Hello Everyone,

What a summer it has been!  I have moved yet again due to a very unsavory and dishonest landlord at the house I rented at the Commons.  It was more major than the move from NYC (and my belongings being shipped to Massachusetts)!   BUT...everything happens for a reason as we all know and I am VERY happy in my new place.  PLUS it is literally a mere few doors away from the studio. YEA!

School is now underway and going full force now.  I have just been approved to work with the Director of Photography and the Art Department via Directed Study for the fall semester at the University.  Believe me, you cannot imagine how much this helps the project.   We have one more portrait shoot which will bring Phase I of shooting to completion.  Starting during the next week Phase II begins.  This phase will be various sites in and around Salem.  We are leaning more towards hidden gardens and some of the really mystical locations in Salem.  If you have any suggestions for really cool sites please let me know!.  Of course this style of photography is completely different than studio shooting, and we all know that is where my strength is.  However, with the guidance of all the pros at the University I am sure that the shots for the left side of the book will be just as glorious and mystical as the portraits of the ladies.  These shots will not be published on the Smugmug site galleries.  The only time you will see them is in glorious print via the book itself.   Really, other photogs  rarely if ever  let people see the photographs prior to publication - but we did, in effort to express our gratitude to our fans, supporters, and the ladies themselves.

The Team and I are steadily moving forward with the project. Each and every day there are tasks either worked on or completed regarding MWS.  The Professor's were right...this project is HUGE and you cannot imagine how much work it requires to bring this project to fruition.  However, I am assured by the "powers at be"  that the rewards will be beyond our wildest expectations.   

During the next few months of shooting I will be blogging about the shoots and will be releasing PR photographs to announce the publication of the posts...so stay tuned everyone.  Remember....

Feel  the  Power,  Experience the Magic !   R :}

Professor and Herbalist, the lovely Maria

Tomorrow I am shooting Mystic Woman, Maria!


I have designed, yet again, another complex lighting scheme and complex theme in general.  The shoot involves plants, herbs (fresh and dry), and a variety of Maria's favorite talismans, and things that she is particularly fond of.  Maria is an absolutely fascinating woman and I had the honor of visiting with her and her husband in her home last weekend.  This ALWAYS helps with the shoots, as I can see the woman in her environment and suggest things/props to bring to the shoot that would photograph particularly well.  


Mystic Woman, and photography enthusiast,  Dawn, is coming to assist in the studio with Maria's shoot.  I am so grateful to you Dawn!


We hope to have another magical, phenomenal, and beautiful shoot with Salem's very own...Maria!


:}

Mystic Woman, Lady June

Dawn

Friend of the MWS project, Dawn, shown here early in October at Jaho in Salem.  Dawn spent the whole day with me distributing the MWS posters and pr materials to numerous locations in Salem...the "crush" of October was already apparent.  Thanks Dawn for helping me (and the project) in so many ways!!  But, her assistance is not over yet...

Today (Saturday 11/5/2011)  she is accompanying Lady June to the studio for her shoot.  June is one of those "power house" founding Mothers of this area and I look forward to photographing her.

Of all the women I have interviewed June is the only one, that I know of, that does tea leave readings.  I was fascinated by this and needless to say her style of divination will play a major role in the theme of her shoot.

Will have behind the scenes shots/stories and more about June in the next few days...so stay tuned and check back soon!

:}

Schedule

Good Morning Everyone,

The University is now in full swing again and all PR materials are now finished.  We will be sending everything to the printers asap, in hopes to get them back and distributed during October.

Due to so many scheduling difficulties and many other complications over the summer, we are running a month behind.  Since October is totally slammed for nearly all of the potential "Mystic Women" in Salem, I will not be conducting the remaining interviews until November of this year.  However, I will go forward with the new shoot schedule and will continue shooting...we are on schedule in this area.  A new schedule will be sent to the selected women.

The Project Manager is steadily working on numerous stories and hopes to be up to date in the next month or so.

I hope all of you are well, and looking forward to a fantastic October!  Everyone at my house is certainly looking forward to cooler weather and the arrival of the healing winds of the north.

Have many new things to report to you over the next couple of weeks...until then...breathe ladies...just breathe.

:}

Barbara of Angelica's

Our next Mystic Woman on the shoot schedule is Barbara of Angelica's Shoppe in downtown Salem.  

Barbara is also another  fascinating woman, who communicates and works in the spirit realm with angels.   It is my impression that she consults them psychically and does readings for people utilizing this skill.  

Her shoppe is certainly one of the most beautiful shoppes in all of Salem.  It is stocked with crystals, cards, divination tools, jewelry, a huge gift selection, and  all things fanciful/beautiful, with much, much more to see and experience.

Although Irene's winds have caused our shoot to be a bit delayed...Barbara and I are going forward and will only be "set back" a few days.

The inspiration for her shoot is no other than the master himself George Hurrell.. my idol.   His photographs of all the great movie stars of the 20-30-40-50- and 1960's is in his award winning body of work.  My love of shadows and dramatic lighting comes from Hurrell's mastery of shadows on film.  Of course being the main photog for MGM, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox was indeed a bit of a "perk".  He said himself...,"if I needed 300 yards of heavy velvet - I had it within the hour, not to mention the finest props/lighting in the country." 

Here's to you Mr. Hurrell, I hope to make you proud!  :}

Stephanie Eaton - MWS's own Firefighter!

By the time this entry posts, I hope to have completed Stephanie's shoot.  This will be a difficult shoot and very time consuming, because of the complexity of the lighting design and we hope to get some "smoke" shots. I have done several shoots photographing smoke...it is not easy and truly- you just never know what you're going to get.  But, we're going to try anyway.

Stephanie is a breath taking beauty, on the inside and out.  She is one of the few female firefighters on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  I have to admit after interviewing Steph and finding out what she does for a living, my feelings about fire fighters became very personal in nature.  Now, every time a fire truck passes by with their sirens on, I bless them and the truck...hoping to the Goddess that our Steph is not in that truck.  Hokey I know, but it's my little way of showing appreciation and affection for those that put their very lives in danger trying to assist and hopefully save others from harm. 

Wow Steph...we are so honored to have you as a Mystic woman!  I know you're going to have some absolutely "stunning" shots... can't wait.

Your "behind the scenes" shots will be in that category soon.

:}

Olga - MWS's Yoga Master

This week I am shooting Ms Olga, MWS's very own yoga instructor/master. 
Olga is a beautiful young woman from the Ukraine.

I interviewed Olga last year and was truly captivated by her inner light and physical beauty.  I knew without a doubt that she would photograph exquisitely.  However, her shoot had to be "adjusted" a bit, as Olga is now "with child" (which has happened to several of our MWS ladies).  So, time is of great importance here for several reasons - her pregnancy, and I really would like one of her shots to be included on the pr campaign materials.  Her photograph will reflect diversity among the women/subjects...VERY important for this project.

I will certainly do some behind the scenes shots and will keep you "posted".  Please keep your fingers crossed for us, that the lil' devil mercury will behave and that Freyja will intervene and grace Olga's shoot with creative flow, magical energy, and above all EXCELLENCE!  At bare minimum Freyja, could you just keep the equipment working?  :}