Category:Photography

Purple Rain

Zana and I had a shoot planned for April 2020 when you-know-what reared its ugly head. All we could do, was postpone. And postpone again. And again. And again until finally we felt it was safe to shoot earlier this summer. We had hoped for a beautiful summer’s day so we could shoot outside. But instead, we got a chilly drizzle. We retreated to my studio where we shot this series on a lilac background. So, this was sorta a Purple Rain shoot.

We had a lot of fun though. And the results turned out just great. Thank you for a fun shoot Zana! Let’s do that again some time.

Model Zana Wearing Lilac Latex and Ballet Heels
Model Zana Wearing Lilac Latex and Ballet Heels
Model Zana Wearing Lilac Latex and Ballet Heels
Model Zana Wearing Lilac Latex and Ballet Heels
Model Zana Wearing Lilac Latex and Ballet Heels

Lady in Red

After a very long wait–due to you-know-what–my dear friend Romi returned to my photo studio.

Somewhere in the middle of the pandemic, Romi shared a pic of her wearing this beautiful red dress. I told her that would be the perfect dress to have a go at something we tried before: a vanilla dress and latex gloves. So of we went… With a red dress, red latex gloves on a red backdrop.

Model Romi is my Lady in Red with Latex Gloves
Model Romi is my Lady in Red with Latex Gloves

Tell me though… When you see this pics, what’s the 1st song that comes to mind? I bet you, you think of that 1 song from a few years back. Me, I’m a little bit older… I think of that 1980’s ballad by Chris de Burgh. Lady in Red. Let’s be honest. Who would not want to dance the night away, with this lady in red? ‘Cause after all, take away the latex gloves and Romi still looks awesome!

Model Romi is my Lady in Red
Model Romi is my Lady in Red

And to be honest… These pics look good in black and white too… I mean: Romi looks good in black and white too.

Model Romi is my Lady in Red with Latex Gloves

Pink by Shannety Again

It seemed like an eternity since Shannety and I had done a pink themed shoot. So I dug up a very classy black latex outfit and my pink backdrop for this rendition of Pink by Shannety. With latex from Lüllepop, Pandora Deluxe, Westward Bound and Mico Couture, and high heels from Pleaser Shoes, this is the most mix’n’match outfit I’ve put together in years.

I think the outfit looks absolutely gorgeous on Shannety. What do you think?

Shannety wearing the most luxurious black latex
Shannety wearing the most luxurious black latex
Shannety wearing the most luxurious black latex

Bohemian Photo Shoot

My friends Karin, Luc and Michel invited me to join them on a Bohemian photo shoot. Luc and Michel had already scouted a location close to where I live. Karin was going to do the styling. We all published a model call on our Facebook and Instagram pages and selected 4 models from the many responses. Catalina, Syri, Heidi and Sharon joined us for what turned out to be a fun shoot and a post-pandemic reunion with friends.

Here are some results from that shoot:

Bohemian Shoot with Model Catalina
Bohemian Shoot with Model Catalina
Bohemian Shoot with Model Catalina
Bohemian Shoot with Model Heidi
Bohemian Shoot with Model Sharon
Bohemian Shoot with Model Heidi
Bohemian Shoot with Model Sharon
Bohemian Shoot with Model Heidi
Bohemian Shoot with Model Syri
Bohemian Shoot with Model Catalina
Bohemian Shoot with Model Syri

Final Season for the Dark Falcon

Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon

The 2021 airshow season will be quite short and still full of uncertainties and complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, pretty much every airshow in Europe got cancelled. And this year is still uncertain. But I got to go to Florennes AB for their spottersday. The spottersday replaced the yearly Belgian Air Force Days that got cancelled due to COVID-19.

2021 will be the last year of Sr Cpt Stefan Darte callsign Vador as a demo pilot of the Belgian Air Force. He will be flying his F-16 Dark Falcon one last year to represent Belgium and the Belgian Air Force around the world.

Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon
Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon
Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon

It was a rather gloomy day when I was at Florennes AB. That usually is no recipe for good photos. But it is does create the possibility of vapor trails and vapor cones. Sorta likes this…

Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon

Before Vador started his solo display, he joined a Supermarine Spitfire mk.XVI for an historic commemoration flight. A remarkable display where the Dark Falcon is flying close to stall speed and the Spitfire at Vmax.

Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo for 2021 - Dark Falcon

I am looking forward to meeting Vador again at the Sanicole airshow in September.

Dark Queen

I’ve got a few dark and grungy shots from Shannety to share. She’s wearing an all black latex outfit. The bodice is from Lüllepop, the plenum is from Lady Lucie Latex and the accessories are from Westward Bound and Pandora Deluxe. All those years of collecting latex from the coolest designers everywhere is paying off. I can mix and match to create fun combinations.

We shot these photos on a pink background. Would you believe that?

Shannety wears latex Lüllepop, Lady Lucie Latex, Westward Bound and Pandora Deluxe
Shannety wears latex Lüllepop, Lady Lucie Latex, Westward Bound and Pandora Deluxe

Hello A400M

The Belgian Air Force is replacing their almost 50 year old Lockheed C-130’s with new Airbus A400M transport planes. The 1st few planes have already been delivered. Belgium has ordered 7 A400M’s. As you read this, the 1st few have been delivered.

The Luxembourg Armed Force also ordered an A400M which will be operated by the 15th Wing Air Transport of the Belgian Air Force under a binational agreement. That means that the transporter will be based at Melsbroek AB in Belgium. Both the Belgian Air Force and the Luxembourg Armed Force can use the plane.

We got a closer look at the CT-01 of the Luxembourg Armed Force at the spottersday of the 2W TAC at Florennes AB.

Airbus A400M Atlas
Airbus A400M Atlas
Airbus A400M Atlas
Airbus A400M Atlas

Goodbye Mighty Herc

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The Belgian Air Force is saying goodbye to these beautiful old ladies: we are replacing our trusty Lockheed C-130 Hercules with brand spanking new Airbus A400M Atlas planes. After almost 50 years of service–the 1st C-130 came into service in early 1970’s–it is time for the C-130 to retire.

The demo at the 2021 spottersday at Florennes AB may have been my last chance to see one of these birds up close in flight. I have grown up with seeing them everywhere. Not just at airshows, but also in daily operations. One of the coolest memories about the C-130 I have, is their demo of dropping cargo at low level in full flight. It was really spectacular to see them open up the cargo door at back, decent to almost on the deck and drop bags of supplies. Back in in the days, they used that technique to distribute food and supplies on humanitarian missions.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Lockheed C-130 Hercules

She’s So Fluffy!

That global health crisis forced me to put a halt on my photography. I am very happy that I can start working in the studio again. I’ve used the break in the action to come up with new ideas, fun outfits and cool combos. This is the 1st of the new stuff. Shannety and I combined the fluffies from Funki-B with a latex skirt from Atsuko Kudo and heels from Pleaser Shoes and we were of to the races.

When I see these photos, I wanna shout out: “She’s sooooooo fluffy! I’m gonna die!”. In case you don’t get that reference, go watch Despicable Me.

Shannety wears latex from Atsuko Kudo and fluffies from Funky B
Shannety wears latex from Atsuko Kudo and fluffies from Funky B

The Making of a Product Shot

It ain’t easy to be a non-commercial photographer in the middle of a pandemic. Especially when you’re used to work with models Keeping 6ft apart, wearing mouth masks, government rules and personal safety–mine and my models’–sorta forced me to halt all studio shoots for 6 months.

One way out was product shoots for my friend’s webshop: SecretLittleCloset. Skirts, dresses, swimwear and earrings! Yes, you’ve read it right: earrings! I am always in for a challenge, so I built myself a little product studio and started working on it.

Shannety and I had bounced some ideas around. She wanted a series of photos where the earrings are dangling from a twig. I said I had some ideas with flowers. Off I went to the florist for a bouquet of roses and some orchids. I cut a nice twig from a tree in the garden. And I started experimenting. Dug up some tools and props around the house and carefully started to build a scene. Well, several scenes actually.

Behind the scenes of a product shoot
Behind the scenes of a product shoot

After a couple of hours of trying and tweaking, I finally had a setup that worked for me. Things became easy then. I finished the complete shoot in about 30 minutes. Here are a few of the final results of my hard work.

Earrings by SecretLittleCloset.be Product Shot
Earrings by SecretLittleCloset.be Product Shot

You can buy these and all other earrings I shot that weekend in the jewelry section of Shannety’s SecretLittleCloset.