(Snapped on 6/08/12)
Last Friday morning, I awoke bright and early, dropped my kids off for their last day of school, packed my car full of costumes and all my camera gear - and drove three hours southeast, until I arrived at my destination...a friend's waterfront home on The Northern Neck in Virginia, near the Chesapeake Bay.
After giddily hugging, "Hello", and depositing my things in the guest room - my friend (Karn J) and I packed a cooler, and went down to the dock to bask in the sun, and soak in the calm, brackish water with her dogs. I can't even remember when I got my body in salty water last, but I can tell you that it's something that I've sorely missed (and badly needed!)...for many years.
Right away I could feel the restorative effects of being on, and in the water (and of being away from Clarke County for a bit...aaaaaahhhhhh) - and although I was to only be at Karn J's for 24 hours, it was becoming quite clear that the quick visit would no doubt do my sagging psyche a world of good...and if I was really lucky - I'd return home the next day with a bunch of new self-shots to share with you guys on the blog.
About 20 minutes after I'd arrived at Karn J's - I snapped out of "lazy vacationer" mode - and literally dove into my art. It took 45 tries, and multiple jellyfish stings (the first time I hit the water, I got zapped on the face - ow) before I finally snapped a photo that I could live with (see above).
(Snapped on 6/08/12)
I shed the wringing wet, turquoise, thrift store dress - and crossed my fingers that the scattered neighbors putzin' around on their boats and their docks - wouldn't call the cops when they saw me repeatedly launching my naked body into the water. Fortunately, no one seemed to care.
Not surprisingly, the jellyfish became a much bigger problem - without the blue dress protecting most of my body. I don't know what their fascination was with my nipples, but the little bastards seemed hellbent on stinging one or both of 'em, after practically every single dive - feckin' hell!
As the sun slowly tucked itself in behind the trees, I turned my attention from self-portraiture to Karn J. We hung out on the dock swillin' cocktails and boisterously chatting til nearly midnight...at which point we decided to turn in for the night, so that we could get an early start the next morning.
(Snapped on 6/09/12)
On my way out of town that Friday morning, I had stopped at the Sheetz to gas up and buy a soda and cigs for the road. While there, I got sidetracked when I bumped into, and caught up with a coupla friends - one of whom I haven't seen for at least 7 1/2 months...I know this because she's now that many months pregnant, and the last time I saw her - she wasn't pregnant at all. As we stood there talking about this, that, and the other - her prominent belly made my wheels start to turn...I had never pretended to be preggers in my pics., but I thought that it might be a fun thing to try. And so on the second day, after Karn J drove me to one of her favorite spots - I decided to give it a whirl.
Not really sure if the cigarette, the pissed-off expression, the heavy, blue eye shadow and the whorish, red lipstick - register as "trashy" the way I'd hoped that they would - nevertheless, it was a new and different theme, and I was in no way disappointed that I'd attempted it.
(Snapped on 6/09/12)
This abandoned boat pic., is whatcha might call a freebie...I had no preconceived notions about takin' this batch of snaps, but when I spotted the old boat behind the house where I'd just staged the pregnant lady shoot, I couldn't resist giving it a starring role in a handful of frames.
I started out pseudo-sunbathing on the the cockeyed bow of the wobbly boat, wearing the bathing suit that earlier I'd stuffed with socks (for boobs) and extra clothes (for the tummy), and then had worn under the black and white striped dress while posing as if "with child". The nondescript, brown one-piece had been indispensable in the pregnancy pics. - without it I'm not sure how I would've made my baby bump. In the boat pictures though, it just looked prudish, or something. I told Karn J that I was gonna havta take the rest of the pictures nude (for that's the costume that almost never lets me down). Predictably, she was completely cool with the plan, and very kindly offered to stand lookout so that she could warn me should a motorist approach. Nobody did.
(Snapped on 6/09/12)
The last place Karn J took me that day, was one of the coolest places that I've ever been...no lie. I have this mild obsession with bamboo anyway, but when I saw how this stand was in the process of aggressively swallowing up the structures on the property, all the while marveling at the sheer size (height and girth) of each individual stalk...I fell in love.
(Snapped on 6/09/12)
For as much as I'd relished taking self-portraits on the water at Karn J's place, I actually think I enjoyed the bamboo forest shoot a tad bit more. Perhaps because I was in such an unusual setting, or maybe because I'd focused on character development, as opposed to physical stunts...or it coulda been that the onslaught by the mosquitos in the bamboo forest, was nothing compared to that of the damned jelly fish...who knows. Whatever the reason though, it really makes no difference...
(Snapped on 6/09/12)
...because no matter what, I do know that I did not spend ample time taking pics. at either venue...nor did I explore the surrounding environs even close to my satisfaction. Bearing all that in mind, I predict that this was the first of many visits...cuz 24 hours ain't nearly enough time to conquer the great Northern Neck...
OH! And a gigundo, huge THANKS - to my new friend Karn J! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all that you've done for me!!!
