Team:
Myriah Wood of MCW Photography, designer Amanda Rose, hair and makeup artist Vanessa Sogan, manly assistants Colvin and Cody
Location:
Craggy Garden/ Craggy Pinnacle
A few months ago I stumbled upon a vintage parachute in our fabrics storage, which was serendipitous since MCW Photography had been dying to find a parachute for a stylized editorial. We contacted the brilliant Amanda Rose to help us incorporate the parachute into a complete look, and she created the perfect dress and collection of accessories to compliment and bring everything together.
(Photos are all behind the scene shots by Vanessa and Amanda)
Amanda fitting the chute over her dress
View from Craggy Pinnacle
Original Tag
Vanessa Sogan started on my hair the night before, putting me in small curlers in hopes to create a full mane the next day. In the morning she teased my hair as tall and wild as it would go and gilded my cheeks with gold leaf after she finished airbrushing my face.
With our partners in tow as photography assistants (and to make sure we didn't fall off the rock face), our crew drove to Craggy Mountain. While my fiance Colvin drove, I glued on huge nails I'd sculpted and painted the night before.
Vanessa getting me ready in the studio
Black and whites shot by Myriah
We hiked about half way up the mountain to a fantastic tree Myriah had previously shot in the fall with Devan Le Fay. This time it was in full bloom, giving it a different vibe. The tree clings to the rocks and edge of mountain, allowing the guys room to spread out the chute and flutter it up and down as I posed.
We then moved on to another spot Myriah had scouted--a large flat rock that juts out of the trees. The rock was sized perfectly for the chute to cover it, making it look like I was floating over the trees.
After a break for snacks and wine, we made it to the pinnacle. This was physically accomplished by me stuffing the chute into a large duffel bag and carrying it over my shoulder still pinned to my waist.
The weather was not clear that day, which was at first discouraging. But at the top we entered huge wind storms with a perfectly stormy and grey sky with rolling fog engulfing us. It ended up being more well suited and evocative than we could have hoped for. We picked a few spots along the rocky outcroppings lining the side of the mountain facing the storm, and Myriah and I got busy shooting. Cody and Colvin held down the parachute from flying off in the massive winds, and in many poses, anchored my legs down as I leaned into the storm.
Colvin laying on his stomach to stay out of the shot
It was bitterly cold and my eyes burned trying to stay open in the winds, but it's easy to push through things like that when you know the images will be more than worth it. Because only my upper body was visible, I focused on making dramatic angles with my torso and arms. And because my legs were completely hidden, I could create optical illusions in what looked like back breaking or physically impossible poses.
I had decided I was a wind witch, conjuring the storm.
We shot in bursts, then bundled up against the rock walls of the viewing platform. Multiple groups of hikers stopped to watch and cheer us on, and a nature photographer took a few shots too. He told us he's apart of a weekly nature photography group, and that everyone was going to be shocked when he shares this.
Myriah has been meticulously editing the shots and preparing them for submission. I've been able to see them and they are other wordly. I can't wait to see where they go.
Feeling witchy
Bloodlust Seesters
Tunnel vision
Very thankful to have my partner with me