Photography, Photoshop, Priorities – Gel Lighting glamour imagery with Reality Reimagined

When I began my photography career it was heavily based in the pursuit of mastering a camera and the lighting patterns that I gravitated toward as a creative. Photoshop played a key role, certainly, but it wasn’t my sole pursuit and was often a secondary or even tertiary aspect of our business.
 
When Reality Reimagined came into existence, Photoshop became my primary focus and the skills I had mastered in photography were often not necessary. When I needed an image for a composite, I was focused on pose, expression and story – not creative lighting and “getting it right in camera” each and every frame.
 
To return to that discipline of being a photographer first, is such a welcome breath of fresh air and I have been enjoying that excursion lately in my dual-balance of composite fantasy art and glamour or boudoir imagery.
 
Beth Fraser and I worked together almost exactly one year ago, shooting a swimsuit series in an infinity pool. I instantly had a blast with her and was drawn to her look and features. She has not only a great command of her body for posing and just simply knows what is flattering to the camera, but her exotic beauty is a great foundation to create with. We made plans for some highly creative imagery, but I couldn’t seem to get my schedule to line up as my career and life was becoming a amazing, but very winding road.
 
To see her again and work with her was a wonderful evening of photography and I look forward to the future creativity to come.


 
Model: Beth Fraser
Photography and Photoshop art: Reality Reimagined
 
#model #fashion #glamour #gellighting #gels #colorful #sexy #powerful #exotic #photography #photoshop
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Valkyrie of Vengeance returns – composite art photography from Reality Reimagined

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
 
The first time that I worked with Mary Poll was during the 2017 Shutterfest conference. She had reached out to me a few months before the conference and expressed her interest in creating something together. Her work with other folks at Shutterfest was outstanding and I was (to be quite honest) a little nervous to create with her, as I felt I had a very high bar to reach for.
 
We discussed the design elements of this character and a very crude foundation of who she is. However a vast amount of what it became was truly unknown until Mary stepped in front of the camera. Within seconds the story was born, the feelings where all there and the character of the Valkyrie of Vengeance came to life.
 
I had such a thrill and joy creating those images and the first piece I made was also the first image under the Reality Reimagined brand to be published in a printed magazine.
 
Mary and I were set to work together again on this character, with the intent of competing in the image competition circuit for this year. We came close to finding the right window of days for travel to Iceland to capture this story in the environment that I had envisioned. However we couldn’t get the dates aligned (which was a blessing in disguise because the weather in Iceland was rough) so we had to settle for a shoot at Shutterfest 2018. This unfortunately put us past the deadline for submission to the image competition circuit and I sought a different talent to step into this role.
 
Today it is with a great sense of fulfillment that I return to the original version of this character and the power, beauty and fluid grace that only Mary Poll can give to the Valkyrie of Vengeance!

Valkyrie of Vengeance – Altar of Sacrifice

 
Model: Mary L. Poll
Makeup art: Jennifer Hargiss
Leather headdress and bracers: Vincent Cantillon
Feather shoulder harness: Videnoir
Photography and Photoshop art: Reality Reimagined
Location elements shot at Black Beach in Iceland
 
#fantasy #art #composite #photoshop #beauty #darkness #valkyrie #vengeance #education #topazlabs
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Conversations – Awards from the International Print Competition PPA 2018

I am so very grateful to share this image today and the achievement that comes with it.
 
This is the first piece that I prepared purposefully for the International Print Competition hosted by Professional Photographers of America, and it is also the first time that I have been a part of this very illustrious and difficult competition.
 
I would like to take this moment to thank three of the people involved in bringing this image to life. First and foremost, my wonderful wife Bethany. Her encouragement and support is never-ending and for that I am grateful. The amazing talent embodying the character of the Valkyrie of Vengeance, Bri Robynn Rambo. You are as talented on camera as you are behind it and I am thankful to have had the chance to create with you. Finally, the lady that shares her creativity, friendship and wisdom with me: Lauren Edmondson. You are the best and I look forward to the art ahead of us.
 
I started doing research on the competition early in 2017 and was prepared to enter, but I stalled and decided not to be a part of it. I create art all the time; the work has elements that are done well and pieces that can always be improved. When I was an actor, I constantly heard from mentors and teachers that a great actor leaves a final performance never feeling as if the journey is done and the work is ready to be finished – you can always improve. It was that philosophy that motivated me to not compete, because I simply do not create my art to follow the “rules of the game” for a competition.
 
When I competed in the Shutterfest 2018 image competition and took first and second place in my category as well as Grand Award for the entire competition, I was indescribably awed and so very thankful. I entered several pieces into that competition, but only one that I purposefully put my gathered knowledge and wisdom together to compete. That image is the piece that won. That moment gave me a greater gift than trophies or prizes: it gave me a conversation with my father who was dying. He had been so worried to leave this life, for fear that his children and wife would be left alone to fend for themselves. When I told him about that award, the conversation I had with Sal Cincotta on the phone that night, he rested his head back on his chair, closed his eyes and softly said, “You’re gonna be okay.”
 
That moment impacted my life completely and became a new cornerstone in my foundation and purpose.
 
My image for the IPC received a score of 95 which is the Superior category and also automatically enters the image into the exclusive Loan Collection of Professional Photographers of America. This is one of the highest honors you can receive from this competition. My image will travel the world and be seen by so many.
 
So Dad, you’re right – I’m gonna be okay. Thanks partner, for everything.


 
Leather bracers: Vincent Cantillon
Feather shoulder harness: Videnoir
 
#award #ipc2018 #ppa #grateful #believeinyourdreams
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Las Vegas isn’t just for gambling – Composite Photoshop art from Reality Reimagined

You go to Las Vegas to gamble and party, right?
 
Well my wife and I didn’t exactly go there for those reasons. As a matter of fact we were in bed each night by like 10:00 pm and we didn’t gamble a dime in the casinos. What we did do was see some fantastic theatre, eat too much food and I photographed my Photoshop-compositor-stock-image-seeking butt off.
 
This piece features the fantastic modeling talents of Brittany Boysel, once again touching on the realm of boudoir, fantasy and Elves. The background of this image is the front facade of the Venetian casino.
 
We arrived a bit early that morning to try and capture stock images without the droves of people in the background or the harsh light indicative of the southwest. After a good hour of shooting I was able to fill my card with a lot of great imagery that will provide for some fantastic backgrounds.


 
Photography and Photoshop art: Reality Reimagined
 
#boudoir #fantasy #elves #composite #art #photoshop
 
 
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Hela cosplay composite art – Darling you have no idea what’s possible

I’m starting to embrace the Marvel universe a bit more these days. Been catching up on several years worth of movies and the stories definitely do not disappoint. I have always been a DC Comics fan and I’ve maybe read like three Marvel comics in my lifetime. However thanks to some fantastic friends that love this universe, I have learned to love it as well.
 
So when my good friend Jaime said “I’m bringing my Hela cosplay to the shoot” one can understand why I assumed she meant the adjective and thus my response, “hella cool – which one are you bringing?”
 
Thank goodness these folks like me.
 
When I finally watched Thor: Ragnarok and witnessed the scene involved in this piece, my breath was taken away for sure when Hela manically mutters, “darling, you have no idea what’s possible.”
 
The world of Marvel, my amazing friends and their passion for cosplay is a testament to that statement.


 
Cosplay/Costume: Jaime Hoskins
Photography and Photoshop art: Reality Reimagined
 
*Mjolnir was not harmed during this photo shoot*
 
#marvel #cosplay #composite #art #hela #thor #mjolnir #friends #realityreimagined #photoshop #wacom #topazlabs
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