Lee Vandergrift » Shows

A little of this, a little of that…

lee123 — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:46:35 +0000

Just in case those of you out there are wondering, No I haven’t given up art for photography. I love both and though this year I’ve been focused on photography, I still love, with all my heart, my art! It was my major in college and I can do what ever I want. That being said, I like what I can with photography and working with people to make them look amazing through the craft!

I did a freelance job of my dear friend Kathleen’s dog Oreo Puccini, I did 2 other pieces of her other dog, Buddy and her cat Pumpkin. These pieces will eventually be hung in her home for years of enjoyment…I hope.

The photos if of Rachel, a young lady with many different looks! She was in the “Love at the Laund O’ Mat shoot and also in the “El Camino” shoot both with model Bartolome Colom. I got creative and went to a Lowes home improvement store where I preceded to pick up items I thought would be fun to use in a shoot. A rubber hose, chicken wire, industrial netting were a few of the things I picked up and purchased. My partner Tim always scratches his head when I bring this sort of stuff home, wondering how I plan to use it then is surprised when he sees the finished photo. I have always loved that “trick of the eye” when it come to photography. Check out the photos of Rachel Z. under PHOTGRAPHY then click on the little green box marked FASHION.

Enjoy,

Lee

Up dates…

lee123 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:56:14 +0000

Marissa and Justin, 2 new fresh faces breaking into the modeling biz. Both these shoots were they’re firsts with me and both, I think went really well. I shot Marissa a couple of weeks ago and the location was on the lake where my Dad lives, I’d shot Bart there a couple of days before and did some “companion” work for my book. “Jack and Jill” themed if you will, both walking down the hill with a pail of water. We had a lot of fun and fought the rain. I think the results turned out awesome! She’s a leggy brunette on her way, keep up the good work Marissa!

Justin and I shot yesterday and he was real eager to learn but it was hotter than hell outside here in sunny Florida! He’s Pacific Islander and has a really nice look. He’s young and he’s learning but if he stays the course I’m sure he’ll do well! All the best Justin!

Check out the rest of the images in PHOTOGRAPHY then click the little green box marked FASHION.

Thanks,

Lee

All day of shooting…

lee123 — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:45:31 +0000

This is how I spent my 4th of July weekend, shooting Bart, Rachel and Lauren. Not that I minded at all it just made for a loooooong day. Bart was the “constant”, we shot him first with Rachel in the morning and she was all that I could have asked for and more! Such a lovely, lovely girl and a joy to work with! You’ll be seeing more of her I hope. I decided to put these images from the shoot in EDITORIAL since they have that feel of telling a story and the story with Bart and Rachel was “Love at the Laund O’ Mat”. There’s this open air laundry mat close to the house and I always thought it would be a great for a shoot and it was!

I want to thank Betsy and all the patrons at the “mat”. Then came “El Camino” I’ve been looking for a vintage car to use in a shoot and this one just happen to be sitting by the road right down from where the laundry mat was at Johnny’s Filling Station and for thos of you out there who are not familiar with Johnny’s, BEST HAMBURGERS IN TOWN! I have to thank Mr.B and John at Johnny’s Filling Station for helping us with the car and letting us use it! Then it was “Into the Woods” Bart and I had been talking about going to my Dad’s house on the lake. It’s a great location for “nature” shoots!

Thanks Dad for letting us traipe through the house to get to the lake! Bart and I were getting a little tired at this point but one more shoot to go, Lauren and “Out on the Town” I don’t really use a flash and prefer natural light with my photography, don’t get me wrong I would use lighting if I knew more about it but I don’t. I want to thank Tim for assisting me all day and being so patient, you are the BEST!

The eveing before we went down town and did a “test run” to see how it would work and it was really helpful. Thanks again! So “Night on the Town” was inspired from the papizazzi. Following the glamorous Lauren & Bart around like I worked at the National Enquire was hard work, I see why they get paid so much and these two wanted me to take their picture! Lauren was just stunning and knew how to keep that “wind in her hair”! All the shoots were just fantastic and I want to thank all involved! Check them out under the heading PHOTOGRAPHY then click the little green box marked EDITORIAL.

Always,

Lee

Brown Hair, Brown Eyes and the boys of Summer

lee123 — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:46:35 +0000

I’m a sucker for pretty brown eyes and I’ve always perfered brunettes over blonds but I don’t mind deverestity, red heads, blonds, bald, whatever! I just seem to have been shooting a LOT of burnettes and just men too! So I decided that I’d embrace what the cosmos has sent me and shoot them all at once…it seemed the “cosmos” was not working in my favor for my grand idea. Two guys I wanted bowed out, one was in Italy, can’t grudge him that, and wasn’t sure about one and his work schedule. Bartolome and a new guy, Chase were a “Go” but up until the morning of the shoot I wasn’t sure we’d have 3. Alex, Bartolome and Chase or as I have named the shoot “the ABC” shoot were the one who made it and I’m very thankful they did!

My concept was to play on the whole “wolf pack” craze or that of three brothers hanging out doing what brothers do, standing around with their shirts off and modeling. That’s sarcasim if you didn’t pick up on that. But hey it’s Summer and it’s hotter than all get out here in the Sunshine State so standing around with your shirt off is about all you can do if you don’t have a pool! That’s why we were very lucky to have another location inside!

A big THANK YOU goes out to Ed Alvut for the use of his beautiful down town condo over looking Lake Eola! I couldn’t have asked for a better location with more perfect lighting than his breath taking home. It was a great location thanks again Ed!

Check out the 60 some odd photos (we took 803 total images) in PHOTOGRAPHY under the little green square labled FASHION to see all of the photos from the ABC shoot.

Always, Lee

New Face, Chris P.

lee123 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:49:48 +0000

On the weekends as you all may know I’ve been doing a lot of photography this was my minor in college. I love it and I love discovering new faces, like Chris here. Now he may not follow the “idea” of what a model is but he’s got that “geek chic” thing that is pretty hot! He NOT typical. He’s NOT generic. He’s NOT someone you’d forget if you saw him selling you some Prada loafers either! We just did a test shoot this week and I liked the results. I think we could do some fun and edgy stuff together so I hope that he likes the images and will want to work with me again! Beauty comes in all different sizes, shapes and colors and I find it in almost everyone I meet…almost. Check out the rest of Chris’ photos in the PHOTOGRAPHY section and then click the little green box marked PORTRAIT. I put him there because we weren’t shooting fashion shots. Those will come!

Lee

It’s getting hot down here!

lee123 — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:51:07 +0000

…And Bartolome may have something to do with it! Ok, we did another shoot this weekend and it was somewhere around the mid 90’s here in Orlando! It’s Summer in Florida and that’s the way it is, I’m a native so I’m use to this and it doesn’t bother me, much. You just have to stay hydrated! Bart was a real trooper with the heat and he just keeps getting better and better with knowing his light and using his body, plus he’s becoming more comfortable with his expressions too!

I have to thank Brett and everyone at Stardust Coffee and Video for letting us shoot in the shop! GREAT location and even better teas! I sure hope I can use this location again! I know I’ll be hanging out there a lot more, just to hang out! Check out the images we took under the PHOTOGRAPHY heading the click on the green button marked FASHION. Enjoy and stay cool this Summer!

Always,

Lee

More Bart…

lee123 — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:22:51 +0000

So Bart and I did yet another shoot and boy was it hot outside! Bart was a total Pro about it though doing quick changes in the back of the truck, standing on street corners while passer by’s yell out cat calls and getting into dirty dark basements of abandon houses! I like an adventurous model and Bart is all that and a bag of chips! Not only does he have “no fear” he’s learning at such a rapid pace and shoots amazingly! I told him after the first shoot I wanted us to do our own version of America’s Next Top Model, without the eliminations or catty girls but setting up “real world” shoots that would test his metal and get him ready for the big time in NYC. I also photographed Kelly, Bart’s lovely girlfriend, who will also be moving with him to the Big Apple to follow her dream of being a dancer. Just a few shots, in between costume changes for Bart, and you can see those photos of Kelly and Bart together in the PORTRAITURE section of the PHOTOGRAPHY. All the photos of Bart alone are in PHOTOGRAPHY and then just click the green button FASHION. We have a more shoots to do before he heads to New York City so keep it tuned to this “station” for up coming images!

Thanks,

Lee

There she goes, there she goes again…

lee123 — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:40:56 +0000

I love that song and really feel it fits with this photo shoot of Charlyn. We did our first photo shoot back in March and we both weren’t crazy about the outcome. Her suit was too shiny for photographs and my location to regimented for this free spirit. I think was going for corporate power house and that doesn’t really embody who Charlyn is.

Our second shoot took place on the the campus of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. I’ve shot there before but never really explored the whole campus, it’s really a beautiful college! Charlyn was fearless too, getting in the lake, sitting in the grass in her beautiful black dress and basically just rolling with whatever I came up with. We laughed and goofed around, the whole shoot was so different from the first shoot. I find that models usually loosen up toward the end of a session and once they get to know you and feel more comfortable with how the process works.

Thanks Charlyn for giving me a second chance! To see these lovely photos AND even the first shoot go to the PHOTOGRAPHY section then click the little green button at the top of the page title PORTRAITURE.

Thanks

Lee

Bartolome C. WOW!

lee123 — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:07:26 +0000

I always say that everyone should live in New York City at least once in their live just to say they did. I’m 45 and never have BUT at that age it’s a little too late so I go visit often. NYC is a city for the young and adventous like this model Bartolome C. I just shot this weekend. He and his lovely girl friend Kelly, a professional contemporary dancer are moving to the Big Apple in Sept. I could not be more excited for them and want to help them anyway I can to help them with this move. IT’S HUGE! Selling their cars and saving money, working for what they both are passionate about modeling and dancing! It’s the story movies are made of and they are both so youthful, positive and full of energy success is not far from reach for them. I hope to shoot Bart as many times as I can before he leaves so when he does make it big I can say ” I knew him when…”! I loaded the photos we took yesterday so check them out under the PHOTPGRAPHY section and click on the little green box at the top of the page labled FASHION. Leave some comments and let Bart know he’s on the right path.

Always,

Lee

Photo Shop Fun with Chris and Kelsea!

lee123 — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:25:26 +0000

So here’s the deal, I LOVE PHOTO SHOP! But, I’m still learning and need to know much much more to be able to take my photography to the next level. I love the fact I can take a photo that was take in a down town location and make it look like it was taken at the beach or under the Brooklyn Bridge. I see photography a lot different than I use to. Before I was pretty much set on the location I was at and even though I was able to make some of the craziest locations work for my needs it’s still great to know I can go and drop something else in if the mood hits me. BAM!

This shoot with Chris and Kelsea was a case in point. I had another location in mind but it was unavailable so we found other locations but not as good as what I had in mind. Enter Photo Shop! I’m still learning how to use this medium so forgive me for any Photo Shop faux pas.

Chris has a great look, still very green to the modeling biz, but getting lots of shoots under his belt and this was Kelsea’s very first shoot. Her Aunt Donna, my long time friend, was my lovely assistant and was also the one who told me about her. I hope to use Kelsea again for another shoot I have in mind just for her. This photo here is one I thought lent it’s to the very popular subject of Vampires, Oooooh Vampires! Since the Twilight craze I figured I’d do my own version and Chris really has that hot Vampire/Lestat/Edward vibe with his beautiful white skin, long hair and sexy, devilish looks.

Take a look at the images that I felt were more EDITORIAL than fashion so I posted them there, in EDITORIAL under the PHOTOGRAPHY section. Just go click on the link PHOTOGRAPHY above and then the little box marked EDITORIAL. Thanks and would love some comments.

Always,

Lee