Author: ericscott

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

A Morning with Stephanie Anne

For the first time, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Stephanie Anne early one morning around the Mission Beach resort.  I’m so grateful to the Eco Village resort (where we stayed) for allowing us to shoot around their property.  There were so many fantastic locations just within walking distance of your bungalow: especially useful for early morning shoots like the one with Stephanie.  Attached is a cross section of some of the first images I’ve completed from our session.  One of the goals that I set for myself during the week was to purposefully and creatively apply over and under exposure.  Several here show some results that I’m very happy with.  In addition, with Stephanie’s dance background, her poses and action  gave the shots grace and accentuated the beauty of the light.  One happy accident we had was that as we played shooting on the beach, I noticed the beauty of the light filtering through the sarong that she had brought with her.  So we played with the material – creating an almost butterfly look as she danced with the light. Then we used the sarong as a tent with the light coming behind us – creating a beautiful mix of color and form.  Such a pleasure to finally create some images with the talented Stephanie whose body of work I’ve always admired.

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

OZ – Vassanta Dunk Island Wanderings

Vassanta and I hiked the full circuit of trails on Dunk Island (about 10 KM) up Mt Kataloo, down to Coconut Beach and back to the Jetty. There wasn’t much to shoot with along the hike (but did see some snakes and turkeys), except on the beach. But the view from Mt Kataloo over the Coral Sea was stunning.  But we found this really cool tree with a cross hatch growth  between the two main trunks.  Vassanta managed to climb into the tree to capture one image attached here (how does she do that??). The rest we shot on the beach.  More gritty figure work incorporating the roots of a palm tree. I haven’t done a lot of figure work…so I’m loving the results.  Also, we found these awesome boulders with some stepping stones that she posed on.  Great work by her using the rocks and I did one in color and another in BW.  I have a few more images from our trip to dunk Island that I’ll post and then I’ll be working on some other model sessions.

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

New Finished OZ Images

Here are some finished ones…three I already showed on Saturday night in Mission Beach of Joceline, Bink and Stephanie…..but some might not have seen them before.  Also some new ones from a Dunk Island beach shoot with Vassanta…I really like these becuase the high key beach look and color has kind of a  “fashion” feel to them.  Vassanta picked up a shell  and was playing with it…so I got the idea of putting it on different parts of her body creating the black and white series. I then edited it to give it a dark, contrasty look… Feel like I was channeling Vernon Trent…lol

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

In Praise of Our Models

As I look through the images figuring out which pictures to work on, I never ceased to be amazed at the models in our commmunity – Their creativity, courage, willingness to do it all for a shot and willingness to suffer bodily abuse to get it. Knees on rocks, cuts on rocks, climbing trees, rolling in mud and sand, climbing into cubby holes in trees, and, in OZ, abuse by bitey things. As I get more into my pilates and yoga practice, I appreciate the hard work it takes to pose as well.

And a special thanks to Bink who went above and beyond the call of duty continuing to shoot even though I’m sure her feet were killing her after being cut on rocks and bitten by a crab, to Joceline for being chased by a Cassowary, to Rebecca for taking an unexpected swim in the rapids, to Vassanta for enduring snakes and lizards (and I’m looking at a picture….just how did you get that high in the tree on Mt Kataloo!?)

So, here’s to the Ladies of Mission Beach. Your beauty, courage and grace under difficult situations inspire me

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

Unfortunately due to all the shooting an…

Unfortunately due to all the shooting and fun at OzFest (and lack of internet connection) I’ve not had time to post anything since arriving at Mission Beach….I plan on posting little essays about significant events, shoots, and images once I return (boo hoo) to the US…..Thanks to Zoe and Mick and Stephanie (for the entertainment) for another fantastic experience… I loved renewing old friendships and meeting new ones. This is the closet to heaven on earth…thought that last year…and it remains true. I got to experience shooting with some new models that I had not before. So to Bink, Soph, Stephanie and Claudine…thanks so much for expanding my horizons with your talent. For those I have shot with before (Rebecca, Vassanta, and Joceline), thanks for the opportunity to expand our experience together. I really feel like a took anoither creative leep being around so many talented folks. To the photographers…..WOW….i think I learned something from each of you during the week….thanks for sharing your work and talent…..more to come!!!!

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

New Zealand Beach

In my last blog, the gang (Edward Badham, Vassanta, Rebecca, Claudine and myself had just touched down in New Zealand the week prior to OzFest.  We spent a lovely week in NZ, although a WET one. We landed in Wellington, and took the ocean Interislander Ferry to Picton and eventually landed in Nelson (30 hours travel from NYC….ahhhh). But the company made the long trip fun!  We toured the South Island around Nelson for three days (as much as we could in the rain!!!).  We had a fun stay in a  B&B in Nelson that is run by a former Playboy Model from Amsterdam. She gave us some shooting locations and some places to visit that the average travel guide would not mention.  We pulled into one shooting location on Rabbit Island with lots of beach and driftwood potential with the rain still pouring down.  We said we’d wait 10 more minutes as the light was fading at the end of the day.Vassanta prayed to the rain gods to stop.  And it did….for 30 minutes. We jumped out of car, sorted out who was shooting with who and nailed it.  One result for me was the attached shot of Vassanta with the large log in the background.  I love the results with the shallow DOF.  The next day we headed back  to the North Island, with a stop in Rumati Beach where we were greeted by actual sunshine in the morning.  Attached is a sunrise shot that I like and some early morning beach shots.  Claudine is captured in a estuary leading to the ocean. I love the contrast of her with the debris around her.  Then, the brilliant color of Rebecca as the sun washes over her porcelain complexion with bright skies and offshore island in the background.  We headed next to Taupo and Auckland, but no real shooting (just fun!!!).  New Zealand was lovely and I look forward to returning when the rain is not so prevelant.    Next stop, OZ!!!!!!

Categories
ZoeFest 2009 Australia Mission Beach

The Adventure Begins……..

After months of planning, I can’t believe this is actually happening.  Five of us will first travel from all over the US to meet in San Francisco, to leap over the Pacific and spend a week in New Zealand and then on to the Great Gathering in OZ.  Members of the gang include myself, the photographer Edward Badham and three models – Vassanta, Claudine and Rebecca Lawerence.  For me, the adventure begins a week before this  when I meet Vassanta  at JFK coming back from a visit to her homeland in Russia.  I can’t believe that in two weeks time she will have traveled from Russia to NYC to New Zealand and finally to OZ…phew…jet lag city.  During the week in NYC, we shoot together on a Long Island beach, hook up with Rebecca and have a send off party with some mutual friends.  I’m so busy with trying to wrap up all the loose ends, that I don’t even pack until a few hours before leaving…..hope I don’t forget anything

When we arrive in San Francisco, it’s Claudine’s birthday. She arrives with a birthday tiara and we provide the wine for a pre-flight celebration and meet and greet. Now it’s off to New Zealand.  From the time we leave NYC until we reach our final destination in Nelson, NZ, we will have travelled  for 30 hours straight, including a 3 hour ocean ferry ride from the North to South Island in New Zealand!!!  See ya on the other side of  the world!!!