In the rush to catch up with my shoots, I completely lost track of this great session last year in Cleveland. My wonderful model, Zach, happened to be in town and we decided to try one more crack at the industrial blight around the city.
So the remains of the Westinghouse and Hulett factories became our go-to places.
Zach and I have worked together multiple times and each shoot offers him a new opportunity to perform. It’s fun to watch him evaluate the scene and improvise an emotive action that leaves me speechless!
Hanging onto ropes, dangling from cranes and making ballet gestures 3 stories above the ground are just a small sampling.
But Zach not only executes amazing athleticism – he is also aware of gesture. “What can I express with my pose”.
It is a quality that makes a person more than just a model – they’re an artist in their own right. And I am so fortunate in the past few years to be able to work with more artists like Zach, each bringing their own touches to these shoots.
People always ask if I ever have problems with intruders. On this particular shoot, we were interrupted by a Cleveland police officer.
We’re pretty sure he saw Zach naked on a ladder, but after I explained that we were taking pictures and not destroying things he wished us a good day, turned and walked away. No mention of the nudity!
I always find that telling the truth is better every time. If you act suspicious, they think you ARE suspicious!
Having models like Zach is an invaluable asset. I admire their willingness to enter these dangerous realms.
Making these photos involves much research and planning, trial and error. Everything about the shoot is spontaneous and constantly fluctuating.
They are taxing to both photographer AND model. But the payoff is so rewarding!
More of Zach’s talent is found @zealous.adventures on Instagram.