Body Painting

A friend of mine, Glashta is a tattoo artist asked me to come take some photos for him. He had a job come up at the last minute painting pieces of candy on topless female models. 

I'm no a prude and I love to shoot beautiful women in swimsuits at the beach as much as the next red-blooded male, but as a photographer who takes himself way too seriously sometimes, I'm weary of the great number of "professional photographers" who use their equipment as a 'wing-man' to pick up chicks. I'm sure they love what they do, but for all the raunch they occasionally capture, there are often technical aspects of the images that are neglected. So with as much professionalism as I could muster, I whole-heartedly accepted the job documenting the process of painting lolly-pops on boobies for an event called "Hard Candy." 

The job proved to be challenging, with light-sources and locations constantly changing. The painting started at about 8pm, so at first I used the window light. The first model, Mari was probably the most fun, with ghetto-personality to spare. She was concerned about not yet having on her make-up, but after I showed her a few shots, she immediately let her guard down and had fun. I also had to promise to take some shots of her with her make-up completed. 

As the evening approached, the window provided less and less light, so I broke out the flash and used a canvas backdrop someone had left as a diffuser- which worked out nicely.

The next model was Destiny. She was quite young, but already a beauty pageant veteran and posed almost instinctively for every shot. The other girls also noticed that she was always, 'on' in every picture.

For this shot, I actually bounced the flash partially off the window, which gave some shadows from the blinds. It made it almost look as if there was still light coming through the window. In the next shot, you can see that clearly there was none.

Crystal was the next model. The club was opening soon and Glashta started to feel some pressure to rush, but kept his cool and did not sacrifice quality for speed.

The next model was Brittany. By 9pm the club was open for business and there were still models to paint. We were relocated to the women's restroom to continue painting. It was never lost on me that I was in a women's restroom with a camera, and remained focused on the job at hand as random bar patrons wandered in to use the facilities.

With lighter colored walls it was easier to bounce the flash for a softer light. The most difficult aspect was attempting to compose shots without getting showing too much of the public restroom ambiance. Although I got some shots of other models putting on their make-up and what not while Brittany was being painted, I didn't feel like they were successful.

 The girls seemed to be quite pleased with the job Glashta was doing.

Freedom was one of the last models to be painted. And as 11pm was approaching, Glashta was itching to cash in on his complimentary bar tab, they negotiated a simple painting of cherries.

 Glashta, the consummate professional.

There were other models that did not get painted, but wandered into the restroom nonetheless for a photo.

 Finally the show could begin as Mari took the stage first to dance, with her make-up.

 Destiny and Brittany dancing.

There was a raffle for the Vince Young jersey hanging on the wall. I wished they hung it elsewhere.

I really love and hate this shot. Probably hate it more only because it isn't as sharp as I'd like, but the expressions, the disturbance of the frame and the moment are all priceless.

July 4th, 2011

Most of Texas is experiencing a severe drought this summer, prohibiting private firework celebrations completely and even causing cities to cancel their displays to avoid risk of fires. These were shot on Galveston Island.

Blindside Tattoo Studio- Wing and a Prayer

In April 2011, José Santi Coló traveled from Chicago, Illinois to Austin, Texas to get a custom tattoo from Mr. Siego, owner of Blindside Tattoo Studio on S. 1st and Live Oak. Mr. Siego has been stacking up awards at every competition in which he is allowed to participate, and Coló recognizes quality work. This session, which lasted over 12-hours represents less that one half of the full vision Coló has for his tattoo. After about nine and a half hours Coló signaled he needed a break by losing consciousness. These images were taken after that point, when the tattoo was in the home-stretch. While the duration of the sessions isn't the shop record,  it certainly ranks among the longest. 

When a client has traveled long distance for a tattoo, especially one as large and elaborate as this one, it is important to balance the quality of the tattoo with the time available to work on it. An unfinished project must, at some level give the appearance of completion.

Mr. Siego re-touches existing lettering on Coló. He asks, to make sure that he wants him to thicken it with black ink, adding the warning, "once you go black, you don't go back." Black ink cannot be covered up, except of course, with more black ink. 

                                                                                                                                                              The toughest customers meet their threshold at Blindside Tattoo Studio.

Although I wouldn't categorize the attitude as callous or sadistic, but there is a very dead-pan delivery to Mr. Siego. Perhaps it comes from years of seeing clients through their most excruciating self-inflicted agony at an hourly rate.

Freshly inked skin undergoes a transformation beyond the imagery being placed upon it. Flesh takes on a resemblance of ground meat. Hard lines bring blood bubbling to the surface. 

At less than one-half of completion, Coló's nearly tattoo-free back now has an impressive addition. He plans to return in the summer months for the other side. 

Rudy's "God & Luck" Tricycle.

Frank Hunt builds low-budget lowrider bicycles out of his garage as a hobby. Often working with parts obtained at no cost or for trade, Frank's creations celebrate a rough-edged style that diverges from the mirror-polished look customary to lowrider magazines and car and bicycle shows.

Frank's latest project was submitted for an online bicycle build-off at www.ratrodbikes.com. Behind this particular project stood a nobler cause than a bragging-rights competition. Frank tells the story: "My good friend has a brother, Rudolph, that was in a car accident that took their father years ago and Rudy was left with a bum right side. Long story short, it's about time Rudy got out and rode with us. I came up on this trike for him just in time for the build off, stars aligned and all." This is the starting point: 

 

There was a lot of work to be done to make the tricycle a safe ride.
     

Others were enlisted to help with various aspects of the build. Scalloping and pin-striping were added to augment the rough and rusted look of the frame. 

A storage trunk was custom build and added to the frame. 

Finally the bike was completed and ready for a test ride.

While the bike did not win on the online competition, the more significant unveiling was to take place later as Rudolph was to be presented his new custom tricycle. The project was named 'God & Luck.'



Rudolph with his brother Karl.

On his new tricycle, "Rudolph was ear to ear smile the whole night," Frank said.

After the bicycle was presented to Rudolph, Frank said, "It was a really great feeling watching his mother cry telling me she hadn't seen him on a bike of any sort since the sccident, as he rides off into the night. If you haven't done something for someone lately just because, I suggest you do."