Cheap Motel

As soon as I got off the plane in Ohio, rockstar Chip Willis picked me up from the airport. We spent the whole night chatting and shooting. Chip is also one of my most favorite people to work with. You never know what he's going to come up with. Creativity just oozes from his pores.

We created some awesome images that night - but be warned, this isn't the usual "Brooke" that you're used to seeing. A bit more edgy, sensual, and challenging. Challenging for me, at least. A bit scary, exciting, thrilling and uncomfortable. But that's most, if not all of the reason it was so fun. It's always great stepping out of your comfort zone as long as you're with someone you trust.

Here's a sampling of the images we created that night.







Thanks Chipsta!!!


Oh, if you haven't checked it out yet - I now have an *active* Tumblr.
Woopdie-do!

You can't always get what you want

but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need.

A few local things happening.

A new organization aimed to foster rewarding collaborations between the professional, creative forces of fine art figure photographers and figure drawing models has just been born here in the Twin Cities. It is called Phigural. Once I have more information, I will gladly pass it along here. I went last night to its first meeting, and it was very well received; I saw a lot of familiar faces and hopefully met some new people I will eventually have working relationships with.



So my original plan to get out to Palm Springs was to take a roadtrip down and shoot along the way before and after the workshop. That fell through because of the car's condition. I resolved to fly out there, and was gathering the capital to purchase the ticket when I was approached with an opportunity to travel with another Twin Cities photographer who just so happens to be taking the workshop that I'm modeling for. So I'm on another roadtrip, just not my own. But we will be hitting some marvelous hotspots, and hopefully get some amazing art out of this process. I know I'm going to be taking and shooting a lot of film myself!

My next week will consist of me preparing for this roadtrip and making sure I have all the necessary essencials without overpacking. But good news is, I can finally wear shorts again, as long as the weather cooperates. My legs need some sun.


Some amazing things have been happening lately, both good and bad. I'm just trying to sponge it all in, learn, and grow.





____________

Chip Willis.

I guess I was wrong

because I thought you were the only person who would understand.



I hate getting out of bed... especially when the mornings start like this one did.



I hate mornings....even with coffee.



I'm so angry. But it will be temporary. Everything always is.





_________________

Chip Willis.

Random Incident that Made My Night

Last night as I got into the car and turned on the stereo to 89.3 the current (my favorite radio station) I caught the tail end of Mark Wheat saying in his lovely british accent "...be caller number 10 and you'll win these pair of tickets."

I debated whether or not to call, because I had not heard the name of the band that they were giving tickets to, and I know that Mark would ask that if I was caller number 10 (because I had won a pair of tickets a couple weeks prior and he had asked if I knew what band I was getting tickets to), but I decided to anyway. So I call... and it rang through on the first try! Then I heard Mark say, "Thank you, you are caller number 7." And I said, "Okay, thank you." He replied with "Cheers. Have a good night."

Then, two songs later, they played one of my ultimate feel-good songs, "Bruises" by Chairlift.



I couldn't have been happier.


What did I realize from all this happening?

Try, even if you think you might fail. You'll be surprised how far the effort alone will take you. And even if you don't succeed, something marvelous will still happen, even if its not completely clear at that time. You just need to be open, optimistic, and mindful.



Chip posted this just a little while ago. This image captivates me. I can't pinpoint what exactly about it that keeps me entranced, but I think that that fact alone makes me love it even more.

_____________

Chip Willis.

Playing hookie

So, I've been playing hookie from school this past week. It was pretty much necessary - I've been bogged down with stress, the blues, and family gloominess that I just needed to hop on a plane, escape, and go have some fun and make some art.

I've had an amazing time this week. I finally got to work with two photographers I've wanted to collaborate with for a very long time: Nad Iksodas & AJ Kahn. They were wonderful, and I had an absolute blast creating art with both of them. I also got to visit and stay with Lela Rae again, which was so very lovely. She is a sweetheart.


(Photo by AJ Kahn)

I also got to work with two favorites again: Dave Levingston and Chip Willis. Both have very different styles, but both are brilliant in their own way.



(Photo by Chip Willis)


"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up." - James Baldwin


I am happiest when I am naked. And with friends. Preferably at the same time.