Manteno State Hospital

Photo by Absinthe Moon Photography

 I know, I haven't posted in a bit, but I had not been shooting much ( I have more shoots coming up, I promise)

Last week I had a shoot with Tim at Absinthe Moon Photography...to add to his series of corpse paint images.  For those that don't know what it is, the concept is taking something ( corpse paint) that is normally used by a specific segment of Metal Music bands ( usually, but not always male) and put it on a selection of models.  I took my shoot a bit further, using an outfit ( little black dress, elbow length gloves, heels) that would normally not be associated with Metal at all....making my particular shoot more of a Metal/ corpse paint/ glamour shoot.  We decided to try and do the shoot at Manteno state Hospital.

Built in the 30's,as a mental institution, it was open until the mid 80's, and is actually listed on Illinois most haunted places. In  '85, Reagan and the Sate of Illinois closed it, to save money and those patients that had no family to pick them up, were reportedly, turned out into the surrounding corn fields.

Most of the land and buildings, have since  been turned over to things like a Veteran's home, industrial/ office park, and other such uses.  There are only 2 buildings that remain un rehabbed and un used...the sewage plant and one of the dorm/ home type buildings.  ( I believe "Morgan House" is the name of the building - each building had a name )

After driving around a bit ( Manteno is not a big town, this is on the edge of it, and Google Maps, does not recognise "Manteno State Hospital" since it has been closed since 1985.    So Tim picked one of the companies in the industrial park, Frito Lay, and we just had to drive around searching a bit more.

The Interior designer/ history/ Home archaeologist nerd in me, noticed things like the arched windows, slate roof, double layered brick walls( two colors of glazed brick on the inside, red brick on the outside) and columned walks/ entrances. The building still has it's poured in place two colored terrazzo floor ( with metal spacers) under all the detritus. I could identify the bathing rooms, toilet rooms, maintenace rooms.  We did not go into the basement, or upstairs...too difficult and dangerous- I was in heels or flip flops at the time....not very good exploring wear.

They really were sunny, open, attractive buildings at one time.

    

Photo by Absinthe Moon Photography

The next thing I notice is that on this hot ( almost 90) sunny day, with standing water inside some rooms, from holes in the roof, there was not ONE bug....not a gnat, mosquito, fly....nothing.  Weird enough.

And as we walked, there was a constant whisper of sound...the tattered roller shades still on many windows, the rustle, creak and groan of sapling trees in the courtyard rubbing against each other and the roof, the breeze though broken windows and open doorways.

And then there were the random cold spots...and in one bathroom and one corner in particular...cold enough to raise goose flesh.  We were told that that particular bathroom was "Gennie's room"  Gennie was a patient who lived most of her life here.

Tim decided it was only polite to ask if he could take some pictures, of the room, the building, of Gennie.  He swears that he heard wordless whispering right behind him....he took that as a yes.

Do I believe in ghosts?  I believe  that there are things we don't understand,that only some can sense. I believe that imprints of our selves can be left behind. I believe that a place can absorb the energy that is inside it, around it ....and that energy can again, be felt much after the original use or events have happened. So yes, I guess I do.

After we finished our shoot, I only thought it polite to leave something.... an offering of sorts.  So I left one of the bracelets I had been wearing in "Gennie's Room" on what was left of a bathtub support.  I could swear that the room whispered at me.    

Disappointment

Photo by: Cadence McCarrell

Have to say that I am a little disappointed.  Hubby and I are going to Las Vegas next week ( Parents are going to watch the kid, cats and house) and I was really hoping to be able to book at least one gig  while we were there.  I got one answer, when I told them when I would be there " we only work with local models" How weird is that ? I tell you when I will be in town,tell you that I will have a car ....anyway, that is a silly way to do business, you would think a chance to work with someone not in your geographical area would be interesting... and it isn't as though you can't e-mail people I have worked with before for references .  Well, I am STILL open for shoots May 20-22, in Vegas....but you have to book soon, otherwise I won't bring my kit with me....though hey, if there are no bookings... more time for me to hangout by the pool!  ( and that isn't a bad thing at all.....as long as I have plenty of sunscreen! )                                                                                                                                                                                    

First Promo

What do you think?  My make-up for my promo gig for Mad Housewife wine.     The theme ...Retro .

Not bad for a quickie hair ( I had an entirely different idea originally,but it just wouldn't work...this was the "Oh My God... I have to do SOMETHING I am running out of time " do.

I think the first  go round selling wine went pretty good too. I will have my numbers tomorrow AM, But I estimate over a case and a half...for 2 hours, and not serving samples on a beer day ( the Hawks are playing tonight- Go HAWKS!)

People want to try a wine, and I get that...but I had fun, laughed and joked with the customers while they were in line, sold some wine, got others to know that Mad Housewife existed....  So did what I set out to do.

Tomorrow I will be actually sampling the wine, so pretty sure there will be more sales from that.
Come see me at the Homewood Walts from 12-3...try the wine, buy the wine, have some fun!  See you there!

airbrush makeup experiments

Well, I finally got to play / practice with the airbrush makeup kit Todd got me for Christmas. I then in late January found natural mineral makeup for it ( made in Nigeria of all places) and had to wait for that to come in.  THEN I had an idea for a shoot ( hasn't happened yet...but will) and had to get some stencils to use.  ( one CAN cut things out oneself.... but oy.

 Not bad for first tries....
What I learned.
 1. Mixing colors for foundation is super easy...getting the RIGHT mix is harder.
2. There is a SUPER fine line between "just enough" and "WAY TOO MUCH"
3. For eye makeup, it's kind of hard to do yourself, unless you are really good and winking both eyes separate from each other ( I am not)
4. You do still need to use concealer.
4. Once you get the hang of it...foundation coverage and evenness is AWESOME.

Blue

                 Photo By: Cadence Gamache ( Now Mccarrel Photography)

Second, and the real beginning.

                            Photo by: MYK Productions HMUA: Nicole Lanute


This is from my second Photoshoot on   8-27-12.
Taken by My dear, old friend Mike Jones ( he is my age,but I have known him for well over 20 years)

He had come back to the Chicago area to go to school , and get a degree in digital photography, and he wanted to work on his portfolio.  He,knowing I had recently lost much weight, wanted me to model for him.  I had enjoyed my session with Aza Azunia so much that I agreed.  I figured I would get a couple shots, and get to spend the day with some of my best friends...win, win right?

So he came over,helped me pick out some wardrobe from my closet, and we set a date the next week.

Nicole, the MakeUp and hair artist, I had known from a former job where she had been the receptionist, I a  designer, and I had put Mike and she in contact.

Mike picked up Nicole and they came over to my house ( these were all shot in the forest preserve behind my house...it has been used several times by me for shoots...as well as by other photographers in the area)
Having someone else do my makeup was a rather novel experience for me ( still is, since 99%of the time I still do my own makeup and hair)  So we got dressed and done and trooped out to the woods.

Mike still is a very mellow guy,but becomes very focused when shooting, he gives tips if he feels it is needed, but for the most part lets you do your thing ( though he will get flashes where he is like " we have to do THIS" )  As the day went on...he kept saying things like " you are good at this" " you should do this" " you SERIOUSLY need to do this"  I laughed at him. I told him " I am 40 years old, short and tattooed, how is THAT going to work?" Only knowing at that time runway and high fashion type modeling where yes...young and tall and very thin are indeed the rule.

Thank goodness for Mike and his stubborn insistence that this was a path I should look into!

Finally after about a month of him bugging me about it, I did some research....lo and behold,there is a market for alternative types such as myself.  Is it huge? No. Will I EVER make the kind of money as the women working fashion week or in the pages of Vogue make. No. But you know what, that is ok.  I partly do this, because as an artist, ( I paint and am a designer) I enjoy  using myself , to help others to make a different type of art. Because I believe that yes, photography is just as much an art form as Painting ( or it can be...it isn't always)   I enjoy pushing myself to learn to be better...working on poses...to make them interesting, better, finding better angles, expressions, positions.  Working on hair and makeup for different looks ,and different eras.  Finding interesting outfits and concepts to push not only myself,but the photographer.
Learning and pushing myself, and showing people that one doesn't have to be 19 ,and rail thin to be published,or even signed ( yes,I am agency signed...it is a small local one, but they are good people, and they are working hard. Kingdom Model Talent Agency, go check them out if you are casting or looking to model yourself )
All in all, I enjoy what I do,and am excited to see where this path will lead.

     

Make up and skin care for SENSITIVE skin ( or those who don't want all the chemicals)

                                                       Photo by: Mccarrel Photography
                                                     

I have naturally red hair, and like many of my red headed  brethren, I also have sensitive skin. I have also, over the years have developed a host of other food ,environmental and chemical sensitivities.  It does make it a little difficult to work as a model...where wearing makeup and using multiple hair products is part of the the life.

So what to do?

I am just really careful about what make up goes on my skin. ( and have been known to bring my own kit when a makeup artist is being used)   I will share some of my favorites...as not only have they worked for my sensitive skin, most of them are free from most of the harmful, sometimes carcinogenic chemicals that are part of many "conventional" brands ....( and yes many,many, many of the common brands are not good for you AT ALL...and what is the largest organ of your body? YOUR SKIN! If it is dangerous to put IN your body...don't put it ON your body, because you will absorb it, and it ends up on the inside eventually)

So.. Lets start at the beginning.
For cleansing, toning, firming creams, dermal fillers, moisturizer, enzyme masks ( as well as shampoo and conditioner) I ADORE Andalou Naturals    ! ( I, of course, use their "Age Defying" line, they also have a brightening a clarifying and a sensitive line...all really great stuff)  I either order it online or can easily pick it up at my local health food store. I can honestly say that in the 6 or so months I have been using it, I have seen a VISIBLE difference in my skin. It is smoother, tighter and has more even color. ( One thing to remember is any new skin care regimen....give it some time...give the cells time to replenish themselves before judging on weather or not it is working or not working for you.)  
For regular body lotion I love Kate's Magic.  Everything smells WONDERFUL and again, all natural, with natural scents from essential oils.  Unfortunately I have only found it online or in catalogs, but the quality and the scents can't be beat. ( I am rather fond of the "Fire" and "Earth" body lotions as well as the "Aphrodesian Fire" Body oil...just yummy...and I typically get a lot of " you smell good" (from both men and women!)
Tinted moisturizer/ sunscreen ( for every day wear) foundation,powder ,  blush, bronzer and mascara, ( and some eye liner)  I actually Like Physicians Formula "Organic Wear" The coverage is good,the colors are good and it is reasonably priced at the local drug store.  It certainly makes it easy!
Eyeliner, lipsticks and nail polish I use Mineral Fusion.  It is easy enough to get both on line and at my local health food store ( near me, that would be Fruitful Yield) They also have a full line of lotions, cleansers, shampoos and the like, I just have not tried them...though they certainly would be worth a try. My other favorite Nail Polish brand is Zoya...also free from the three really bad chemicals ( one of which used to make me break out wherever my nails would touch my face... before I found the nail polish that was safe for me,I had not done my nails in probably 10 years) Zoya has a huge color selection and I order it on line...and  they frequently have sales and such. The coverage is good, as well as the durability...and their velvet line is WAY awesome!
Eye shadows- I REALLY like SHANY, and their loose mineral collections...I have not tried any of their other things ( and honestly haven't checked ingredients) But their color selection is HUGE. ( they are loose,so a little harder to work with, but so worth it)
Some other brands for eyshadow,lip stain and the like I  actually get from  small, Etsy shops, and have wonderful colors, quality and are super nice to work with. Most of them are organic, as well as vegan, and reasonably priced. Pink Quartz Minerals, Willow Tree Minerals , Tater Rounds Beauty, SoBe Botanicals, and D&E Handmade  .

For Christmas, I got a makeup airbrush kit, and found some mineral airbrush makeup online.  As I experiment and try out this new way of doing things I will let you all know.

All of this is not ONLY for you if you have sensitive skin...these are good for EVERYBODY.  Everyone could use less chemicals slathered on their skin, everyone can benefit from these natural, organic, less harmful makeups and skin care regimens.  Be gentle to yourself, be gentle to the earth.