Modernizing Fantasy

Imagination is the best form of creativity that I can think of. At least for the photography world. It takes skill and lots of work but when the final image comes out better than what you intended or imagined , then everything just falls into place afterwards. And even more so when that first idea you had becomes "reality" trough your camera, more ideas keep popping in your head, the worse part of it is filtering them.

A few weeks ago I did a shoot for myself. Some photographers might say "It is for my portfolio" and even tho I can use it for my portfolio, the intention was for it to be printed and hanged on the wall of my office. Also it is a little bit "great idea" and a little bit "let's see if I can pull this out" but once you do it all the other ideas that you had doesn't seem as crazy or as unattainable. But it all comes down to logistics.

The logistics of a shoot are not as simple as anyone might imagine. You need the right equipment, the right set of skills, and the perfect model. I had an idea of trying to modernize fantasy, even if it is just changing the wardrobe of the model while maintaining a "fantasy" setting. But at the same time inspiration comes in with new ideas, new visions, new images on your mind. For example I was riding my bike one day in a 104 degree weather, and maybe it was because I was dehydrated, or just hallucinating, but all I could think about was "If only my clothes were made out of water". I got home and started writing down my ideas, and started researching. Because 1) I wanted to check if someone had done it before, 2) check if a lot of people had done it before, 3) I wanted to see if it could be done without having to hire Industrial Light & Magic or Weta Workshop (which I don't have the money to hire anyways) and 4) to see if I was "imagining" something unattainable at the time. This was around 6 months ago. But now I can say that it was so much worth the wait. But a little back story before I show you guys the image.

So what have I been doing for the past 6 months? Well a lot of practice. A lot of tests, and a lot of time in the computer trying to figure out my limitations to achieve that picture that was sitting in my mind's eye. Also a lot of "model scouting". The perfect model for the shoot is what will make the shoot "real". I have been browsing Model Mayhem, and doing different "normal" shoots to see if that particular model is right for the shoot. Also I have been looking at a lot of their galleries if I couldn't set a day to do a shoot with that particular model. But planning for this coming shoot has not deterred my imagination, if anything it has made it more alive. So once I took pictures of a subject I would think "She can pull this other idea I have". 

This image was another idea I had. It was born in my head about 4 months ago. But was kind of in the back burner because, if I couldn't find a model for the "water" idea, then I wouldn't find someone for this other idea I had. And the idea came to me because another friend of mine, Bree Gerth, makes these AWESOMELY AWESOME leather masks. I saw one and I had this idea of "modernizing fantasy". Trying to give fantasy a modern flavor to it. Maybe with just the clothes or the location. I had that mask in my possession thinking I would never find someone for the idea I had. But then I did a shoot with a great friend of mine and immediately knew that she would be perfect for it. And she was. She didn't get it at first, but she rocked the session. The images turned out great but I was looking for that "perfect" image, so I could start working on it. 15 minutes after I started clicking the shutter the image came to life. But it needed a lot of love before it was as close as what I had in my head.

And it came out just as I envisioned it. A warrior princess talking with a fairy. And when I actually finished it I got the courage to tackle the one that I thought it would be a lot of work on my part. So I contacted the model to see if she wanted to do it, and she was up for it. I explained to her what i wanted and said "The end product might take a while to be done", and she was OK with that. Again after 15 minutes I already had the image that I needed. So I did a small photo shoot for the model so she could have images of the day. Just regular fashion/beauty shots, because I thought that the "water dress" would take a LONG time in the making.

But I underestimated my drive to get the image out from my mind's eye and into "reality". The day after the shoot I started working on it, laying the "ground work" on it. Editing the little details that I knew would make my life and job easier. After half an hour I had a water dress flowing. And that is when I thought to myself "This will take a lot less time than I thought". So I started working hard on the image, an hour here, 45 minutes there. Taking some breaks, of course, so I could have a life. Went bowling with some friend and the next day woke up with a "I am going to finish this image today" kind of attitude. And that is when the exact same image I had in my head came to life.



A water nymph walking away from the city. This image (and the one before it) will be part of my Modernizing Fantasy Collection, in which I try to have images of fantasy "characters" but with a modern flavor to it. In the first image is just a shirt and some jeans, in the second image she is wearing a leather jacket and leather boots. And I call it a "collection" because even before I was done with this second  image I already had ideas for two more, and I know they will keep on coming as more of my mental images come to life. Next project is called "Valkyrie" and that one will be awesome (if it comes out just as I imagine it)