Parlor of Horror has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Now, although I have no idea what this means or what it’s all about I have to say that I am pretty honored. I have never participated in such an event but thought I’d give it a shot.
Apparently I have to nominate 10 other blogs and participation is not necessarily “mandatory”. So, your mission, should you choose to accept it is listed below. And, if you choose not to participate, your DEAD to me! Kidding – no hard feelings whatsoever! If I don’t nominate you, don’t worry as this is all new to me and probably don’t really know what the hell I’m doing anyway
Ok, so maybe it’s not mine, but I’m on board as AD (Assistant Director for those who didn’t know – was that too posh?) as well as casting director and set designer (more like assistant set designer)! Pretty exciting stuff – but in order to make this happen we are calling on the public, friends and family to show their support and lend a helping hand in order to get the funds.
There are strong opinions on both sides of the fence that either A.) hate the Rob Zombie Halloween reboot or B.) Absolutely loved it. I’m one of those that hang onto the fence not loving the reboot, but not hating it either.
So it’s a fake “bootleg” trailer for the upcoming horror remake, The Evil Dead. As much as I was not happy with the announcement of the remake, I have to admit that this fan-made horror trailer for the film almost gave me some goosebumps (almost!) Pretty impressive, to say the least.
Browsing the web for good examples of dark photography, I stumbled upon photographer Amanda Norman, who is based out of the UK. Starting out as an amateur photographer, Amanda has taken her love for photography and blossomed it into a major talent who, I believe, is only getting started with her craft.
I found myself immersed in her photos as they capture the essence of both dark and Gothic and was compelled to reach out and talk to her. And so, I did.
To my surprise, she responded and a conversation ensued. I got to know her a little and thought it would be a good idea for others to get to know her as well as to help spread her fantastic work. Hence, this interview was conducted.
ReelyBored: When did you decide to become a photographer?
Amanda Norman: I’ve never made a conscious decision to become a photographer.
I just started taking photographs. At first they were snap shots and that’s when I decided that I wanted to capture the atmosphere and emotion of my subjects, which isn’t that easy to do. I’m still learning, but I’ve always had a creative mind.
ReelyBored: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
Amanda Norman: This is a hard question.
Like I said in my previous answer, my first shots were just snaps and I wasn’t happy with the photos I took of an angel in the local cemetery as it didn’t have no atmosphere about it. I wanted to portray the eerie feeling I sensed when walking past these life sized statues. Remember the scene in Interview with the Vampire when the eyes of that statue follow Louis? This is the feeling I get and the first photograph of an angel that made me go WOW is this one due to the dark shape against a brooding sky.
ReelyBored: Define the word “beauty”!
Amanda Norman: You like asking hard questions don’t you?
I find beauty in objects or places that inspire my creativity. It’s usually something that has taken many hours or years to have been created.
ReelyBored: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
Amanda Norman: I wouldn’t say that my personality changes other than I possibly become a loner as I don’t have anyone in my personal life who understands my passion for creating Gothic or horror photography.
ReelyBored: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
Amanda Norman: The first image that had me awe struck was Salvador Dali’s ‘Spain’. On first impression, it looks like a battle scene in a desert, but when viewed carefully, you can clearly see a woman known as ‘Mother Spain’ leaning on a chest of draws. This painting tells a story about the Spanish Civil War. Other images of Dali’s that excite me are ‘Swans Reflecting Elephants’ and ‘The Face of War’ as I find that particular one creepy.
I believe that Salvador Dali taught me that every picture should have a meaning to it. You need to draw the viewer in and let their imagination take over. If someone just glances at a photo, what’s the point in taking it to present to the world?
ReelyBored: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
Amanda Norman: Favourite subjects to photograph are usually old and eerie. I like taking photographs of Gothic architecture especially if it’s in a decayed state as I find it a shame and a challenge to portray the beauty it once held.
St Luke’s
I also like taking photographs of gargoyles and grotesques as there can be some hideous faces. These are hard to photograph as they’re usually high on a building.
I also like taking photographs of cemetery angels and other monuments and my favourite subject to photograph are people for my dark portrait collection.
My dark portrait collection started quite accidentally when I took a photograph of my ‘Uncle Terry’. He likes to pull creepy faces.
Uncle Terry
ReelyBored: Why horror photography?
Amanda Norman: Well it’s the old Gothic horror films that inspire my photography. Back in the days before CGI, directors relied on music and the effects of lighting to provoke the intensity to scare the audience. My best example is the hideous shadow of Nosferatu climbing the stairs as everyone must have seen this. It’s so iconic!
ReelyBored: Do you sometimes freak yourself out while on a shoot?
Amanda Norman: There was only one occasion that freaked me out and it was within the local cemetery. I was alone and had the strong impression that I was being watched. I scanned the headstones and could see no one so I returned to taking photographs. All of a sudden, I got the STRONG urge to turn around quickly and I seen what I can only describe as a heat haze shimmer pass me at a very fast speed. That was freaky and I decided to call it a day and leave although I must stress that I wasn’t terrified.
ReelyBored: Tell me your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
Amanda Norman: I have a friend who is also called Mandy and she is a dark artist in her own right and her work can be viewed on Zazzle at http://www.zazzle.com/amandaryanstudios
She features in a lot of my dark portraits simply because she looks so evil in them. Now in real life she doesn’t look evil or bad, but once she gets in front of my lens, it’s like her true soul of a witch is revealed. Her own family excluding her husband, can’t look at the portraits and some of her friends don’t believe that it is her face.
Portraits of Mandy include:
The Hag The Witch Evil Mandy Amanda Ryan
ReelyBored: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
Amanda Norman: I would love to do more dark portraits especially for people who would use them to promote themselves while I gain recognition for my work. Such people can include musicians, actors, the list is endless really. I would love to photograph Marilyn Manson and Christopher Lee. That would be totally awesome!
ReelyBored: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
Amanda Norman: I don’t have a problem with digital manipulation as I use it sparingly on mainly my dark portraits. None of my subjects use makeup to create the effect, they simply pull a face and I do the rest by playing with digital effects, mainly the lighting.
ReelyBored: Any advice for aspiring photographers?
Amanda Norman: Yes! Don’t be told that you can’t do that! I was told that I shouldn’t take close up shots of faces as it’s not the ‘done’ thing. Screw normality!
If you’re creative, go out and explore your creativity and don’t be held back.
ReelyBored: Any plugs?
Amanda Norman: Of course!
Gothic & Horror Collection
My Zazzle store features my photography on products that you can add your own text to like Birthday cards, business cards, invitation cards and it also features prints and posters that are for sale.
Say it isn’tis so! Some of you may know that I am not a fan of the remake/re-imagining/re-boot of many films that do not deem worthy of another sequel, or as some film makers would say, an updated version. The concept may be without malice but… egh, I take that back. With the recent success of remakes in the $$$ front and the lack of honest to God film making, it is obvious that there is little to no effort being put forth into these movies and their main “objective” is one simple thing… money. Hence, my dislike of the decisions being made into financing said movies.
Enter the possibility of a potential reboot of the Mortal Kombatseries. Now, this is certainly one that I would be interested and excited about. Why? Well, because I don’t think the film makers had it right the first time around. Being based on a video game, the film makers seemed to want to make sure that that point came across and, in my opinion, it did! Only it was a little too much. Sure, it is one of the better adaptations from a video game into a movie but, still, there is certainly room for improvement.
The only question I have is, is this clip real? Or is it someone’s way of generating interest to see if there is any? I don’t know, see for yourself.
For some further news on this and its confirmation, click HERE!
After putting my intentions of watching Fringe to the side with the usual, “Egh, I’ll watch it eventually.” Well that turned into two full seasons missed. No longer the case as I have officially finished Episode 1 of Season 1. Even prior to the conclusion of this episode and only about 5 minutes into the show, I was already digging this new show. I said the same thing at the episode’s conclusion as I did in the first 5 minutes of the show, and that is, “Wow!”
With the near conclusion of Lost I can only thank my lucky stars for finally giving this show a shot as I intended so long ago. Truly, and only judging after only watching one episode, I think it is safe to say that this show is a gem and listed in that rare list of good television. Not surprisingly, J.J. Abrams name is attached to the show which only heightened my excitement.
Of course, watching this show was very reminiscent of watching Chris Carter’s X-Files, only this seems to be much better and action packed, not to mention greatly written.
The only I that I can ask myself is, what the hell took me so long to jump on this wagon!? I’ll try and figure that out some other time. Right now, on to episode 2!
Despite the warning, you’re here reading this page anyway. What is it about warnings, bewares and cautions that peak human interest? Such warnings are made to deter us “innocent” human folk from watching such things that usually contain graphic and mature content. For example, a warning such as the following will not deter you from watching but, rather, will make you actually want to watch it:
Warning! Beware! Caution!
(any of the above will do the trick)
The following video contains graphic images that depict human sacrifice, goats being slaughtered, children being eaten and rare footage of Hell! That’s right Hell! Be forewarned that these images will leave a lasting impact in your mind and will be imprinted into your memory for as long as you live, possibly never allowing you to sleep!
There are about five warnings, possibly a couple of things you have never seen before and a pretty good guarantee that it will alter the way you live! How can you resist?! There is a high probability that if such a video existed, your curiosity will get the better of you and your little finger would feel inclined to right-click the mouse button on the link. Sadly, there are links that can have some of the effects mentioned in the makeshift warning label. Of course, I won’t be supplying such links, but, they do exist!
One such video that, although it did not have such dire effects on my way of living, did impact me and it shed new light on the realities of human nature. The said video was that of a beheading of an American in the Middle East that somehow was available to view online. Through word of mouth, my interest peaked and I actually searched for the video. Not because I wanted to see such a horrific act, but because I had to see for myself that such a thing existed in this world in which I live in. Unfortunately, they do exist and the horror of watching the video and listening to everything as it unfolded was extremely graphic, shocking, appalling, dreadful, _______, _______, _______,…. just fill in the blanks with the most negative words you can think of and I’m sure it will describe perfectly what I “witnessed”.
I’m sure there are many of you who have seen the said video. Living in the United States, we are, for the most part, a censored country and are not able to witness the atrocities that occur throughout the world. Sure, some things are purposefully directed to the general public, but our government has pretty good methods of sheltering us from the realities of life, understandably. These are things that no one should or want to be seeing. But, nonetheless, we will watch as if it were entertainment.
Recently, I had the distinct displeasure of viewing another horrific video. As disturbing as the video was, the fact that it was brought to my attention by a 14 year-old boy.
“Show me,” I said to him.
Again, not because I wanted to see it for my “viewing pleasure” but, rather, because I honestly didn’t believe him, or, thought it was an elaborate, “Bollywood” FX-filled extravaganza that fooled the eyes of this young lad. That, it was not. Unless, the special effects were stupendous, I had a hard time distinguishing whether this was actually authentic or not. Sadly, I think it was authentic.
Let me give a brief description as to what was on the video, recorded by three young teenagers by way of Russia. Apparently, a man who recently survived a battle with cancer was out riding his bicycle one afternoon when he happened upon the three young teenage boys. Details are scarce, but, being three-to-one, they overpowered the man. What ensued can only be described as a devastating ordeal to the man and his family. Having recently “practiced” on an animal (I believe it was a cat), the three young men decided to put their practice on video and record their torture/murder of this man. There was bludgeoning to the head, stabbing, and even poking eyes out! Truly an atrocity and a disgrace to humanity! The boys were captured and joked about their handy work on television, laughing like invalids.
Acts against humanity should not be viewed as entertainment but shunned with disgust. I said that I will not put any links that will point to any of these videos and I intend to keep my word. I will, however, leave it to you, the reader, to decide whether or not you actually want to see such a video. The video seems to be titled “Three Men/Guys and a Hammer”. I don’t think I need to direct you to where you can make this search. I do believe that, despite the many warnings, many of you will not heed those warnings and search for the ghastly video. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Ok, so maybe this was a few months ago….. for a complimentary magazine up in my neck of the woods known as Orange County. No, not the Orange County of California, it’s the Orange County of NY! Both of my photos were severely cropped! Anyway, photos on covers of magazine are not of my work.
NYC tenants are engulfed with fear as there may be a potential strike by… wait for it… Doormen! That’s right, rich sophisticates throughout NYC may be forced to do the unthinkable, open doors for themselves, operate an elevator and even take out their own garbage! It is unfathomable and the thought simply breaks my heart! Good luck rich-folk and I pray that, if there is a strike, it will be a swift one! Godspeed!
Parlor of Horror has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Now, although I have no idea what this means or what it’s all about I have to say that I am pretty honored. I have never participated in such an event but thought I’d give it a shot.
