This past weekend I set up the portable studio to shoot at the participants of the September Surrender event.  This was the inaugural year for the convention/fetish party, held at the Night Hotel in Dallas.  Many wonderful folks there, some dressed up in their finest latex, leather, chainmail, taffeta and sometimes, nothing at all.  I had a great time, and made a few fantastic photographs.

Project Barbatype

The Facebook page for Project Barbatype is up an running!  I will continue to post images on this site, but more comprehensive information about the project can be seen here- 

Project Barbatype

A few more images from the last shoot- "BeardFest 3" in Dallas, May 10

Troy Hawley

Christopher Ornelas

Boyd Conkle

Jamie Holley

Beard and Moustache competition at the Cobra Brewery in Lewisville TX

The Beard Competitors project is progressing along (though Bryan Wing and I have been kicking around some nifty title ideas for the project, we haven't settled on one yet).

These events are really a blast, everyone has such a good time.  I have to say it is nice to have someone look at their portrait plate and holler "THAT IS TOTALLY BAD ASS!!"

And they are bad ass!

Bobby Joe Graham

 

 

Boyd Conkle

Brett Strauss

Carlton Stovall

Clayton Jackson

"Cub"

Derrick Rima

Eric Adams

Gordon Peterson

Jackie Ellison

Jake Chico Pacheco

Jeffrey Sailer

Jeffrey Hannah

Manuel Flores

Rodney Flores

Stephen Hunt

Tex Morgan

Tim Burnley

Troy Martin

Velvet Strauss

William Ruffin

Zacstache

Austin Facial Hair Club Beard and Moustache Competition- Feb 22

About a year ago, I was talking with Bryan Wing, who has been wanting to learn how to do tintypes, and the conversation evolved to where we had the idea of starting a project photographing competitive facial hair contestants.  Well, much planning and technical tweaking later, the project is finally under way.

I headed down to Austin this past weekend to shoot tintypes of the contestants at Come and Shave It #8.  Such great people- and some amazing faces!  I was certain I'd have to talk people into giving it a shot, but many of these folks waited in line for over 90 minutes to get their tintypes done.  I ended up having to turn people away at the end.  Next year my bearded bretheren, I will be back!!

For my first serious location shoot- the results were well beyond all my best expectations!!!

Hopefully, we'll soon be working more with the North Texas Beard Alliance and the Denton Beard Club. I'll be pulling together a Kickstarter project so we can attend the 2014 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Portland, Oregon in September.

The response in Austin this past weekend was fantastic and I am feeling very positive about this project.  I'm very very happy with the results, and I hope you all enjoy them too.

Eric Menz

Daniel Lawlor

Brian Damaged

Damien Stein

Hael Fisher

Isaiah Webb

Matt Van Hefter

Roberto Campos

Sean Leary

Shelby Przybyiek

Thomas Burke

Tim Coyle

Kyle Bauer and Cassie Kinard

Zach Stacey

First tintype attempts with strobe- Yah!

That's Bryan Wing, a friend and collaborator.  We have been making plans for a portrait project shooting folks who participate in competitive bearding!

I'm ridiculously happy about this.  I had been working on getting a continuous-light setup going, figuring strobes would be more hassle.  But with this one shoot, I'm hooked!  One BIG massive pop from that strobe head and all the issues about long exposures (including having to explain to my sitter why they have to sit still...  the anxiety that creates for them!).  Sharp, clear details where it is sharp, and liquid melted light in back.  Gorgeous!

Another from the same session this Saturday, Ross Faircloth-