Murder City Photography – Analog Artist Digital World

The Snap 2nd Live Fashion Shootout was held at the Orange Studio (1121 North Mills Avenue). At this event, photographers were given two beautiful models fully made-up and styled, a light and an infinity background. They then had five minutes to shoot. There was a cap at 40 photographers who could be professionals or amateurs.

I parked on a side street in the Mills/50 neighborhood. I passed a car with press credentials in the windshield and saw that it was from the Murder City Photography. Darn, I thought, I should have arranged a press pass to this event. I bumped into photographer Barry Kirsch outside near the entrance. He wasn’t going to be shooting photos. The suggested donation was $5 and I paid at the door. Patrick Kahn, the Snap Orlando Producer, greeted me and said, “It’s officially an event now.”

Inside I debated about sketching DJ Nigel who worked the sound board all night. I then noticed the models were still being primped and preened. I started a sketch but didn’t commit because the make-up was done before I could finalize a composition. I then found a spot in the corner of the photo studio that let me sketch the models and photographers. Models posed for a fraction of a second at a time as photographers shot. Each shot was then projected live on a screen so bystanders like me could see what the photographers were doing. Later in the evening, someone told me that a photo of me sketching was up on the screen. With my hiking boots and jeans I’m the antithesis of a fashion statement.

People on the sidelines were snapping cell phone pictures as well. A billion or so pictures must have been taken of the six lovely models. Tisse Mallon worked with two models, getting them to interact and have fun. Much of the time however the models glared at the camera threateningly. The room got packet with people sipping Peroni beer, and watching the leggy models vogue for the cameras. I had a chance to chat with Lisa Bates after the sketch was done. It seems her closet exploded like a volcano when she went in searching for an 80’s outfit for the Don Cornelius Soul Train Dance Party the following evening. The Orange Studio is becoming quite the social hot spot.

I was asked to exhibit several of my sketchbooks at Urban ReThink. The opening was on the Third Thursday in January and the work will be up through February 16th. Artists include Barry Kirsch, best known for his Murder City Photography, Ashley Inguanta, whose local photography had a surreal edge to it, Lesley Godeck Silvia, who had a bright neon ice cream swirl photo that looked great next to my sketchbooks. All the work depicted scenes from the City Beautiful. The two sketches of mine on exhibit are, Musical Mondays, and There Will be Words. Dina Mack, the curator, explained that she wanted work with a local flavor to accompany a Burrow Press’ 15 Views of Orlando Book Release Party. The book features 15 short stories written by local authors. All of the scenes in the book happen in different neighborhoods of Orlando.

Dina invited me to bring along a box of calendars to the art show opening. Urban ReThink is a bit removed from the downtown galleries that act as the hub of the monthly Third Thursday Downtown gallery hop. Dina and I sat outside Urban ReThink and she had a natural knack for inviting passers by inside to look around. Ashley was there to meet anyone interested in her work. Her pieces were hung clothes line style and they were very affordable. One young man expressed his interest in buying a piece. He insisted that she would have to frame the work however. Quite honestly the frame would cost more than she was charging for the art. I rolled my eyes. He was probably haggling because he was more interested in the artist than the art. In my sketch, Patrick Greene, Dina Mack and Ashley Inguanta were relaxing in the “living room” setting at Urban ReThink. I sketched fast with few interruptions since few arts patrons wandered in.

The gallery was a ghost town. A few people glanced at calendars but they couldn’t afford the $12 to buy one. The highlight of the evening for me was meeting Heidi Behr and Mark Egeland. Mark owns a bicycle manufacturing facility in Winter Garden. He showed me a few photos of the process and it would be an exceptional sketch opportunity. There are seven stations from metal entering the factory until the final product rolls out the doors. These are seven sketches I now want to capture. Who knew that bicycles are being made right here in Central Florida? Heidi is involved in Scooters for Hooters, a breast cancer fundraising event. We talked about how I might get more involved in this cause this year.