Lately, I have been very inspired by the steampunk genre and have been
itching to create something garment wise in that direction. I also recently read a book titled The Secret Journal of Mina Harker, which as some of you may know was the heroine or female lead character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The clothing of that period is so lush and romantic and when I stumbled upon a steampunk/Victorian styled pattern by Simplicity, I knew I just had to make it.
As I was working on the outfit, I started thinking it would be cool to do a photo shoot…..a steampunk inspired shoot…..in a wrecking or auto salvage yard! I knew I had the perfect photographer – my tried and true fellow artist, Rob Leonardo of Robart Photography… now I just had to find the location.
I researched companies online in the Ottawa area and found Union Auto
Parts….a mere 5 minute drive from my house! Well, 5 mins when you don’t get lost because you take the wrong turn… Anyways, I got Rob on board (and super excited too!) and set everything up with the auto yard for a Saturday afternoon in November.
All I needed to do now was finish my sewing….and make an amazing hat to add more drama to the photos….with a really long and full train of black tulle/netting attached to blow in the wind. I also decided to pick up a cheap Dollar Store black umbrella and “destroy” it. This, with the hat, added just the right dose of Tim Burton (my favourite movie maker and director) to the whole ensemble.
The photo shoot was just incredible. It was a grey day (thankfully the rain held off) and
lighting for the effect we wanted to capture was perfect. There was also just enough wind to blow my veil around for some amazing shots. We pretty much had the place to ourselves and the gents who run the place were content to let us do whatever and go wherever we wanted.
Rob and I work immensely well together and seem to be cut from the same cloth (pun intended!) where vision, individuality and fearlessness are concerned. I can’t wait for our next meeting
of the hearts and minds! I have a few ideas brewing in the always bubbling cauldron called my mind……dare I say, cemetary!
I have placed a few photos from the shoot in this post for you to take in and if you’d like to see the rest of the culmination of our efforts, please go to Rob’s website at http://www.robartphotography.ca/Client-Proofs/Bombshell-Revival-Fashion/20214629_sJtwbJ#!i=1603419009&k=2vW2VkH .
Enjoy!
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