I’m listening to new Metallica as I write this. “You’ve reached the end of the LINE.” Yeah baby. I take another sip of my Bacardi and DC as my new anthem begins: “Broken, Beaten & Scarred”.
“What don’t kill ya, make ya more strong!”
God damn meaningful for me, but I digress. I knew this beautiful, sunny day was going to be FULL and challenging. My ladies in waiting, the Renegade Rollergirls of Oregon, had committed to a day of frenzied shooting. That meant I had committed myself to a day of frenzied shooting and more. I love these girls – I really do. In a podunk town like Bend, where the hell else could I possibly hook up with such an amazing group of energetic and unapologetically unreserved women? But with such a grand vision for the day, I knew I was in for a day of creative challenge.
Absolute props to my very good friends and colleagues from Pinnacle Media, Inc. Matt and Jo Ann are the BOMB! I don’t think I’ve ever met two more community and civic minded people. And they have been good to me, letting me use their sweet studio space since they first took up occupancy. If they could have seen the studio today – it was absolutely crowded with makeup and hair stylists, wardrobe, costume and props, Tim and the gang, observers and helpers – and ME!
The theme for this season has been set and it’s a damn good one – props again to Tim at THEM! We focused on a carnival or sideshow feel to our settings and the first six hours or so were dedicated to individual shots for player cards and uses undetermined. Every girl was encouraged to figure out her own persona and inhabit that persona accordingly.
I was already in love with the gritty feel of the sample images we had accumulated to illustrate the overall desired look, so I designed my lighting to accomplish that goal. I shelved my strobes and opted for continuous lighting via a small softbox and reflecting panels. Here is a small sample of the day’s efforts.
DROPKICK KATE
I KNOW DK will be the LAST person on earth to admit in any way, shape or form that she is at all “sexy”, but I absolutely loved the look she brought to the shoot. I really went for a washed out finish to this image.
SALLY SCUMFUCK
With a name like Sally Scumfuck, you’re not going to get roses and fuzzy bunnies. You WILL get a woman who knows her way around a truck stop and can chug a forty as good as any hick… Sally has some of the most beautiful eyes I have ever shot. She is absolutely captivating.
JOHNNY TSUNAMI
There are times when I’m reviewing images when I just have to stop and go “NO F’N WAY!”. This was one of those times. JT looks SO amazing in this shot it just amazes me. She should be wearing the goddamn batsuit she looks so bad-ass. Jhonny Tsunami IS the next superhero…
RUBY ROX
Ruby is a damned rock star. She belongs on stage, lights flashing and crowd roaring. We suggested she might be a marionette with her strings cut and SHE WENT FOR IT! She gives me chills… and Ruby – the boobs DO look really good!
MALICE MINX
Arguably the strongest personality in the league, Malice is hard to peg. But she NAILED this twisted “Malice in Murderland” shot. So the bunny had to die – it was worth it for this SWEET and bloody shot!!!
RAINBOW RAGE
This girl belongs on a runway or a glam mag. She can’t take a bad picture – I would know since I’ve tried and tried to take a bad one. Rainbow is flat out gorgeous and she shows it every time she gets in front of the lens. Sorry for the broken lollipops!
GREAT TIMES!! And more to come. I go out with “The Judas Kiss” and another sip of the B&DC… a long day but a damn good one.
2 Comments
Wow Lance! Amazing Blog and it was an amazing shoot too. Thanks Tim at THEM! Pinacle Media, Melanie and Kelly from MAC, Brettney for doing our hair and of course Lance Hardy! This shoot was the funnest by far and I can’t wait for everyone on the league to get their trading cards done. I think everyone’s personalities came through very successfully.
AWESOME!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!! This day rocked! Im So glad we got to use that Studio! Thanks everyone for all your time and thoughts and work that went towards this shoot! It was so much fun. I love the Renegade Rollergirls and all who support us! THANK YOU THANK YOU!