The H2o Series : Submerged

Another conceptual project to add to my repertoire is a collection of water-related photos which I have titled, The H2o Series. The first to be added to this collection is "submerged," an underwater shot of my subject, bboy Tim Chips.

The challenge of this series is that water itself is a difficult subject to photograph. There are tons of technical complications that require diligent planning, plus lots and lots of takes of each pose. Wardrobe was another detail we took particular note of, choosing a blazer that would flow with the water, and a vibrant red shirt that would set a sharp contrast against the blue.

In this particular photo, we had already been shooting for about an hour before we landed this shot. The water is about 12 feet deep, thus being quite the workout for Tim. There was also a great deal for him to think about and remember, as I guided him along where, when, and how to move. I, myself, being not the strongest swimmer and frankly quite afraid of the water at times, must give him the utmost respect and admiration for pulling off such a daunting task. Not bad for our first attempt!

The Making of a Couture Gown

An art form that I've enjoyed from a very young age, before I fell in love with photography, is fashion design. I learned to sew around age 8 by watching my mother hem our hand-me-down pants. All through the years (until very recently) I made clothes for my barbies, skirts and dresses for myself, all painstakingly by hand.

Fast forward to the present, and I'm revisiting my first love of making clothes, this time with an old singer 237 sewing machine. The project? A fabulous gown for the upcoming O'Christmas Trees Auction/Gala on December 3rd. Follow my photographic journey through this couture process, and cross your fingers for me that this will turn out a success!

day 1:
the sketch


my trusty fashion mate


I love my dress form


filling the bobbin


the first pinnings


ironing down the pleats


the needle is threaded


the neckline


made with love


it gets pinned before i sew


voila! a zipper


fitting #1, still kind of lumpy


*** This silk dupioni fabric was purchased in New York city at Mood Fabrics, made popular by the tv show Project Runway. I knew I wanted a bright jewel tone gown, and this blue is hard to find in fabric stores in Seattle.

day 2:
made in studio V


the back


fitting #2, looking more like a dress


*** I've already started to make minor mistakes in this process, thus owing much respect to the couturiers who do this for a living.

day 3:
starting to make a mess with all these scraps


unstitching a mistake


making straps


strike while the iron is hot


voila! straps!


godet cut out and ready to fit


godet stitching



*** I’ve been working on the dress for 2 hours a day, mostly during the day when there’s a broad amount of ambient light filling the room. So a total of about 6 hours has been spent on it so far. There’s still tons of finishing touches that need to be made, such as delicate beading that I will hand sew onto the straps.

day 4 and 5:
added the hook and eye


beads to be hand sewn onto the straps


timely sewing of beads by hand


more beads on the back of dress


finished straps


finished back


finished hemline



*** I did deviate a bit from my original sketch, adding the beading and altering the straps a bit. However, there's nothing wrong with improvising, as I let my creativity decide each new step.

There's a huge sense of pride in making one's own clothing. Every choice that I made for this dress came from my heart, so just knowing that it's one of a kind is the greatest accomplishment.

I'll finally get to wear it tonight, December 3rd. More photos and another blog of the finished gown to come!

Junebug Weddings

Every once in a while, I have the privilege of experiencing the other side of the camera as a model. In these photos, I modeled the classic bride look for Junebug Weddings. I love having these opportunities of being the subject because I feel that it helps make me a better photographer. I had a blast working with the crew of photographers and the make-up team, headed by Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studios. She is one of my favorite make-up artists and comes highly recommended by me for all your make-up artistry needs. Please visit www.junebugweddings.com for more.

Coosh Crash Test, Hosted by Massive Monkees

An evening in Seattle of local and nationwide performing artists were joined with a 2 on 2 bboy battle the first evening of November. I was excited for the event, held at the majestic Paramount Theater for many reasons. One of them being that not only was there a huge $10,000 prize for the winning crew in the battle, but because this event meant something big for the hip-hop community in Seattle.

The Massive Monkees were able to bring together not only the bboys and bgirls, but people of all ages and backgrounds who care about culture and arts. The show opened with a speech by Mayor Greg Nickels, who has been a strong supportor of the Massive Monkees and all performing arts in Seattle for many years.

Tt was a delight for me to be backstage in the hallways of the Paramount, joking and laughing in the camaraderie of the talent. It was a gathering of not only some of the most talented individuals in the business, but definitely some of the funnest! I had a blast, on and off stage, before, during, and after taking pictures.

Photos can be viewed at:
http://www.vivianhsuphotography.photoreflect.com
http://flickr.com/photos/vivianhsuphotography