We have all been through that spell where we leave it so long you start to question yourself and your abilities. I have learned that when this happens you really need that “something” to do just to get back in the saddle. For me it was this shoot that I had thought about for a while that involved the interaction with a chicken. A lot of my images are based around old sayings or thoughts and for this one it was a case of “how can I tell this story?” The saying “What came first the chicken or the egg?” This was something I wanted to say visually with a new image so I asked about for anyone that had the chance had chickens. As bizarre as this sounded the last person, Sarah our hair and make-up artist came up trumps with two white hens.
We all arrived in the studio and after much messing around we got Simon (Foxy) into his outfit which was an old ripped suit. We decided to grunge him up with brown teeth and finger nails along with a lot of feathers and generally messed up. Gez Anthony and Deaks went about the setting up of video footage in order for them to do their bit. The video aspect is something I really love yet have little time to get involved with. Gez has taken to it like a pro and has really got the bit between his teeth for edits too! Deaks used his 360
360 BTS Photograph
The shoot itself was very funny and a good learning curve about working with animals. We left the chickens in a pair together with food and water and went through the posing practice and lighting beforehand. This meant that there was minimal disruption for the chickens and we could get done quickly. The egg that was placed on Foxy’s face was real and we fried it there and then. It wouldn’t sit without make up gum to his forehead and proved quite difficult.
We hit a number of poses but settled for this final image where I wanted to see enough of the chicken to make it the first thing you’d look at. It was at this point after a few images that Gez mentioned to burst the egg and see it run down foxy’s face and over his grungy suit. We thought it worked well and should remain in the finished image.
It was lit with a single light with large parabolic soft box and the image is made of three separate shots. Shot one for the best chicken pose, shot two for foxy’s best facial expression and sharpness and shot three for the running egg yolk. Looking back we are all very happy and await the behind the scenes video from the boys and note the great make-up and hair style done by Sarah.
Job Done!
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