A Session in a Bunker (Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

My natural inclination when working with architecture is to work with symmetrical, formal compositions; in this case, after making some straight-on photographs, I tried to work against my first approach, and moved the camera off-center. Using an ultra-wide lens I was able to make this image, which puts the initial composition (formal and straight-on) to shame.

Digital infrared original

Bianca asked if we could work with the hold in the wall, next to the graffiti of the bee; after some experimentation, I found this back-on pose worked well, and after some careful adjustment of the camera position, I was able to realize the final photograph.

Digital infrared original, 2 frame stitch

At the close of the session, I made some portraits of Bianca through this window, and on a whim, I asked her to face away from me, and made some images, including this striking one of her arms out against the sides of the windows.

A Riverside Session (Pennant Point River, Nova Scotia)

The beginning of this session was focused on working with Bianca on a beautiful tree besides the river; initially she posed in the branches and working with the verticallity of the space, but towards the end, I tried to reverse the angle, and put myself in the tree, looking down onto Bianca, posed on a branch.

Digital infrared original

The middle of the session had a pause in it for Bianca to warm up (the day was unfortunately cooler than expected,); I took the opportunity to make some more portraits of her, reveling in the wildness of her hair.

Digital original

My hope for this session was to work with Bianca in this river, but with the day barely warm enough for posing on land, there was no way I would be able to make images with a model in water. That didn't however, preclude working with the river.

Digital infrared original, 4image shutter blend, 3 image stitch

This beautiful branch had grown out along the surface of the water, and was perfect for Bianca to pose along; it took only a couple of revisions to Bianca's initial post to bring it together, and for a good ten minutes, I explored the visual possibilities, with this, the final composition, being my favorite.

A Seaweed Session (Taylor Head Beach, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

When she made contact about working with me, Bianca specifically asked about modeling in seaweed. As a result, though it was far from warm, the end of this session saw Bianca carefully walking out to the edge of a seaweed field, and posing on (and in) the rockweed.

Digital original

As we worked along the shore, between poses in the seaweed, Bianca paused, and I caught a glimpse of her looking out into the harbour; "Don't move" I said...and then made this image.

Infrared Beach Session (Taylor Head Beach, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared, 12 frame stitch

The simple stillness of this image really pleases me; the long lens used in the stitch kept the depth of field shallow, while the stitch permitted me to show the entire tree stretching out above Bianca.

Digital infrared original

As soon as I saw this bed of foliage high on the beach, I knew I’d end up working with Bianca in it. The initial images had Bianca’s arms on top of the plant, but when I had her interweave her arms into the foliage, the image really came together, giving her figure wings.

Digital infrared original

Bianca’s dance and yoga experience comes through in her pose ideas from time to time; in this case, I’d envisioned her standing between the two rocks, but after realizing that didn’t work, she worked herself into an arch between the rocks, and asked if it worked…which it did indeed.

A Sunset River Session (Bedford, Nova Scotia)

This was a short session at sunset, making the most of the last of the warm summer weather. Bianca knew we wouldn't have much light, with sunset coming so fast, but was still keen to make the most of what time we could grab.

Digital infrared, 2 frame stitch

As we worked with this great old tree trunk, Bianca mused “I wonder if I could climb it”, and moments later had scrambled up the outside. Truth be told, the pose possibilities were limited, but the strength of the final image (a combination of two poses by Bianca) is firmly rooted in Bianca’s physically adventurous approach to modeling.

Digital infrared, 2 image composite, 2 image stitch

The primary reason for this session was to work in the river, so before the evening light faded for good, Bianca and I headed to the deepest part of the river (where there was perhaps 3’ of water), and made a series of images of her posing in the water.

Digital original, 2 frame stitch

As it turned out, we waited almost too long, as rapidly the exposures stretched from the initial two seconds to eight seconds; quite a long time to stay still in cool river water. Bianca was able to stay still however, and while we had to call it quits due to low light before I’d felt I’d made the most of the location, both of us were pleased with the results.

A Valley Session III (South Waterville, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

The last location Bianca and I worked with during this trip to the valley was a small barn at the base of the property; as with most barn, the interior was dark and cluttered, but the window light was second to none, and helped me create some lovely results.

Digital original

The last images of the day were focused on Bianca posing with an old rowboat she’d found in the corner of the barn; after first seeing it, Bianca came around the corner, and asked if we could make an images working with "this great green boat". The ontrast between the colours and textures is just wonderful.

A Valley Session II (South Waterville, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original, 2 frame stitch

After a circular walk through the woods, Bianca and I came out at the top of a field, and were presented with some long abandoned farm machinery; never one to miss an opportunity to work with something new, I immediately asked Bianca if the metal grate on this old wagon would be comfortable enough to model on; moments later I had my answer.

Digital infrared original, 2 frame stitch

The best find of the day was the abandoned farm equipment; after working with the old wagon, we shifted to exploring the possibilities of a set of tires on an axle; initially I’d passed by this as it was a little “minimal; in retrospect however, Bianca arching back across the wheel (in 5 or more different poses) lead to some of the best images of the day.

A Valley Session I (South Waterville, Nova Scotia)

This is one of the first successes from my second session working with Bianca; we’d intended to do an early morning coastal session, but the weather in Halifax was a little chilly, so we headed to the valley.

Digital infrared original, 2 frame stitch

After a few preliminary portraits in a field, we headed into the woods, looking for spaces to work in. Almost immediately, Bianca spotting this uprooted tree, and over half-an-hour or so, we explored it visually, with this being my favorite result.

Digital infrared original, 2 frame stitch

After the first forest image, Bianca and I continued our explorations, and swiftly found this perfectly angled tree, which lent itself perfectly to a number of compositions.

Digital infrared original

When I first met Bianca, to talk about working with her, one of my first thoughts was “what a great face”; while get the feeling she feels I have yet to get that “perfect” portrait of her, I really enjoy this moment, made while she was modeling in some ferns.

1st Session with a New Model (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

One of the earliest images of Bianca from this session, this image was made 10 minutes into her first experience modeling Nude. Bianca’s years of dance and yoga came out almost immediately with this pose; initially she was simply lying stretched out, and then, without any prompting, asked “what if I arched some, like this”.

Digital infrared original

By this point, about 30 minutes into the session, Bianca was totally comfortable in front of the camera, and was working hard with me to make the space work; though she complained the window was “too small” to do much with, we managed to create a handful of successful compositions with variations on her flexing against the window edge.

Digital infrared original

I  just love this image - made just after an attempt at something totally different that didn’t work; Bianca walked away from the camera, into the doorway, and stretched. Then the famous (for me at least) words came out “Oh, don’t move”…

Digital original, 5 frame stitch

The last images of the day were actually the first of that night; as we were walking back to the car, we passed by a fog-shrouded pond; not one to pass up such a beautiful moment, I asked Bianca if we could create one-more set of images...to which her answer was "where do you want me".