Story time: When things don't go as planned...

I went to do an experimental moonlight shoot during a full moon on Maui for my book. I was meeting the model for the first time and we met in the dark which was pretty weird, first and last time I'll ever do that. Then a giant storm cloud promptly covered the moon before we even reached the location. I had bought a tripod that afternoon and it was built so poorly it wouldn’t hold my camera up. The legs looked sturdy in the package but as soon as I set it up, I realized the legs were as flimsy as the antennas on old boomboxes. I had to do 10 to 15 second exposures and getting her to stay still was hard to communicate in the dark over the roaring of the waves around us. The model was stressing out and I was trying my best to stay enthusiastic.

Then while we were shooting in the dark, on these sketchy rocks offshore, we noticed a flashing light up where we’d parked. The model suddenly scrambled to the shore and started sprinting up the hill yelling “fuckkkk” over and over. I ran after, losing my shoes in the dark. Its a blessing neither of us stepped on the all too common inch long thorns some of the trees drop. We got to the top and this parking nazi was ticketing our cars. He was very angry and acted like we had just committed the worst crime in history and then agreed to let the model go free because she started crying. He ticketed me though and wouldn’t stop laying on the attitude even though I was complying and being understanding.

The model and I met up outside of the parking lot and discussed doing a shoot in the morning. We picked an early time and decided to shoot at sunrise on a beach nearby. I drove to a beach about 15 minutes away that allowed car camping. I parked and wandered around the eerie shore for a bit, the ocean was chaotic and loud. I went to sleep uncomfortably in a fetal position on the back seat of my rental.

Woke up to my alarm and realized my phone wouldn’t charge because the charge port had corroded in the humid sea air. I had 5% battery. I took a sip of some coffee I had left in my car and got a mouthful of something that felt like a wad of wet paper but it was slightly crunchy. I spat it out, it was a drowned cockroach.

I drove to our new location and sat, waiting for her to respond. Nothing. I waited an hour.

Then I decided… fuck it. I’m on an island! So I went down to the beach, cast my negativity to the wind, and dove into the waves. Nothing cleanses the mood like a dip in the sea. I went into the city and got my phone repaired and only then did she text saying “oh sorrryyyy, I overslept!”

By that point I was over it. Next!

Above is the only image that barely came out of that crazy night shoot attempt. It’s a 10 or 15 second exposure and the only light was the glow the small town about 2 miles away, bouncing off the cloud cover.

Moral of the story? Hmm... always check the weather, work with pro models, read parking signs that are hidden in bushes outside of the parking lot, don't buy cheap tripods, bring a flashlight to night shoots, and check your coffee before taking a sip. 

Enjoy more stories and insights in my various support tiers!