Day 27 - Project 365

"What do you mean you don't have a plan?"

To say day 27 came down to the wire would be an understatement. After I stuffed my face with meatloaf and broiled broccoli(Mmmmm - for real… You have to try it!) I realized I still didn't have a theme or a participant for tonight's shoot. Pure coincidence that I post something pertaining to needing a victim and Brittnee texting me with "Hey, lets do a shoot… wanna do late night on the beach?" From that point, day 27 was set. I packed the car and after tapping my feet for approximately 20 min waiting for Brittnee, she finally pulled up in her 2004 Honda Accord. She jumped into my better 2004 Honda accord and we headed out, (I'm now convinced it's a woman thing). We make a quick stop at Walgreens for a 6 pack of corona… light (for certain reasons). We arrived at the beach with no real plan.

Only a vague idea to paint with light and get a super long exposure. This was only my second experience with exposures over 30sec. I don't have a remote so I am forced to bust out the macbook (with wood grain cover - Baller, ya I know)! I first set up and did a 3 minute exposure which wasn't bad but for the shot I was looking for, I knew I didn't have the time. I will have to go back one of these days after I finish the daily shot and just sit there for 30 or more minutes. I'd like to get the stars streaking across the sky.

Well… we popped the tops on a few more beers using the "be aware of sea turtle sign". The C-stand I used for the first round had the beauty dish attached to it. Only 40 minutes in and Brittnee's toes were numb. We were also quickly running out of time. We had yet to get anything that really stood out as a Day 27 Contender. Half way through the second beer I felt the first beer tapping on my bladder. So… after a momentary, mandatory break we moved to the boardwalk to get some more "serious" shots. This quickly turned out to be a good idea as I was instantly happier with the images. Focusing in the dark is hell without focus assist. I would have to shine the LED flash light at Brittnee's face and try to focus. While switching hands I dropped the light! The back flew one way, the 3 triple A batteries went 3 separate ways and the main light bounced in the sand. I thought I was screwed as I was blindly searching around for the pieces. That is until I realized I had a modeling lamp on the AB and flicked it on. This is a big no no for me as anyone with the vagabond knows, modeling lamps KILL your battery quick! I retrieved the 5 scattered pieces and quickly re-assembled it and turned off the modeling lamp. From here I run and grab my laptop which is in my computer bag about 20 yards down the beach. I set up for the background shot. I set the computer for a 90 second exposure and instruct Brittnee that we will be writing Day 27 again. She had found this fascinating and had no problem taking on the job as light writer. I did have a momentary lapse of judgement and figured I could do it and tried practicing writing. I quickly gave up as we just didn't have time for me to figure it out or learn to spell day 27! Brittnee ran into frame and wrote it out. From there we snapped a few pics of her and I for the outtakes and called it a wrap.

She quickly grabbed the keys from me and hurried down to the car as her toes were turning a nice shade of blue, (I didn't tell her to not wear shoes!). I hurried to break down the stands, throw the gear in the trunk and get home. I was in such a rush I forgot to shut the back door. I only realized this by the sound of it slamming as I rounded the corner at 20 mph! We headed over the bridge and along the river. I turned onto the main westerly road only to get stopped by a train… a LONG train. Moving at nearly 60mph it lasted well over 3 minutes. I swear the longest train in St. Lucie County history must have been running tonight - Figures! I impatiently waited and just as the gates opened I jammed the gas. We arrived at my house a few minutes after 11pm and from there my nerves were calm as I knew I had more than enough time. I made my way into my room, set the computer down and started away. It wasn't until 10 min later that Brittnee wondered into my room. She had found the blueberry muffins my nephew had made. She promptly fell asleep on my bed as I finished the edit and uploaded. I couldn't pass the opportunity to snap a few shots of sleeping beauty! Like a ninja, I crept up and over to my camera bag. Unzipping it ever so slowly, I removed my camera and made my way over to the bed, framed the shot and fired off a few photos. It wasn't until the second flash and sound of the canons obnoxiously loud shutter that brittnee woke. She lifted her head and the first thing out her mouth was "meat loaf", (sorry brittnee, I had to say it. It was too funny not to). We made our way to the kitchen, heated up some meatloaf and talked as I drank another beer and ate 3 delicious chocolate chip cookies. Thankfully I'm back at the gym. No one likes a fat bearded photographer. Another day in the bag! - Michael

Lighting:

AB800 Beauty Dish Set Camera left boomed over head set at 1/16 power.

Background was a 90 sec computer controlled exposure with brittnee running in the background to spell out "day 27", I thought I could do it but since you have to write it backwards and I really can't spell forwards let alone backwards, I decided to let Britt take that one