Eric G Brown Photography #3

As temperatures drop and everyone starts bundling up, it's the perfect time to talk about shooting in cold, no, freezing temperatures!

As mentioned previously, shooting in an abandoned setting such as a factory or warehouse had always been something I wanted to do, even years ago when modeling was just a thought in the back of my mind.  As with using nature as a backdrop, I think the aesthetic of an industrial environment appeals to me because it adds a narrative to the visual and, when a model is present in the scene, a commentary on the human condition.  It's hard to walk through a space full of ancient machinery and old tools and not feel the history around every corner.  However, I don't know that I ever actually thought about the logistics of such a shoot and the reality of working in that kind of environment under less than ideal conditions.

When photographer Eric G Brown and I arrived at the site in Burlington, PA, USA where we would be shooting on that cold December day, I was immediately impressed by the vastness of the environment we would be inhabiting.  With a patina of peeling paint and rust on the walls, as well as pieces of machinery and scrap metal littered across the floor, the space definitely exuded a unique personality.  Additionally, I could tell that even though we were to indoors the entire time, the dilapidated condition of the building would offer little in terms of shelter from the elements.  Even so, I was eager to discover how I would fit into these surroundings visually and anxious to see how I would fare in the freezing temperatures that day.

One thing that has always impressed me about a good photographer is their ability to capture the visually mundane and make it look extraordinary.  Sure, the environment we would be shooting in was definitely interesting to look at, but it wasn't at all set-up like a controlled studio space where you can almost guarantee good lighting and interesting compositions.  Even so, Eric was focused on what he wanted to capture and directed me with ease through the first few test shots.  It's always a little bit of a slow start with a photographer you're working with for the first time, as you feel each other out, but it didn't take long for me to discover that, with each click of the camera, Eric was creating magic.

As we moved around the space and I dressed, undressed, and got coated in grease and dirt, Eric would show me what he had captured in-camera and to say I couldn't believe my eyes would be an understatement.  Here I was, absolutely freezing, shivering between shots and desperately trying to keep my nose from dripping, and Eric was creating visually stunning shot after shot as if it was second nature.  If ever I needed a reason to keep climbing barefoot across ice cold metal and debris covered surfaces, this was it.  The excitement of seeing what Eric would capture next made me almost forget about the cold!

Looking back at these photos now, almost a year later, it's hard to tell how cold it really was that day and the only visual sign I see of any discomfort I may have experienced at the time is a little redness in my skin tone.  Instead, I'm left with my memories and an amazing assortment of shots, each against varied, visually stunning backgrounds.  It's not too bad of a trade off for a few hours in the cold, if you ask me!

I've got one more batch of photos from this shoot to share and it's a bit of a departure from the first three posts, both figuratively and literally.  Check back soon to see what I mean!

See below for a ZIP file of all 18 photos if you'd like to download them.

To learn more about Eric, please visit www.ericgbrown.com.

Have a great weekend!

- Michael