Of the Earth, get dirty, dig. Journeys are never what they seem to those who aren’t you traveling your path. Plans, ideas, seeds, we all have idyllic visions of how things could or should look, only to be surprised at what actually takes hold in the soil. Regardless of what we do, what we can all agree on though is that digging is required. Photoshoots are no different. Every piece of art, an exploration of dirt only to uncover that piece of Gold amongst the failed attempts, and Fool’s Gold.

I was driving my truck south on I-95, from New York City to Florida. My rescue dog was snuggled on my lap, sound asleep, as the scenery flashed by. I was disappointed and a bit concerned, but at least we were going to have an adventure. It was Sunday afternoon March 15, 2020.

From Issue 90 — Get Lucky

Product design has this mystic aura surrounding it. It involves creativity, innovation, and the ability to solve complex problems in new and exciting ways. Designers are often seen as people who can transform ideas into tangible and visually appealing products which can be attractive to others. Designers often work across all industries and greatly influence product development; therefore, designers have extensive power to impact business or create new business opportunities. This can contribute to the perception that design is unattainable and the profession is quite illusive. 

While watching Luke Skywalker successfully deflect the blasters from a training exercise in Star Wars with his lightsaber, Han Solo remarked:  “I call it luck”.  Teacher—and Jedi master—Obi Wan Kenobi, in turn, responded with a wry grin: “In my experience, there’s no such thing as luck”.  To which Han says: “Look, good against remotes is one thing.  Good against the living?  That’s something else”.  

It was a rough start here in New York City. It’s big and cold, and it gets quite lonely. My first job was tough - maybe not as much as saving lives, but waking up 6 days a week at 2 am to be at work at 3 am is objectively a lot. I would wait for 7 am to have my second coffee and justify the cookie I’m about to eat, ... it’s already morning and I can have it now, didn’t matter that it wasn’t in the middle of the night. 

It’s a universal and somewhat taboo subject. It’s something that some people will do anything to have. Sometimes it comes with its own unique set of complications and risks, but also some near euphoric reward. You’ve set the scene for a perfect end to the evening: There are enough candles lit to initiate a seance. Your apartment smells like spicy clove, a hint of citrus, and maybe a splash of bourbon from the little spill you had during your date pregame earlier. The lights are dim and the curtains are drawn; It’s time to get down to business. 

a man made of leather looks back wonders then wanders I swallow a burning pomegranate common rocks sloshing in the silt of my weedy water

From Issue 90 — Get Lucky on notation, miniature The score of a musical work is fascinating. As a composer, I spend hundreds of hours alone...

Don’t force the issue. Wait for it. Take a beat. Deep breaths. Listen. Not unlike life, photoshoots can be chaos... controlled chaos but chaotic nonetheless. No matter how much prep and pre production you’ve storyboarded and talked thorugh, you’re juggling decisions on set to tweak lighting, hair and makeup, outfits, mood, the who nine yards. Taking the actual photograph suddenly looks easy, but that too has it’s drama.