It’s senior picture season – one of the great times of the year in my opinion. Ever since schools let go of the cookie-cutter approach to senior pictures, an incredibly creative avenue of photography has opened up.
Two days ago, Jordan and I – accompanied by an entourage of people, headed out to a local climbing area where he spends much of his free time bouldering and climbing. The day was intensely beautiful – warm but without humidity. Deep in the woods there was little light but I looked like a pack mule carrying bags of strobes. We set up at the place that appealed, I put one light on a stand and had a voice actuated light stand ( in this case his brother Brandon) holding a second light. Shooting away, oblivious to the world when suddenly a sharp pain…I looked down to see an army of yellow jackets in no mood to negotiate. we were clearly too close to their ground nest and they were as protective as junkyard dogs!
Ouch…off we took through the woods, looking back to see hundreds ( thousands seems a bit exaggerated ) of the hornets swarming all over the light and stand as well as the two bags of photo equipment.
Still had a camera, lens and 1 light so undaunted we resumed shooting – I think it made the stings less noticeable – and a while later the three women with us ( that would include the angel who is Jordan’s mom) went back and braved the equipment rescue operation. Gutsy girls those!!!
When all was said and done, we had a pile of cool images – The girls drove me out to my car while Jordan and Brandon went climbing.
The last image, by the way is Brandon – he was sitting under this really neat boulder, the light was too wonderful to waste and I ended up doing a portrait of him as well.
