Taking the Good with the Bad

I think I am getting close to catching things up now. Well, I at least have a plan to do so, which is actually to take one day at a time. When I talked about how crazy things have been in the last post I made, I touched on the two big things: my daughter's surprise marriage and then becoming ill upon my return home. In fact, I thought I was fairly well when I made that last post but honestly I've had been truly drained after that ordeal. I would guess for the next week all I wanted to do was sleep. Its been the only time in several years that I really had no interest in editing or taking photos. So if nothing else, that should give you some indication just how out of it I was. But even through those two events, I've only slightly touched on the full extent of all the challenges I've contended with so far. That said, I think I'll just leave it at that. This blog was never intended to be my venting venue.

But one intriguing element I will sort of touch on is the obligation slash guilt I felt while I was not posting. Is that common for any more of you bloggers who post regularly? In the mist of my fevers and coughing fits, I had to force myself to prioritize a little better than what I was doing. I can tell you that I found myself sitting at my computer with a blank stare with the intent of making a posting until I actually sat down in the chair. Then there were moments when I was well, or better at least, when I'd sit down...log in...stare at the screen for a bit, and then retreat to my fortress of blankets and pillows. I know for fact that I am not the only blogger with challenges, so what is it you do when you can't make a post? Are you overwhelmed with guilt? And even when there are no challenges that hinder your entries, do you still feel a profound need to fulfill and obligation to your faithful readership and subscribers?

Switch gears...how about something a little less melodramatic.

While I was in back home, I stopped by some of my old stomping grounds. I got to work with one of my former models (with a friend). I've also been able to conduct a few more shoots with relation to my workshop coming up this coming Sunday. We'll be shooting the magnificent Brittany Sutton (top photo) in the marvelous studios of Bobby Deal, owner of Vegas Vision Studios. I've been contacted recently asking about studios to shoot in. I think I've said it before: You will get a great deal and all that you need at Vegas Vision Studios. Bobby will take care of you. Just give the man a call if you are a visiting photog and wish to rent some studio time with a model. I recently shot with Brittani Brooks. Talk about fabulous! I shoot tomorrow with Melissa again. So I will have plenty to work on as I am now in the mood to get back to my edits. So stay tuned. All drama aside, you gotta take the good with the bad. Also, thanks UL for your wonderfulness!

Talk to you soon.

Curl Up and Dye and Vegas Vision Studios.

"It is a rare photographer who can take a detached, cold-blooded view of his work."

- Arthur Rothstein

"Curl Up and Dye model, Brandi wins the night"

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of being invited to attend "Hair Wars" at the Ghostbar, inside the Palms Hotel and Casino here in Las Vegas. Hair Wars is a competition of salons to present the most wild model in Vegas judging on hair, make-up, costume, and attitude. My friend Debbie is one of several Make Up Artists who did the hair and make up for their model, Brandi. She and her crew represents Curl Up and Dye Hair Salon. You gotta admit, that's a catchy name for a salon. The theme was Asian women and several models came out clad in Japanese attire with a wild gothic twist. Of course there were a couple of geishas, I was exceedingly pleased when model, Brandi took the stage for Curl Up and Dye with act where she performs suppuku with a fake tanto sword. This is the ritual Japanese suicide ritual of disembowelment and Brandi played it to the hilt, literally. With her performance, costume, and make-up design, Curl Up and Dye took the win that night to a crowd of raving mad spectators. The place was loud, to say the least. It was well worth my visit and I look forward to seeing them again.

How did I come to meet Debbie, you ask. Well, that's an interesting story too. One of my photo groups, the Las Vegas Photographic Society for which I help organize sponsored a Lighting Seminar at Vegas Vision Studios owned and operated by Bobby Deal over on West Harmon. They have agreed to become sponsors for our group and thus were able to host a seminar at his studio. Bobby hired some models, including Brandi, and Debbie who is one of his favorite Make Up Artists. Assisting in the instruction was accomplished photographer, Becky Abell. We had all levels of experience from one friend of mine who just took her camera out of the box, to seasoned pros. Needless to say, this was a very "enlightening" seminar (I couldn't resist the pun!). As of a result, I've gotten to know Bobby, his wife Gigi, Debbie, and Becky well enough that Debbie invited me to her competition at the Ghostbar (despite the $20 cover charge, she got me in for free, I might add).

We've developed a mutual admiration for our work and both Bobby and Becky have offered to help me with my studio skills. I've been in the studio before, but I mainly worked with hot lights, which I still prefer since I love low light with single light sources. I'm going to help Becky outside the studio with landscape imagery, so the next time I head out on a scouting trip, she's coming along. I am most definitely getting to involve Debbie in my own work and will promote her to other photogs needing MUAs. I'd like to do what I can to cultivate this relationship with my newest friends. This is what networking is all about, as my buddy Garrett always says. I've made such inroads since I've been here. My photography has been both enriched and blessed by the people I've met in Las Vegas. If you're going to be in Vegas for any amount of time and want to do some studio work, Vegas Vision Studios is where you need to be. The place has got everything you need with the best equipment available. Last we talked, he was planning to build a car-sized light box for one of his larger studio rooms. You'll get to meet his wife Gigi, who is one of the most charming women you'll meet. So if you need studio rental, commercial photo work for advertisement, fashion, editorial, you name it... your answer is Bobby Deal and his crew at Vegas Vision Studios. Sounds like a commercial, doesn't it.

Oh, I figured I didn't want to go two postings in a row without posting a naked body, so these are some more of Trixie from the last art nude photo workshop.