Cavewoman

GOLETA, CALIFORNIA

Self-portraits are one of my favorite things to do because they're challenging. They require thorough shot-planning, tripods, remotes, and a certain degree of discomfort (carrying all the gear, running back and forth, people walking by, etc.). I committed myself to going out to this beach cave today around sunset to get these shots, and I almost backed out a few times. But I'm glad I didn't. Luckily, I pretty much had the whole beach to myself, and the few people I did see just smiled and said, "Hi." You can get away with lots of weird things in a college town.

CaveSelf-054 CaveSelf-017 CaveSelf-042 CaveSelf-021 CaveSelf-071 CaveSelf-061 CaveSelf-063 CaveSelf-095 CaveSelf-109 DIP1 CaveSelf-204 DIP2 CaveSelf-212 CaveSelf-229 CaveSelf-186 CaveSelf-233 DIP4 CaveSelf-237 CaveSelf-184 CaveSelf-240

Alex & Mike

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Alex & Mike recently got engaged, and we had a great time wandering around the Funk Zone and beach area of Downtown Santa Barbara. They moved here from New Jersey not too long ago, and I'm glad because it meant I got to work with them! I love the industrial feel of the beginning shots, followed by the soft, romantic tones of the ending after the sun had set. Such a sweet, attractive couple. :-)

AlexMikey-011 AlexMikey-015 AlexMikey-019 AlexMikey-032 AlexMikey-035 AlexMikey-048 DIP1 AlexMikey-059 AlexMikey-062 AlexMikey-064 AlexMikey-071 AlexMikey-078 AlexMikey-083 AlexMikey-089 AlexMikey-094 AlexMikey-095 AlexMikey-096 AlexMikey-104 AlexMikey-106 AlexMikey-109 AlexMikey-121 AlexMikey-125 AlexMikey-130 DIP2 AlexMikey-136 AlexMikey-138 AlexMikey-143 AlexMikey-145 AlexMikey-151 AlexMikey-153 AlexMikey-158 AlexMikey-164AlexMikey-159

Milkbath

Well, this afternoon I was struck with another photo idea, based off of some other milk bath portraits I had seen. I asked Padraic to help me with it, and of course he said yes - even volunteering himself to be the recipient of the milk bath portrait. But instead I wanted him to assist me with some self-portraits, which you could technically just call portraits now, since I wasn't the one pressing the trigger. (I didn't think that attempting to suspend my camera over a tub of warm milk and pressing a remote trigger was a very good idea.)

So off to the store we went for a box of powdered milk and some cornstarch (one recipe advised the use of cornstarch for increased opacity...but it didn't end up contributing much). I filled the tub with as little water as possible - after all, we are in a drought - and figure I've made it up by not showering for the past 3 days (TMI?).

Though there was nothing inherently provocative about this shoot, I guess the whole in-the-bathtub-not-wearing-too-many-clothes thing may give that impression. Just to clarify, as you'll see in some of the shots, we were each adequately covered. Next time, I think it would actually be cool to wear MORE clothes. Think about it: clad in a floral button-up with pearl earrings & swimming in milk. I might just have to do that.

MilkBath-007 MilkBath-002 MilkBath-003 MilkBath-004 MilkBath-005 MilkBath-006 MilkBath-008 MilkBath-009 MilkBath-010 MilkBath-011 MilkBath-012 MilkBath-015 MilkBath-013 MilkBath-001 MilkBath-014 MilkBath-016