Over the holidays, I was assigned to photograph a group of pinup girls who were raising money for the troops. This shoot was in the Queen Anne apartment of one of the pinups. The setup was these women would be preparing themselves for a studio shoot for their new calendar, and I was to meet with them before to document the moment.
I was jazzed. I was hoping to talk my way into following the pinups all the way through the studio shoot itself. I arrived at the apartment building and discovered the tenants still used the antique elevator complete with brass spring gates that you have to open and close (Amazing! I have been a fan of nearly anything antique all my life). I entered the apartment, and over the course of an hour, made about a half dozen images that I really liked. The pinups were a blast. They ignored me the entire time — a photojournalist’s dream. I didn’t get into their studio shoot but no matter.
On the way out, as I was trying to pack up my gear, I realized we were all going to jam into the elevator for the ride down. I walked into the elevator with my flash still attached to my light stand and all of my gear dangling around my neck and kept shooting. The result is one of my favorite images of 2007: the detached arm of one of the pinups’ husbands, the brass gate, “Hot Rod” Heidi Sawdon, and a perfect David Lynch vignette from my flash that was still hovering a few feet above my head on the light stand. Oh, and the sailor’s hat … too good to be true.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.