Well it seems as if it has been a month since I last posted about this series, it's not to say nothing has been happening though :)
In the past few weeks it has been a frantic panic to line up the crew involved in the number of shoots, as well as organising and making props, gowns and costumes. I have been overwhelmed with the level of support I have received from the wonderful community around me, so many people keen to work with me on this personal journey and the project that it has translated to.
Over the last few days I have had the joy of culling and choosing the image which will represent the idea I started the journey of capturing, I have to say it hasn't been an easy task. I love so many of them, I found the best way to do this is cull and then leave it, come back to it later and cull again. Some have made it down to 2 or 3 others have a long way to go :)
Today I started the post processing of one of the images, and wanted to write about the behind the scenes stuff we rarely get to show. I wanted to start with the image titled "The Journey", seems appropriate that I should start with that one.
Life is no doubt journey, a temporary pass to existence. In that journey we encounter so many battles, some turn out well others not so promising. Last night I dreamt of my dad, he rang me and we had a conversation, however I don't remember what we spoke about, all I remember is that I heard him call my name, it was his voice, so vivid, so clear..... and then I woke, for a moment I believed it actually happened, but then it hit me, it was a dream and that I would never hear his voice again. I used to have a phone message of his stored on my phone, often I would play it and cry remembering his soft voice, it was so soft I often couldn't hear what he was saying, he was always so calm and patient.
I was compelled to go visit his grave this morning, I don't know whether it was the dream or something else, I just felt that I couldn't start the day without going there first, so I did. As I drove there, I thought of how when I first talk about my dad, the very first thing I think of how he was always there for me, he protected me and always listened to my woes without judgement. This was a man who, after I took his car from the garage for a joy ride with my best friend, (when I was supposed to be at school) and smashed the front end into a rock wall, he turned to me and said " Don't worry about the car, as long as no one was hurt, don't worry about your mum I'll sort her out" and he then went on to tell Mum he smashed the car himself and wore the wraith.
Anyway, why am I writing about my dad? well I guess it's where my journey begins, I just wish he was here to see it, maybe he does from where ever he is, I would like to think so. :)
"The Journey" is an interpretation of life in it's simplest form, there are elements I have included in the image which mean something to me, as the viewer it may give you an insight to me or perhaps draw upon something else depending on your own experiences.
This image is a preview to the final selected image - I liked this one as it is clearly a fun one with my beautiful support girl Lauren. Miss Lauren has been by my side throughout this journey with this series, she also features in it as a muse.... I look forward to showing "The Feast" where she looks like the Goddess that she is to me :)
I have included some behind the scenes images to show the work that goes behind making one single image.
The dress I made for the shoot, lace over satin and tulle. The wings are a symbol of flight and freedom, white being pure and gold being precious.
Lauren doing her creative thing, love those bling eyebrows!!! and Monique wore them well :)
The headpiece I made brings it altogether, Monique looks like an angel :)
The location for the shoot - in amongst nature as humans we translate and integrate into our surroundings whether it is natural or man made - it is our landscape.
Preparing for the shot - model _ Monique Pashfield
Hair and makeup - Lauren Cataldo
A preview to "The Journey"