This shoot with Lunar came about in a pretty unusual way. We were both living in Johannesburg South Africa, and, as it tends to happen often out there, the power was scheduled to go out for a few hours. Rolling blackouts are a regular thing in the dirty dust bowl of JHB and when you’re in the middle of one, there's no electricity for hours at a time. So instead of sitting around in the dark, we grabbed some candles and decided to make some art.
The result? A set of photos lit entirely by candlelight. It’s not exactly a high-tech solution, but hey, when life gives you blackouts, get creative.
As this was originally shot for a certain alternative online magazine/website who must not be named the theme started with Lunar fully dressed, and as the shoot progressed, she revealed more of herself. By the end, she was fully nude, bathed in nothing but the soft glow of candlelight (and a little sweat from the lack of air conditioning).
What I love most about these images is how raw they feel. There's no fancy lighting, very few distractions, just the flicker of flames and the natural raw beauty of Lunar. The blackouts might have been inconvenient but it forced us to really slow down and focus on the basics, light, shadow, and some interesting compositions.
If nothing else, this series is proof that even when the power goes out, creativity stays on. So, if you’re ever caught in the dark with no electricity, take a page from our book: light a few candles, grab your camera, and see what happens.
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