Boilerroom Suspension

This is the first image from my recent collaboration with @Tomofswedenshibari, and the model @scalpel_priestess.

We did some different sets this day, but we started with Tom making an asymmetrical full-body tie that could hold weight from various points, as we wanted to do other things during the day.

But let’s back up a bit:

Some days before, we started scouting the area around my studio and worked out more or less what we wanted to do.
For this set, we wanted a full suspension, where the model was suspended horizontally between the old steam boilers, which are no longer in use.

There were plenty of solid iron bar handles from which to securely suspend.

I disliked a large white and green column that would end up in the middle of the frame for many shots, so I decided to set the light more or less as a backlit scene to avoid illuminating that column and instead keep it dark.

Eventually, I had to abandon that strategy when I realized the model's head would become too dark, and that the light didn’t work as Tom started suspending her, as it was coming too much from below the body.

So, I moved the light closer and more off to the side and decided to tone down the column in post-production.

We also decided we wanted smoke coming up, so we placed a smoke machine below, with a remote cable extending up to the platform we were shooting from. I would have loved more subtle puffs of smoke, but we had what we had.

I also placed a very dim lamp behind the smoke machine (Under the floor where we are standing) to give the smoke some light so it would separate from the floor.

The model turned out to be extremely brave but also afraid of falling.

I did several test shots to make sure everything was all right before she was completely suspended, so I could expedite the shooting in as little time as possible once we were ready.

After a few minutes of shooting, I sensed we were close to having to quit, so I ran downstairs and snapped a few shots from below. It was not planned, but turned out to be gold!

With Shibari suspensions, you must always consider the model's pain tolerance, so you never know whether you have 30 seconds or 5 minutes.
It’s rarely more than that, so you’d better be ready!

The room was not exactly warm, and despite how it looks, it’s always a priority to make the model as comfortable as possible, so I draped a blanket over her while getting her down on the ground again.