Last year several members of our faculty were selected to represent the East Carolina University School of Art and Design in a publicity campaign. I was one of those chosen. Yes, pictures of yours truly were used in a book highlighting the achievements of our esteemed faculty. This "Viewbook" as they called it, was distributed to art teachers and prospective students.

The photographer was Forrest Croce, and the designer for the publication was Catherine Kehoe. After much emailing we decided to shoot the pictures for the Viewbook at my house. They arrived just before lunch (so I wouldn't look fat) and after exploring my house decided the shoot should be in my studio.

My studio is a long narrow cave that is literally and completely underground, unheated, uninsulated and unfloored. Well, there is the concrete but it is slowly being consumed by a rather wicked mildew (notice the white stuff on the floor, sneaking up behind me), but that is another story.

The temperature in my studio that day was a balmy 59 degrees. Once the lights were set up and Forrest was an inch and a half from my face it must have been 62 degrees. The shoot took a little over 2 hours. I have to admit that I have never felt so pampered and adored. I think the closest experience that I have had was a barium enema. "Now this may be a bit uncomfortable but we want a good shot."

I have a large collection of very strange objects and toys that Katherine really liked. The floor of my studio is painted a rather shocking blue and mildew color which Forrest liked. So we spent a great deal of time trying to get the background just right. Here is how it went. Forrest and Katherine agreed that I should straddle a chair, so that I could look, well, maybe critical or contemplative, or serious, or hide the fact that the chair had a gaping hole in the seat.

Forrest, "This chair is exquisite. Look at the patina. It is perfect."

Catherine, "It looks like a toilet."

Forrest, "Scott, sit down and look straight into the lens. Follow it everywhere. Look thoughtful. That's perfect".

Catherine steps in to fix my collar and says, "Forrest we should try to get more of Scott's cool toys in the shot".

                                

Repeat the two sentences above for about five minutes.

Forrest, "Scott, sit down on the floor. Perfect. Do you know what the lotus position is? No, try just crossing your legs. Look right at the lens. Serious now. Not Jeffrey Dahmer. That's better".

Catherine steps in to fix my collar and says, "Forrest we should try to get more of Scott's cool toys in the shot".

Forrest, "Scott lay down on the floor. Have you seen American Beauty? That's it. Roll around a bit. Watch out for the mildew. I swear to God it just moved."

Catherine steps in to fix my collar and says, "Forrest we should try to get more of Scott's cool toys in the shot".

                                  

Forrest, "Scott your lips are blue. Catherine could you adjust the lights? Perfect. Let's try the chair again".

Catherine steps in to fix my collar and says, "Forrest we should try to get more of Scott's cool toys in the shot".

Forrest, "Scott I am now going to do some more unusual shots. Remember, keep your eye on the lens".

Forrest proceeded to run around the studio swinging the camera about like a ninja hack sword. Imagine The Matrix with no special effects and without the martial arts.

Forrest, "Scott try not to blink when the camera comes close to your face. These are my favorite shots. They're usually a little too artsy for the higher ups. Oh these are excellent. These are great. Oh I think I need to smoke a cigarette."

Catherine steps in to fix my collar and says, "Forrest we should try to get more of Scott's cool toys in the shot".

                                

 

Thank you Catherine. Thank you Forrest. I had a great time.