Start with a glamour
photograph and merge the figure into an imaginary world.
That is the technique of the photographers and graphic
artists at PhotoFantasies,
a small artist cooperative in Bradenton, Florida. Operating
out of a photo studio in the downtown district, these
three artists, Helmut Siegfried Bother, Michael DeFazio,
and Dave Eckerle use photography, latex coatings, air
brushing, and lots of computer power to render images
that are part real, part fantasy.
Imagine a beautiful girl going out
for a nighttime motorcycle ride. But imagine that the
girl isn’t riding the motorcycle, she IS the motorcycle.
What would that look like?
The first stage in the process is to
make the transition from reality to fantasy by giving
the model a new skin. The group uses latex instead of
conventional airbrush body paint because of the intensity
of the look and its durability during a shoot. The latex
accepts airbrush paint well, and it will not rub off.
Each session yields three or four selected
photos, taken with a Canon D60, that the group will
then work on to create the fantasy images.
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Here is what a session looks like
when the group is at work
(Click images for a larger view) |
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Jessica
Walsh, OMP #47288 is first tested for allergic
reaction to the latex. She has shaved all the hair off
her body from the neck down. If she doesn’t take
it off, the latex will. Think full-body bikini wax.
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Then
her entire body is sprayed with four coats of liquid
latex. The latex is available in several colors and
has a cream consistency. Unlike most applications of
latex which are done with brush or roller, Helmut Bother
sprays the model using an inexpensive HVLP (high volume,
low pressure) spray gun/compressor.
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The
thin coats create a surface that retains the look of
skin: lines and pores are clearly visible, but with
a decidedly nonhuman color and gloss. |
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the latex has dried, it is very cohesive. If the model
were to drop her arms to her sides, the latex would stick
and tear. |
So
the latex must be coated, in this case, with a purple
metalflake powder. |
Wiping
away the excess powder reveals a surface that looks
like cross between skin and a flexible metal. |
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On
to an (almost) conventional makeup session: T.J. Hutchinson,
a Sarasota-based makeup artist, fashions a hairstyle
and blue-metallic makeup appropriate to a “motorcycle.”
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A
bit extreme for the office, but perfect for the head
of a mechanism. |
Next,
DeFazio uses conventional airbrush paint to establish
a transition between the latex and the model’s
exposed skin on her neck, hands, and feet. |
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Airbrushing
these transition areas now saves a lot of Photoshop
work later. |
Anticipating
the final image of a motorcycle, Jessica poses on a
platform with a makeshift front axle between her hands.
A fan blows her hair back, establishing the illusion
of movement. |
These
shots were done on a Cromakey green backdrop, a technique
the group is abandoning in favor of simple black or
white backdrops due to the difficulty of removing traces
of green “spill” from fine details, such
as hair, in the composite image. |
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After an hour of adopting
strenuous poses for the camera, Jessica delights in
ripping off the latex. The entire process, from latex
application to final photo, takes roughly eight hours.
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For “J-cycle,” Michael
DeFazio fashioned the motorcycle parts using Discreet’s
3ds max, a favorite of computer game creators. He
prefers 3ds max for its stability, compatibility with
graphics cards and especially for its power and fast
render times.
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In the final image DeFazio uses only the model's head and shoulders as realistic elements and renders the motorcycle stylistically.
click here for a extra
large view
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In the final image
DeFazio uses only the model’s head and shoulders
as realistic elements and renders the motorcycle stylistically.
click here for a extra
large view
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Bother favors a more realistic image, as in “Barbarian
Queen”, a variant of the “Lady in the
Lake” theme which he crafted around a latex
photo of Johnnee, a Sarasota model. Helmut used Corel’s
Bryce 5 to generate most of the background image.
The group, which has done 22 fantasy creations to
date, finds a concept first and then searches for
a model whose body type fits the planned image. Models
are encouraged to apply since the group is constantly
auditioning for talent who can fit the new concepts.
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The group does latex
photoshoots roughly once per month, and the prints are
available on their website www.photofantasies.com.
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