Why So Serious? – Coy Jandreau

Tags

Coy Jandreau, Editorial Photography, Halloween, Heath Ledger, The Joker

Happy Halloween, ladies and gentlemen. This is the first of the Halloween shots I plan to take over the weekend. This was taken weeks ago, but I held it back for this occasion.

Coy and I had been planning this shoot for almost a year or more. Strange that it finally went down at the exact right time of the year to celebrate the day of the dead. Does Coy not look almost TOO much like the real Joker? Uncanny, right?

These pictures came out exactly as I had hoped. I loved them with all my being. They’re darkly humorous and spot on accurate to the Joker. Coy isn’t like other Jokers, Coy doesn’t feck around. That costume is made-to-order perfect. Made my day to work with a character that was so completely realized, and yes, over the top.

I am a huge fan of Heath Ledger, I won’t lie. I loved Heath Ledger from the first day the show Roar was on television. On the day he died and the week or two following, I did in fact shed tears. His daughter was right around the same age as mine, he was an Aries, yadda yadda. We Aries’ stick together, damn it. I didn’t want to bang him, didn’t want to mother his children, I just loved him, respected him, and rooted for him. The fact that he didn’t get to win an Oscar while he was alive hurts to consider, but god he set that bar high before he went.

Heath Ledger showed the world that just because you’re doing something some would call frivolous, it doesn’t mean you take it lightly. Heath Ledger brought a respect to the comic film franchise world that no actor before him had ever had the cajones to do. Sure, everybody brings their A-game when they’re in a Scorcese film, but the truly gifted bring their A-game to a Taco Bell during lunch hour. That’s a true master of his craft.

I miss Heath. Always will.

Coy reminds me of Heath in that way as well. This was a shoot with his goofball friend and photographer, Caitlin Carrigan, known for her off-color jokes and jackassery, but did he bring a perfect replica of the Joker costume and practise doing his makeup for a week in order to get it just right. Damn straight he did. Coy Jandreau brings his A-game to Taco Bell, motherfucker!

He also brings knives, guns, skateboards, awesome hair, and his entourage. I love his entourage.

He owes me a house.

A beach house, now that I think on it. I’m putting my order in now. Beach house, in Ireland. Hells yeah! I’ll buy myself my mansion and my flat in London, but he can be responsible for the Ireland house, I think. It seems only fair.

This picture was posted on my Deviant Art site and the response was that people couldn’t tell the difference between Coy and Heath. I thought that was a fantastic compliment to Coy, given his equal respect and affection for the Heathster.

This picture IS Gotham for me. I love it. The wind behaved, which Coy knows was a freakin miracle. To get that coat to flare the way it did in this shot took several attempts at chiding mother nature with slanderous attacks, bribes, and finally flattery. She responded, but only when she damn well pleased. Finally, she and I pleased…at the same time.

This picture, though I seem to be the only one who feels this way, is my favorite all around piece of art. It isn’t a closeup portrait so it doesn’t rely on the makeup and character. It captures more than that. I felt this one was a good combination of character, setting, AND BACKSTORY, which is the thing all the other pictures aren’t quite producing. They may be character shots and superb ones, but this one captures the world of the Joker, in my eyes. Not sure why I feel that way. I do LOVE the church shot at the top of this blog (that one is my favorite in all honesty), but this one is the one I feel could be a movie poster. Or a tourist pamphlet for what to AVOID in Gotham.

What can I say? I’m weird.

Anyway, as of today, I am purchasing a studio lighting plot for the home studio and am going to start bringing my shoots indoors off and on, so from here a whole new world is about to open up. To close out my season of editorial outdoor shots, I’d say this was a grand one to finish with.

Kudos Coy. Tom Cruise follows HIM on Twitter. That’s right. I said it.

These Sheeps Don’t Lie

Tags

Art, Davis Farmland, Photography, Sheep, Travel

When your ten gallon hat is feeling five gallons flat, I hanker for a hunka cheese.

I’m so hungry, I could eat a wagon wheel!

This place is quite possibly awesome. Save for the fact that the hay ride leaves about five minutes early everytime, resulting in the people who actually plan their day by the times posted to be shit out of luck. (I am one of those people)

This place is a petting zoo gone hog wild. Every animal known to farming man is here and most of them are feedible, AND EDIBLE! I took pictures of the wee ones riding ponies and harrassing baby goats, or more aplty, being harrassed by goats. It was an epic win.

At one point, the two Aquarian twins I brought to keep my daughter company were both assaulted by no less than three goats a piece, whilst sitting in picnic chairs. The goats just hopped up int he chairs on top fo them, bleeting agressively toward their feed cups. I laughed my freakin ass off.

This was the sky over the facepainting hut. Yes, it is the sky, but I cannot be picked on for this because I haven’t been posting pictures of the sky in a while, so feck off! It was beautiful. And there are more.

Eat it!

The facepainting hut was literally just a sign that the petting zoo gods hate me. It’s a few kid sized chairs in a mirror lined vestibule with a countertop covered in face painting crayons and the kids get to just run in here and start smearing to their hearts content. My daughter attempted to make her entire face blue…after about ten minutes of this endeavor, I lost my patience and we moved on.

I hate facepainting hut with a vengeance.

Here’s more sky, but also geometric symmetry! I often wonder if Golden Ratio could be found in some of my more beloved shots. In fact, a friend once asked me if that applied to a photograph I had taken. I responded with a cuff up the back of the head and told him to quit being smart around me, it made me Hulk out.

Anyway, I need to go pee and I am pretty sure this post was just a tide over sort of endeavor, so in the meantime I will ramble about nothing to fill up space in order to add the last photograph.

It’s a dark and sordid web I weave, but you seem to enjoy it, so what can I do?

Oh man, I need to go potty! I think my inner workings have overtaking my brains ability to function. This isn’t the first time this has happened, and it will most likely not be the last.

I leave you with this artsy fartsy shot of a sheep’s horn. I am planning to purchase a couple of these since the cut them off the sheep every year to keep the sheep’s horns from completely obscuring their view of the world. I want to make a crazy warlike helmet for an Aries photograph. Don’t judge me, I never claimed to be normal.

Not once.

Modeling – Carly Jo Geer

Tags

Art, Carly Jo Geer, Carrigan Arts Photography, editorial modeling, Editorial Photography, Photography

This woman is a one man…a one woman force of funny. And a bad influence.

Valley of the Dead Dolls!

Carly here, came so unbelievably prepared I wanted to give her a Girl Scout patch. She had outfits galore, shoes and doohickies, makeup and whizbangs; it was epic. If we’d had more time, I would have probably made her change seven or more times, but since we had a time crunch, we stuck with the goodies.

This is her Dead doll costume for Halloween. (This whole shoot turned into a Halloween shoot, to be honest, but I digress.) This is the kind of doll that gave me nightmares as a child. Chucky was once my mortal enemy. Not so much for the knives and the crazy faces he made, but for the voice coming from what should‘ve been an inanimate object. Objects with voices when they should stand silent frighten me thoroughly. As do those frozen statue people in Paris and Epcot Center. They look like statues, but when you get close, they move. Usually I can spot them from space, but every once in a blue moon I catch one out of the corner of my eye, moving when they shouldn’t and my wits revolt. Creeeeeepy.

Anyway, this is my attempt to reclaim that part of my psyche and say, “To hell with you, scary dolls. I ain’t afraid!”

This is the infamous “demonic smirk from above” shot that Carly and I are so well known for. Ok, maybe not so well known for, yet. Someday it will be patented, and every bastard on land or sea trying to smirk into a camera above him will be paying US royalties.

Dream big, ladies and gentlemen.

I loved that bow. I turned this picture black and white and immediately missed the bow. So I resurrected it with some spiffy Photoshop moves. Now, it is perfecto! In my opinion anyway. Your opinion doesn’t matter! It’s all about me! And the pictures! And Carly Jo Geer, my friends.

Her cleavage is immaculate.

So is her makeup, now that I think on it.

(This was everyone’s favorite, apparently. Don’t know why I share that fact, but I do.)

Now, whenever someone tells me something is their favorite, it makes me cringe, because they 90% of the time, don’t follow up with why. I need the why! I need the what, when, where, who with, how much, how long, where’s the beef, and why! When I don’t get it, I just frown.

Well, no. I’m not a big frowner in this day and age. I’m too positive for frowning. That’s for old angry ladies and Republicans.

I do like this picture too, though. I CAN tell you why though. She looks like a perfect, prim and proper bombshell from a bygone era, on some gritty staircase in an alley. I love that we went from dead doll to sweet peach in less than two smears of lip gloss. Huzzah!

Carly is magical. And…AND… she’s thinking of humping something.

That was when I lost my mind. She started doing a sexy Cabaret dance, making faces, and then spotted a pole, walked over to it, saying, “Oooh, what’s this? A pole? I’m gonna hump it!” She then proceeded to start girating in its direction. I’m sitting there trying to take Coy’s picture with a knife in his teeth and I could NOT stop laughing. It was terrible. My hands were shaking, my eyes were watering, she was still dancing in the alley and smiling at the innocent people walking by on the nearby street.

I love it when a subject can make me laugh. Without that, my shoots would be meaningless.

Proof That I Can Multitask

Tags

Art, Carrigan Arts Photography, Locations, Marblehead Massachusetts, Nature, Photography, Salem Massachusetts, Travel

Well, I’ve been overrun with a constant, undeniable urge to shoot Editorial Projects, having pictures of people on this here blog far more than my usual love, Travel and Landscape Photography. But be not disheartened, for the urge still burns in my veins like a rampant case of Herpes in a two dollar hooker.

Dawn breaks on Marblehead.

This is Marblehead, Massachusetts. Gina and I accidentally stumbled upon this epic expanse of quaintness. Marblehead is one of the most quintessential seaside villages I have ever encountered (and I hail from East Bum Maine). The shops were all privately owned along the one way streets that all ended at the sea or another one way street that left you trapped with a view much like this.

This town lies to you.

There is no passing through Marblehead. There is getting trapped in Marblehead, there is turning around in Marblehead, and there is careening into the sea at Marblehead. Passing through is a misnomer.

I would love to take a walk through these streets, leaving my car in some god forsaken parking space behind some knick knack shop, walk down to the water and eat at The Barnacle, buy a lamp, then be on my way. I fear Marblehead wouldn’t give me up afterward though, unless at night, the locals grab their torches and pitchforks and drive the outsiders out of town. I wouldn’t be surprised.

And suddenly, I have an idea for a short story. Interesting…

This was the late evening when Gina and I were simply hell bent on NOT being in Salem. Salem, any weekend during October, turns into a mecca of goofballs and jackasses in costumes and converse, roaming the streets in capes. The other half of the bystanders are tourists who stand fixated on some abomination of a goth tour guide who leads them about town talking ghosts and death in a top hat and eyeliner. No thank you. I could scare people far worse in a pantsuit. That’s true story telling.

Anyway, “Dawn Breaks at Marblehead” is a turn of phrase only known in New England from what I gather, and it is said when someone is slow on the uptake. When you try explaining something to someone and they don’t get it when everyone else does, so you have to take a moment to get particular with your explanation, when they finally get it is when the phrase drops.

“Oh, I get it!”

“And dawn breaks on Marblehead.”

I said it to one of my favorite people on the planet once and he was lost like a dolphin in the desert. He’s from Virginia though, so who can blame him, really?

This was the thing that drew me from my car as the locals eyeballed me with derision. I’d managed to meander down a street to what was apparently a raging dead end by the gorgeous harbor, and though they watched as I pulled my immaculate 2 point turn, I stopped in the dead center of the low traffic road, hopped out with camera in hand and took these pictures in a couple of seconds while the road was clear.

It felt unbelievably satisfying.

I was surprised by how much these few shots raised my spirits. Not that I need my spirits raised, by any means. I practically create my own sunshine most days, but having left the scenic world to capture itself for a few weeks while I was busy taking shots of evening gown clas women by dumpsters, I realized this holds a place in my heart, too. I realized at that moment, that I couldn’t choose just one. Sure, I’m happy to make millions of dollars from my work in one field, but in that endeavor I would never give up its counterpart.

For every gorgeous woman I take pictures of in an alley, I need a harbor or a landmark, trellises and foliage.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, as they say.

Modeling – The Gun Show (Coy Jandreau & Amy Carroll)

Tags

Amy Carroll, Art, Carrigan Arts Photography, Coy Jandreau, Editorial Photography, Modeling, Photography

I’m a little behind here, I won’t lie. I had another shoot with Coy more recently to post and feel I should give Amy and Coy their own, but for now I will start here with the duo shots and express myself thoroughly.

Here we have the pair, and a gun. Yes, a gun. I lost my freakin mind when he showed up with a gun. Now, mind you, it is not, in fact, a kill with malice and derision gun, it is an ‘annoy-people-with-pellets-in-the-ass’ gun. Doesn’t matter, it looks effing spectacular. I started jumping around and screaming when he told me he had it. He said he expected just such a response.

Well, of course I would respond like that! I love shooting! Sure, I usually do it with a camera, but the one time I encountered an air rifle, I had impeccable aim! That milk jug didn’t know what hit him!

Anyway, this is Amy and Coy. I like to think of this as the James Bond shot. He is certain that in just a moment he will disarm and most likely seduce the woman. She becomes a Bond girl as a result, and as the stereotype goes, probably gets iced halfway through the film. Sad state of Bond girls. That tendency should be destroyed.

THIS shot makes my freakin teeth sweat. Swear to god! I love this picture.

The pride I feel from this shot is palpable, and you can mock me if you need, it makes me feel good. Looks like a movie still.

The funny thing about this shot, they’d never met each other before this shoot, yet in this shot you can see that their cheekbones, clearly, belong together. Coy Jandreau has one of the most insane jaws I have ever encountered. I’m just saying. And Amy…well…Amy’s sex-on-legs.

I am planning another shoot with the dear Miss Carroll, in which she is a heartless tamer of the king of the wild. I shant give too much away. I know how much you like to steal my ideas, ether. Don’t think I’m not onto you.

I have a need to shoot pictures of Amy Carrol as Anne Boleyn as well. I feel she is one of the only ladies I know who has the badass feminine grace and wiles to pull off the creature without turning her into a charicature. I am going to make the B necklace and most likely have to sew the dress as well, but it will be worth it when the shots come out. Of course, I haven’t told Amy about this, but I know she will agree.

I love this shot. It’s goofy and epic and a little unnerving, but at the same time, a rad concept. James Bond Junior, or the future state of espionage.

Who knows? It looks cool.

I once tried riding a skateboard. Sadly, the genius at the helm of my skateboarding lesson deciding to cut me loose on a steep incline, sending me flying into a garage door, face first. The metallic echo of its panels roused her father from within the house. He eyeballed me with that stern, “What are you? A moron?” look of his, and went on his merry, carborator grease stained way. I never stood on another skateboard.

Honestly, taking this picture is the closest I have been to one since. I know when I’m licked, my friends, and skateboard has my fucking number.

And here we have Amy.

Amy, in my opinion, should always be armed. Something about a gun just completes the right outfit in a way a scarf or a pair of dangly earrings just won’t cut. I’m a pretty big fan of the wrist band too. No lie.

And that wristband, oddly, reminded me that it is King Richard’s Faire season. I wonder if I will go this year. Probably not. If I have no plans to by now, it probably ain’t going to happen. For christ’s sake people, I’m taking six classes!

Damn it, Jim. I’m a Doctor, not a grandfather clock!

I wonder what causes that green stain on the cement of this alley. Is it algea? Is it the piss of a leprechaun? We shall never know, unless of course, I get all wacky and environmentally scientific and head down there with a litmus paper and some beakers. Ain’t gonna happen, friends.

I’m a doctor, not a Physicist!

Modeling – A Threesome is a Dish Best Served Cold

Tags

Art, Carrigan Arts Photography, Darvin Hernandez, Editorial Photography, Joan-Seda Bejaniance, Kelly Purpura, Modeling, Photography

Hot money, I’m wasting no time here!

Here we have innocent Kelly, prim and proper in all her daintiness. But what is this? Who is this and what are they whispering to her, I wonder.

“I like pie,” is what I would like to imagine.

This picture is obviously doctored in order to get the dress in color, alone. I never really know where I am going with the shots, when I take them or thereafter. Still, I usually know when I see it, and when I futzed around with this one, the color play seemed to enhance the shot for me, so I went with it.

If you don’t like it, well tough! I’m in control here, minions!

Here we have Darvin in his most convincing ‘drool’ pose, ever. This was one of those shots I was pretty proud of afterward because of how much had to be fabricated on the spot. Poor Joan didn’t know what to bring to the shoot, so as we were standing in the alley I suddenly demanded she put on one of Darvin’s shirts, then demanded she open it, then demanded HE hold it, then demanded she play with her hair. It’s all a big clusterfuck when you read it all, but it turned out happy! At least for me.

Darvin is SUCH a magician. He’s so sneaky, too. I’ll be shooting someone else and without saying a word, he will just find this perfect pose, get in position, then pretend he’s relaxing so as soon as I turn around I’m screaming, “Fuck you, don’t move!” He thinks I don’t know, but I am SO onto him.

So onto him! I’d work with him in a bat cave with spelunker gear. The kid gets the job DONE!

And here we have Joan who proves that the woman can seal the deal in a burlap sack, if she had to.

Here is another one of those, “hmmm…I don’t know what to have you wear, so…how bout nothing? Yeah, that sounds good.”

And she said ok! I will give her endless props for her flexibility and willingness to step outside her comfort zone. That’s not the easiest thing for most people.

Unless you’re KELLY!

This woman (as you may know by now) is the example by which all my future clients should model themselves! She brought no less than four gowns! She threatened to climb fire escapes, climb on dumpsters, eat dead pigeon. Ok, maybe not that last one, but I didn’t ask, so WHO KNOWS!?

I literally had to say, “No, I fear for your safety, get down off that bonfire before your dress catches fire.”

Ok, no…but the ‘fear for your safety’ part is true.

I’m not sure if she liked this one, but it is beautiful so I’m going to pretend I don’t care. Mwahahahaha!

This came out exactly as I wanted, due greatly to Darvin’s intensity (which was inspired by his tendency to think about having sex when I shoot him. What that says about my shoots, I don’t know, but it works the hell out, so I’m psyched!)

And yes, that blue tie is magnificent. Truly spectacular. Dapper and sophisticated. Makes the grip she has on it all the more naughty, in my book.

“Yeah, pie. It’s my favorite.”

That’s what she’s saying. I could tell you were wondering so I thought I would share. WOW….random thought.

Speed of Sound by Coldplay is a fantastic song. It just came on while I was writing this and I just want to run into the wilderness of some distant land where I speak not a word of the language, armed only with my sense of homeward direction and my camera.

This will be my fate. Pictures of the Great Wall, of the Taj Mahal, of the Great Migrations of Africa, of Bunghole Liquors in Salem, Massachusetts. Oh, wait. Already got a couple of those. Damn.

Anyway, here’s another shot. The mancakes himself, yet again fierce as hell. He is currently…

Damn this song is good. Sorry, sorry. I digress.

…yes, Darvin is doing what I like to call the Dumpster Hump in this picture. He is hanging from it, his legs stradling the corner…oh my god.

My labrador retriever just, literally, took a dump RIGHT NEXT TO ME!

Looks as though we’re going to have to cut this post short as I am in fact on my way to find the paper towels AND my dignity.

This is my life.

Modeling – Kelly Purpura

Tags

Art, Editorial Photography, Glamorous Trash, Kelly Purpura, Modeling, Modeling Photography, Photography

I’ve got a problem. I should be asleep. My brain is screaming for my bed, or at least a nice hot relaxing shower, and instead, I’m doing this. Can you tell I am proud of these shots? Indeed.

I was going to focus this blog on the whole shoot, but I realize I have way too many good pictures of my favorite guinea pig to settle her into a group shoot. She’s too good for that. So despite the presence of Darvin and Joan-Seda during this threesome, I hereby hoist Kelly on high and sing her praises, alone! (The groups shots will come later, you pushy people)

Before I lose my focus, is this woman not stunning? I love this motherfucking picture with a vengeance.

Now, Kelly has been mentioned here before, having been with me since day one, and god damn this woman knows how to make me look good! I began shooting pictures of Kelly before I had ANY clue what I was doing. I knew how to point, click, and sigh because every single picture I took was a trial and error science experiment. As I was floundering with PhotoShop for Dummies books, Kelly would see the pictures and fawn over my glorious success. I look back at those pictures now, knowing what I know and think, Kelly is a saint. I see every little flaw, every process I missed, and I grumble at my former self. Yet, Kelly loved them, so I kept trying, kept striving. Takes a lot of patience to ride along with a goofball like me.

When we first started out, this photograph would have been impossible for me to create. Yes, I said ‘we.’ I owe her my soul, as far as I am concerned.

This picture is so effing badass I want to stab a flag pole in someone and claim them for France. I went over to the staircase, stood like a loon saying, “Give me one of these, maybe?” (Yes, I said maybe. As I’ve mentioned, I never know WHAT I want until I catch it) She took my loony stance and made it fecking badass! Badass!!!

And that dress cost SIX DOLLARS!

She’s wig savvy AND a bargain hunter.

I will not deny that Darvin rocks this shot as well, but I thought I would post it for Kelly’s sex kitten side to be truly celebrated before we go onto her crowning glory, as far as I am concerned.

Kelly brought her friend Sheena to this shoot. Sheena is a hair ‘enhancer.’ She also brought wigs, evening gowns, makeup, and the spirit of collaboration, AND she relaxed her chin. It was magical.

I have become addicted to this alley and will admit, a few schmucks have made fun of me for it, but then they ask to have their picture taken so they can suck on my balls, ladies and gentlemen! Yes, I will take your picture, if you pay, or become my friend and then ask me in the same spirit of collaboration (patent pending, thank you) in some convoluted plan to get me to take your picture.

Still, if you do that…I have pictures of you and in some cultures, that means I own your soul. So far I haven’t used that power for evil. Don’t make me consider it.

This is Kelly’s money shot, as far as I am concerned. This is where she shined like Venus in a barren sky. After this shoot, I have realized that Kelly truly opens up when given a character. The cookie cutter glam shots are all well and good, but if that is all I do, I’ll end up on a rooftop with an AK-47 and no one wants that.

I have so many shots from this short stint that I don’t know what to do with them. I thought about spending this evening working on more, but instead, I burn the last of my brain juice on this before that aforementioned warm shower…god, I can’t wait.

Anyway, Kelly is a golden goddess. The hair, makeup, dress, precision of her facial expression, it’s all her. I’m practically replaceable in this shot. If someone could have gotten a bad shot of Kelly at this moment, I would like to meet them…with the business end of my fist.

I gave this woman the direction of, “You like to start fires and that gun is your Squishy and you will call him Squishy and he will be yours.” And she delivered it with perfection.

And she didn’t judge me.

I love her for that.

In the end, I’ve come to learn just how much trust a person gives to a photographer when they stand before their lens. The subject prays for something they will like, let alone love and then in many cases is disappointed. The moment someone shows that kind of trust is when I go all gooey. This woman trusted me. From the very first day, without any reason to, she trusted me.

I strive to and hope I meet her expectations.

Ruined for Other Models – Thomas Orion Farrell

Tags

Art, Carrigan Arts Photography, editorial modeling, Modeling, Photography, Thomas Orion Farrell

This post is to commemorate the greatest result to any photo shoot I have ever tasted. At least for me, as an artist. I walked away from this experience with more pictures than I know what to do with and a blood chilling certainty that Thomas would have a line of ladies outside his door by dawn.

This man somehow managed to be the ultimate antithesis of a male model. He’s manly and fiercely prepared to kill at a moments notice. When he arrived for our shoot, he brought props, he knew of locations, he had ideas, AND he went ahead and got glass in one of his bare feet, all in the name of my whackadoo art habit.

The ladies keep sippin on his sparkling wines.

Damn I love these pictures. And this one isn’t even my favorite!

While we were out, Thomas and I created the future local staple; Less Than Accurate Tours of Lowell and Salem (and any other town we happen to be in at the time). As a result of this business venture, Tom and I shed blood, hopped on one foot, then spit on the very spot where Spielberg was reborn as a Jehovah’s Witness.

These pills, a statement of addiction and all this other dark jargon, were the highlight of my shoot. Amongst these bad larries we had Bayer Low Dose and Antihistimine, but the star of the afternoon was the Stool Softener. Not only was the Stool Softener dropping one liners the WHOLE time, we all left this shoot with immaculate colon health and regularity. Thank you Stool Softener.

God, his eyes carry darkness like he’s the charming son of the devil or something. Wait, would that mean…the Antichrist? Have I given too much away, Tom? Please don’t give me the death glare and send your devil worshipping minions after me. Damn it, I should be safe! I took pictures to get you more ass than a donkey farm!

These pictures completely overtook my Editorial Section on my website (www.CarriganArts.com), along with other recent shoots. Still, nothing compares. No offense to my other spectacular subjects, but Tom knew the perfect cocktail of laughs and goofballery, coupled with serious magic and stoic intensity.

Oh, sorry Thomas. Was that your dignity?

Dude, I made you look so fucking badass! Seriously!

This is the Hot Sex with a Knife shot. No, but seriously, this picture draws attention to all the dark issues I need to work out. I think this is the sexiest photograph of Tom Farrell ever. Seriously.

I’m proud to be able to say that I took THE sexiest picture of Tom Farrell. I like to think I will maintain that status for a while.

I should wait til warmer weather and take wet t-shirt pictures of him all drippy. He’d get more tail than Sinatra, for Crisesakes!

I’m just looking out for you, Tom. Just looking out for you.

Now that I have said that out loud…I need to take water pictures of Tom. I can just see the hyper focus on the droplets clinging to that manly chin. It looks amazing in my head. Yes, it will get you ass, but it will make ME look fecking spectacular. And THAT is all that really matters in the end, friends. I tell ya true.

I know, this isn’t Thomas’ handsome face, but this is one of the many reasons why I loved this shoot. I was able to capture so many images without ever really knowing what I was going for when I went in there. It was just inspiration after inspiration.

I’ll always love a man who brings his own props.

In the end, the greatest thing was hearing Tom respond to the pictures. His opinion mattered more than anyone else’s and it was high. When I walked away, I knew I was happy, but I always want the person in the picture to be just as, if not more happy than even I. I know what I can make happen visually, sometimes a person doesn’t know what they offer in that department until they see the shots.

Anyway, I was satisfied. Truly and completely satisfied. And to prove that, I am currently writing this bologni when I should be working on homework. I’m being silly.

Good night.

And good luck.

Shit! Where did he come from?

Fucking SpiderTom. Always jumping into the mix when you least expect him.

Go scale some wall with your badass arm knife contraption and leave me be! Seriously, I should be reading Shakespeare and studying Old English translations of the Prodigal Son passage from the bible. You’re a bastard for launching yourself in here at this juncture. Be gone!

I’m trying to go be an overachiever.

Man, look at the eyes in that shot. Could kill a man with that thousand yard stare.

He knows how you will die, ladies and gentlemen.

Thomas knows how we all die.

Modeling – Joan-Seda Bejaniance

Tags

Art, Carrigan Arts Photography, editorial modeling, Editorial Photography, Joan-Seda Bejaniance, Modeling, Photography

I am unsure whether or not she saw me coming when she was putting her evening gown on, but apparently telling someone they’re a graffiti demon when trying to take their picture ISN’T normal. Who knew?

This is Joan-Seda. She is Armenian from what I have heard, hence the drop dead gorgeous manner in which she traipses through life. Now, she isn’t commonly found licking her teeth on the street as far as I know, but I am found telling random people on the street to lick their teeth. The ones who actually do it get their picture taken, so I am entirely to blame here.

Anyway, I love this picture.

It screams teeth licking alley dweller like nothing else ever has or will.

That chair sits behind the Groovy Grub a location run by one of the sweetest ladies in Christendom who has offered her eccentric basement as a location for future shoots. Despite my needing to haul serious lighting equipment down there, I have an open invitation to return. Glee!

This dress (and the earrings actually) so reminded me of Marilyn. I have always wanted to take Marilyn style photographs of someone, but I don’t know who. No one has lunged at me in my imagination screaming shoot pictures of me as a long dead suicidal starlet or else!

Still waiting on that one.

Anyway, this dress made me smile. Frilly things and I have tea twice a month at the Country Club. Yes, I suppose leapard print makes an appearance every now and then, but she’s always so busy we don’t usually expect her. She’s a rare, “woops, I accidentally flashed my underwear,” kind of event for me.

I suddenly realize I wish I owned a Cyndi Lauper dress. I will have to create this clothing article of magnanimity myself, I am sure. I promise to take pictures once it is completely. Tease my hair out, go door to door asking for candy in it.

It is a moral imperative.

This is when I inspired Joan thoroughly with the phrase, “You’re a graffiti demon!” The inspiration backfired on me though because apparently it was a funny statement. I never know what I’m doing, people. Let’s be honest.

I love this picture. I don’t care what Joan says! Love it! It’s such a juxtaposition of concepts. Drop dead gorgeous woman in front of grit and skulls, and somehow the two seem to melt into one another. There is still a wall with the word NASTY spray painted across it which I am trying to use for this Editorial series, but thus far I haven’t gotten exactly what I wanted with it, despite almost stepping in human excrement while I tried. (you think I’m kidding, don’t you?)

The dead pigeon was enough to keep me cautious, but that lump of poo was entirely unexpected. Is it really so common for a person in small town USA to pop a squat behind a dumpster? We don’t have a ravenously growing populace of Hobos in Lowell (and yes, shame that, but still) so who the hell was dropping deuces in my alley, bitches?

Come forward. Meet my wrath. Though, please remember to ‘go’ before you come.

The motivation for this shot was, “Yeah, I’m sitting in a fucking alley, what’s it to you. I look fucking fabulous.”

I think she sank her teeth into it nicely.