit. Nothing seemed to spark my interests. I haven't really impressed myself with any shots. I haven't felt the need to explore.
Tonight, I decided to explore in downtown Kansas City. And, believe it or not, I found something I wanted to have a picture of because I thought it was cool.
Its a bar, just a bar. So unimportant that I didn't even write down the name of it. But, oh those neon signs are just so interesting. So I snapped one to share.
"M1" by WExX
"M2" by WExX
This was the fun stuff. I owed lovely Michele these portraits for a long, long time... since before she left NashVegas for Denver. As luck would have it, my last assignment lined me up with her perfectly.
We finished up the magazine shoot and decided it was time to hunt for a costume. I had this dream a long time ago that had to do with her, and a rain slicker and candy circus peanuts. And these are the shots that actually came to fruition. Don't ask about the bananas, I can't really explain those. All I know, most of my personal portaits are somehow related to fruit as of late.
The first shot is from the top of Lookout Mountain, just outside Denver. On a clear night, you can see the city lights glowing in the distance past the trees. Not the case on the night of this portrait. It was about 19-degrees and snowing. But, the weather or the herd of mule deer blocking the icy mountain road didn't stop this one. And I love it... singing into the banana like a microphone. Right on.
The next shot was all about true friendship between a few people. It was taken around the midnight hours the same night, in the elevator of my hotel. It was mirrored and wonderful. There was no way to stop the elevator without arousing the interest of hotel security, so we rode the sucker up and down for what seemed about two hours to get the shot. It was hilarious to see the faces on drunken hotel guests stepping onto an elevator with a girl in a hula-house costume and light stands and all sort of camera gear in the middle of the night. I enjoy the shot, but it wasn't how I had originally envisioned it. I think it really works well anyway.
"Gifted Hand" by WExX
After a horrible day, night finally chased the light away and things were alright. I won't even discuss the specifics of my lil' piece of Hell that I endured today. Just create an ugly story in your head, drown it in kerosene and strick a match to it. Whatever, we're past that now.
Things became better when we decided to go to Red Rocks in Golden, Colorado. Matt had never been and it had been almost three years for me since my last visit. The sun had faded and we were still hungry for adventure.
And then, we saw it... Matt's Cave. It looks natural and he really kind of blends in to it. We took it a step farther when I told Matt to hold out his hand. Little did he know, the strobe firing in the background looked like a ball of light coming from his hand. See, I find Matt a brilliant artist. He sketches and does graphic design in amazing ways that I've never seen before. That hand of his really does have light pouring out of it and not everyone gets the chance to see it. This photo was my interpretation of that.
All the while we were shooting it, we could here some kind of animal rustling through the bushes and rock ledges only yards away from us. It was kinda really creepy, but screw it, we wanted the shot.
"Wine" by WExX
Shot at a winery and vineyard today. Grassy Creek it was called. Here is a shot from the tasting room. I like it because I was able to eliminate reflections over about 95% of the photo. As you may know, its pretty hard to photograph and light multiple rounded glass objects without reflection. Rock.
"Scream" by WExX
I can't really explain this one. She had costume pieces. I wanted apples. And somewhere in the smoke-filled room, amongst strong drinks and ego-maniacs, this is what became of it.
Satisfaction, and not sure why. I like it best that way.
"Downtown" by WExX
A dual self-portrait of my brother and I in downtown Dalton, Georgia.
It was what mom wanted for her birthday today.
Happy birthday mom!
"Still Remains" by WExX
This shot, I love. I was illustrating a story about a town that is showing growth. The gentleman in the photo wrote a book about a military base in the town that was deconstructed. The only remains of the base are the two brick pillars in the photo. I thought having him in this moody setting, reading his book, was very appropriate.
I caught the sunset in the background and put some spotlights on him in the shot. It evokes strong visual imagery to me. It shows the industrial building of the community with the radio tower and power lines in the background while still showing the stillness of the remains of the base.
It works for me.
The art is now flowing through me. I have been shooting more strongly and even writing in collaboration with an anonymous artist for a book we hope to release in the future. Things are growing, changing and forming into true art. It really has been beneficial to rid my life of former negative surroundings and energy. Now, my mind has been able to truly blossom and explore my art forms.
Life is beautiful and I am ecstatic about the recent positive additions to it.
This photo is strongly inspired by a short story by Ray Bradbury titled, "There Will Come Soft Rains." If you know it, you can understand the isolation of this photo. If you are unfamiliar, please read it here:
http://www.plazaboricua.com/anil/archivo/fabulas2/cuentos/august2026.html
I don't usually promote things on my photoblog, but this story is too important to not mention. I still remember it after reading it in an 8th grade English class, and it has stuck with me. Amazing.
"Dusk Tide" by WExX
At this moment, I wish you were with us. You should feel like we do. Tonight, though seperated by hundreds of miles, Matt and I hit the same wave. Art has overcome us and we are building our community. It will become the breeding gound of thought and hope and all things holy in our minds. It will be open to many, but accept a select few. We have found self-actualization. We are hunting our own truths. Something is there, amidst the sea of blur. We will continue to look, to seek, the things that have been so graciously afforded us.
Where are you?
What do you think?
Are you alive?
We are growing. Join us.
Breathe.
I went to a local beach called Surf City this afternoon to get this shot. I mounted the D2X on a tripod and did a long timed exposure using my cable release. The water moving in the frame ended up looking like foggy glass. I like it.
I went to a local beach called Surf City this afternoon to get this shot. I mounted the D2X on a tripod and did a long timed exposure using my cable release. The water moving in the frame ended up looking like foggy glass. I like it.
"Matt's Creation" by WExX
Well, I wanted my studio to be an artistic haven... and Matt Vollman's expertise in graphic design and creativity has really sparked a new element to my working space. This is a photo mosiac that Matt designed for me. In my interpretation, he took the most important inspirational figure, Hunter S. Thompson, and designed this wonderful image.
"Buy the ticket, take the ride..." One of Hunter's greatest quotes. Its a new found philosphy that I think Matt and I have adopted in our creative partnership. It couldn't be more fitting.
You really can't fully appreciate this artistic genious until you see it in person. My ceilings are twelve-feet tall and it only lacks about 3 feet from covering the wall ceiling-to-floor. I am honestly impressed with this piece.
And, this is the portrait of Matt with his art. I think it totally fits the mood of everything, cigarette lit in tow. Matt felt a supreme sense of accomplishment when he was "allowed" to light up in the studio. He said he knew the day would come, he just knew he had to be patient.
"The Leaf" by WExX
I just wanted to write something.
I am home, got here around 1 a.m. I am glad this week is over. I am glad I am no longer in Wyoming. This week was almost too much. I have to say it was one my most horrid assignments to date... and I have had some real hum-dingers.
"Cold Angel" by WExX
So, today I had a little time to kill between appointments and I decided to explore. Strangely enough, I ended up driving into the cemetery gates in Gillette. The dark, bare tree branches were drooping from the weight of an ice encasing. The ground was dusted white, undisturbed as if no one had walked across it in some time.
I'm drawn to the dead time and time again. And tonight, I think I figured out a reason for this anomaly. That grand conclusion is this: the dead never say anything.
The dead don't make conversation or ridicule your work or act ungrateful for the things you do. The dead never lie, they only know Truth, one Truth, their Truth... they are dead, and nothing else matters to them anymore.
There is some deep-set beauty in this. Its wholesome and silent. Just Truth. No dilluted tales. No promises of tomorrow and the things it will bring. Just solemnity. The angel's blank eyes in the photograph can see this Truth. The angel passively watches over the dead and knows nothing more than total apathy.
"Flush" by WExX
Well, its late in Wyoming and I can't sleep. Tonight I found $1200 worth of temporary authorizations on my credit card from the hotel I was staying at. Let's just say that authorizations like that make my credit limit go over the max. Needless to say, I was fucking pissed about it. I jumped on the horn with this nice lady in Phoenix from the credit bureau. She conference called me in with the hotel night manager and got the charges removed. Bless her sweet heart. She didn't take any gupp from these swine. She was a mover-n-shaker and she got shit done.
After being given an expired airline voucher (and not knowing it until I was denied my flight from Denver to Gillette in the terminal) and being stuck in Denver Monday night, this was the last thing I wanted to deal with at 2 in the fucking morning. Not to mention the weather here is below freezing with snow falling down, fog filling the air, black ice on the road... and not to mention my rental car is a Chevy Malibu (nice fuckin' rental car for winter conditions in Wyoming).
On top of the total piece-of-shit weather, one of my stories I'm supposed to illustrate is about a place that isn't even built yet. Another one is on the construction of some new chain hotels in Gillette (not Bed & Breakfasts, but Holiday Inn and shit). And the cover recommendations are of scenic, exterior things that would probably look quite rad in about, oh say, 4 fucking months when spring has sprung.
Things are lookin' up!
[The sound of The Doors song, "Riders On The Storm" plays lighlty in the background]
At least I got to download the last two episodes of 24 from iTunes tonight and watch them. And, ya know, Jack Bauer is disarming tactical nuclear bombs, so my problems seem trivial right now.
This is a photo I shot at a hockey rink tonight. I thought it was bizarre. My interpretation is pretty ruff, so I won't even go there. Just think... "What does the image say to YOU?" Somehow, I don't think the Marine Corps would appreciate the strategic placement of this propaganda tool.
"Ground" by WExX
Prepping the engine-propelled, cylindrical, aero-flight, two-winged, aluminum death machine in Denver.
"SkyHigh" by WExX
First off, this photo is shit-for-quality. I snapped it with my camera phone while we were aloft. Words cannot describe the tension inside that plane. The lady next to me, with her deep red hair and plastic surgery smile, really creeped me out too.
"Rockies" by WExX
Here is a view of the Rockies that I snapped with the D2X w/ 50mm lens through the window shortly after takeoff.
"Portal" by WExX
I had to point the camera in the direction of the red-haired woman for this shot. She freaked, but I didn't care. I told her to "can it" and she pretty much did.
"4-Leaf" by WExX
It looked like a 4-Leaf clover. It was my luck charm.
"Factory Land" by WExX
Another shot from the plane I like. But, that really doesn't matter. What matters is... I made it to Gillette, Wyoming, without falling from the sky. I was one of 10 passengers on this flying tin can. Not criticizing the airline, the flight wasn't too bad (besides a few sudden drops and some insane turbulance).
Note to self: flying on tiny planes for multiple hours really blows.
"Rest" by WExX
It was a Super Party. Too bad you missed it. Should've come for the festivities.
Other than that, here is a strange little shot for you. Ever faithful Matt decided to snooze a bit after most folks left. I asked Nicola and Mikey to assume a watchful position behind him. The low light, deep shadows and high contrast made this one interesting. The general synopsis from most people queried is the scene seems like a wake. Which I think is cool.
"Mattie" by WExX
We did a lil' bit o' work in WExX Studio today. Used a ton of lights, took a chunk of time, and I think we like what we got.
Here is Matt, faithful as ever as a test subject. What a guy.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Check out the newly acquired retro couch. Found all 9 feet of her at Salvation Army. Rock.
"Hands" by WExX
This is a shot I did in the studio today. I needed some kind of art to illustrate a story about business and schools in a partnership for learning. Well, a child's hand shaking the hand of a businessman is what I came up with.
Its really more complicated of a photo than it looks to be. It took four lights to get this one like this. The background was originally black, so I put a purple gel on it and shot it at an angle to make a color gradient. I really like how the pattern worked in it. Then, I shot a light onto the back of the hands to make a slight halo effect on them. Lastly, I positioned two silver-lined umbrellas at 45-degree angles to the subject for main lights.
Anyway, I think it looks alright.
"Burn Gov't." by WExX
Went through D.C. today. Nothing worth a fuck. Changed some color temp and here is my version of the Washington Monument.
"Ghost Rider" by WExX
What? You want Evil? You got it...
My weather on this assignment has sucked. Rain, clouds, overcast, etc. I thought I would jack with the color temp in my camera and do something different.
This one was shot on tripod at 30 sec. I set my color to 16000K to turn the sky red. To bring out the statues detail in the dark and to help bring the copper horseman back to his proper color with the warm temp adjustment, I popped a flash (about 12 times) zoomed at 105mm, 1/4 power with a deep blue gel on it. The sky had a few dark clouds that were moving that made the black streaks in the sky.
This thing looks like the ghost rider breaking out of Hell. I like it. Somehow, I don't think this one will make the pages of the community magazine for C-ville.
"Ready to Ride" by WExX
I just felt like posting a recent shot and saying Happy Holidays to everyone.
This shot is actually from a farm in my hometown, Tunnel Hill, Georgia.
