MY STEAMPUNK REVOLUTION – Part 2

Dec 10, 2012 // by nadine // MY STEAMPUNK REVOLUTION, PHOTO EXPERIENCES, PHOTO SERIES, PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG // 1 Comment

LOCATION 1 : Utica Train Station

The studio shots were complete and we were off for our location shots. These have to be my favorite kind of shoots. Maybe it’s the photojournalist in me that loves the challenge of the unknown that can happen on these shoots, but the models seem to come more alive as they work with the environments.

Like in the past location shoots, I scouted out areas weeks before the shoot. I immediately had the train station on my list, with the old steam engine. What I hadn’t anticipated was when the trains would be rolling through the station. We were only about 10mins or so into the shoot when the first train passed by. The roar of the steal on the tracks, the rush of the wind as the train past added to the excitement and energy on the shoot. The models were great and embraced the passing train into their shoot and even got the train drivers to wave, and blow the whistles.

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LOCATION 2 : HOTEL UTICA

The Second location was secured only the day before the shoot as another location I had in mind fell through due to scheduling. As one door closes, another opens and I couldn’t of asked for a more perfect place to do the shoot. I always had the Hotel Utica in mind, but never had the chance to stop in to set anything up. I knew it was last minute and a long shot, but I figured what the hey! And they said yes!

The historical landmark hotel was built in the 1912. It became quite an establishment back in the day. It was rich with culture, prestige as many famous guest stayed at the Hotel. The walls of the mezzanine rang when Judy Garland once sang for the hotel guest; NY Yankee’s Mickey Mantle signed autographs infront of the hotel for the enthusiastic crowds; the beautiful Mae West also graced the halls, and President FDR Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt were also guest to the hotel after the Democratic Convention.

When I got the call that it was OK to do our shoot there, I was so excited. I was on the phone with the models as I had to push the time up to go there. With everything falling into place, we had an amazing time.

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LOCATION 3 & 4 : ROME & ORISKANY NY

The Third and Fourth locations were also based around historical places. The first was the former Griffis Airbase. They have a B52 Bomber plane (similar to the ones used in WWII) on display that I thought would be perfect for a pilot shoot. The plane was named The “Mohawk Valley” after the men and women who built, maintained and flew the plane. This particular plane first took flight in 1960 and flew during the Veitnam War and was used for training for the Gulf War. The plane now sits as a memorial to all those who dedicate their lives and defend our country. And the fourth location was at the memorial for the Oriskany Battleship. They have a huge anchor which came off the battleship on display at the Oriskany Museum and USS Oriskany Reunion Association. The Oriskany area was where the bloody battle of Oriskany took place during the Revolutionary War, which some say was a turning point in the war. Many years later, a battleship was built and named in the battle’s honor, the USS Oriskany.

Overall this shoot was huge, but the rewards were far beyond what I expected. Many thanks goes out to the models and to those who help make this happen. You can see some photos below and the others at www.MYSTEAMPUNKREVOLUTION.com