back in the dark......

quakes have died down ...

a bit 

demolishing and renovating is at a balance and I am not "quite" so worried about being trapped in a chemistry full room in the dungeon labyrinth of the old house ....printing my Ancient Olive project .... so I have rebuilt and got my little darkroom up and running ... 

hose through the window for print washing in big post earthquake rainwater tub ....

tiny enlarger on top of fridge in storeroom ... 

read 

"pro photographers darkroom facility in Christchurch New Zealand April in the year 2011"

over 100 more beautiful 5x4 inch negatives to proof before working out the best for limited edition printworks ...

(I did a lot of work in the last month of my artists residence in Italy ) which was not possible to actually develop and see before the shows .... so now half of the project is still coming to light ... 

it's amazing ...

allorra 

today is a top secret code day ... 

the person concerned will know what I mean...

                            and if he doesnt he needs a good dong on the head with a saucepan....

                                       fmjd

                                 22 april 2011

fly on the wall...

crew cam ... the making of "skyflying"

sooooooo......modelling may not be not quite as wildly glamorous as suspected?

:)

skyflying...

the latest works are a progression of an idea I shot some years ago ... 

loving the spirit of "House of the Flying Daggers" and "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" .... I have made a giant fight-flight chase across the rooftops of Paris.

These images are for an editorial style conceptual catalogue for Fashionmasters in China ... its so fun working for this client, they really set you free on picture making...

it was an extremely tough and often painful shoot physically for the models , who were harnessed and suspended from the roof ...for long periods of time. They did really well and didnt complain at all ... Kimberley was exceptional ... one of New Zealand's former national gymnasts, and the other two; Michaela and Sophie were such great girls !!! All models were from Portfolio model agency which lost their premises and all in the earthquake .... 22 Feb 2011
Fortunately we did the shoot in the days before ...

the next post will be the making of ... :)  
crew cam...

the wishing fairy ...

just because ....

sad flag

from our sad lowered flag for our tragic deaths and loss of homes and businesses in Christchurch New Zealand in the February 22 2011 earthquake

 to even further and worse destruction on the same ring of fire in Japan 11 March 2011 

... I send good wishes to all our close neighbours and friends across the sea...

oddness...

odd

beautiful timing (or not)

alot of weirdness right now...

however ...
I have just finished the most beautiful campaign for the wonderous Trelise Cooper of New Zealand and I am so happy with the final works ...

and then ....
my professional photography monumental website and archive of all my work and exhibitions history and its Italian designers have disappeared into the ether ...
and at the same time I am temporarily here in the disaster zone
Christchurch New Zealand and earthquake after earthquake ...... since the Feb 22 2011 disastrous and all my camera gear is munted (as they say here ) and unusable ...
it is quite bizarre and must mean it is time for some dramatic changes ...


I am very particular ...but if you are up for a web design challenge for a fashion photographer/creative director with 25 years professional experience ...visit my agents sites and see my work there
www.internationalrescue.com/#/photographers/francesmelhop/_overview
www.paolasciarretta.com/ 

then let me know your ideas ....
and a quote ...


meanwhile ...latest works ... for Trelise Cooper NZ 

a most FAB designer
 

january... 2011 .......

waiting and waiting .........

for photographic darkroom equipment....  

only one set of multigrade lighting filters still to arrive ...

sigh ...

****************************

I have however, tested my favourite recipe ... 

and now is the time to send out the secret discovered in the depths of the south of the heel of the boot....

it is ... very very good.

but only my project backers will ever know....

tomorrow 22 january 2011 at 11.20pm NZ pacific mean time ... I will let the secret concoction from the Italian Nonnas out ......

........ :)   aaaaaaaaaarrrghhh lovely ...