Phase 1: First, a quick look at online maps/street views helps us determine if it’s worth a site visit. Next, we’ll check county records for ownership records and obtain permission to enter the property.
Our first visit is usually solo, probably with just a digital camera and maybe our drone. The goals are to document the site and scout out the possibilities. (Of course, we'll have a film camera in the truck if something spectacular hits our eye.)
Phase II: After reviewing the photos from the scouting trip, we’ll put an informal mood board together. We’ll return with three goals:
This will be an informal adventure and will probably involve at least one model. We’ll shoot both film and digital, experiment with lighting and just play around with different ideas. The real goal is to get familiar with the site.
Phase III: With the preliminary research out of the way, it’s time to get serious. The site is pretty well documented, we’ve narrowed the mood board down to three or four scenes and have a rough idea of the artistic possibilities. The third trip will involve models in full costumes, lots of large format film, auxiliary lighting (strobes, reflectors etc), props and who knows what else.
Hopefully, the effort results in at least one spectacular photo!
Of course, plans are seldom worth the paper they’re printed on! Everything may change halfway along and we’ll modify our goals to fit.
Depending on the location, we may choose to return later with different models and a different vision.
If you know of a forgotten dream, let us know! This is not limited to abandoned homesteads: old mills, grain elevators, silos, gas stations, school buildings and store fronts. Anything that represents a dream that has been forgotten.
We want to capture them before they’re gone forever.
