Has it really been since June that I posted a blog post?
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It’s been almost 5 months now since the shutdown began, and over 6 months since word got out about an awful new virus spreading, which started me prepping for the unknown future.
August has my most favorite month, for the past many years, as I would travel back east for a special family reunion, and I would also travel to photograph an amazing event in Northern Michigan, in Sault Ste. Marie. (www.MiParacon.com) It is one of the best Paranormal Conventions around.
Alas, this year, these travels will not happen this year due to Covid 19. :(
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I have been looking back at portraits that I have created over the years in Michigan. I have been so fortunate to photograph incredible people. These portraits really push my creativity forward, and I love that my sitters are open to my unique ideas to capture their souls. My usage of digital, flash, natural light, hotlights, film, and infrared, has allowed me to create one of a kind portraits.
I wanted to share this awesome selection of images I photographed of Paranormal Investigator, Brian J Cano. I had met him about 7 years ago at an event in Philadelphia, and photographed the coolest session of him in the downtown. (Imgs 1 & 2) His site is www.patreon.com/brianjcano…check him out!
Last year, he hired me again for a session while we both were at the Michigan Paracon. We spent about an hour at creating a variety of dramatic images at the event located at the Kewadin Casino and Hotel. The environment is beautiful, but poses challenges for photography. One must look beyond the parking lots and simple landscape surrounding the building.
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We met at sunset…and used the last amount of sun as the main light and a two-toned background of the distant, shaded brick wall of the hotel, and a closer, sunset lit cement pillar. The contrast of colors worked incredibly well as a unique backdrop. (Img 3)
Then, we moved down a quiet road in the middle of a field and used the incredible red glow in the post sunset sky for the background. I LOVED that the clouds created angel wings and I centered Brian in front of them, (as he is truly an angel in the Paranormal Industry!) (Img 6)
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After the fact, we had to discuss the silhouette of a man behind Brian in one of the images, on this road, but he debunked it as a passerby we never noticed with the fun we were having during the session…Damn, I thought I caught a ghost…but I am glad I had an expert to analyze the data!
Once the sun was gone, we used a nearby area which was fenced, enclosing an electrical company’s '“Doo- Hang-Y” (official term), where we used the fence as the session area. This location lent itself perfectly to the feel of closed off locations like prisons or abandoned buildings where many of his investigations take place at. (Img 4)
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…Of course, the army of mosquitos, which must have been hired to guard the area, did their duty and ate us alive. Doh!
We rushed away from the woods and ended up inside the hotel to finish up the session. I had a studio set up ready to shoot…(yes, I am one of those creepy photographers with hotel rooms set up as a studio), with hot lights and a backdrop to create some images on my Hasselblad. These images also came out incredibly cool… described by Brian…”The pose and the grain really sets a mood…welcome to the Twilight Zone….” This film image is now released publicly for the first time ever here. (Img 5)
Please do check out Brian’s website! www.Patreon.com/Brianjcano He is an knowledgeable leader in the industry. I truly love his teaching style and his passion for the Paranormal. Also, check out the rest of the line up for the 2021 MiParacon as I am now counting down the months until we can gather there again. Next year I plan on bringing a 4x5 camera, so book your sessions early with me!
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