Jocelyn Foye: Derby Dolls Shoot #3

Last month, Jocelyn Foye asked me to photograph the third part of her Derby Dolls project.  Unlike the 1st and 2nd shoots for the project, this one would be different, however.  While the first two shoots were part of Jocelyn’s Performances in Clay body of work, this 3rd shoot was actually a photo shoot.  Jocelyn had decided to reference Pierre Molinier’s piece, La Grande Mélee, using Derby Dolls (and three non-Doll extras) as stand ins for Molinier’s dolls.  To see decent images of the reference in question and to get an understanding of Molinier’s ouvre, I highly recommend a Google Image Search.  She had hired photographer Cameron Crowe, who would be placed in a harness to shoot the overhead shot required.  I would shoot the shoot, so to speak.

Models for the shoot included returning champs Smacdown and Thunder Kiss, Derby Dolls Chica Kaliente, Roxy Cotton, and LEGacy and non-Dolls Tami Screwplate, Bad Hi Jean and Diamond Dolphin.  All of them were totally great and super friendly.

This was kind of a strange shoot for me.  I’m used to photographing actions taking place, and the controlled, stop and start atmosphere of a photo shoot was slightly bizarre for some reason.  Also, given that I was essentially shooting a pile gorgeous women, and trying to find interesting things to photograph without seeming like a creep put me into a slightly awkward state of mind.  Also, working around Cameron’s lighting was a definite challenge.  I shot a ton of images that just didn’t work due to the lighting.  Regardless, it was interesting, and a definite test of my very limited photographic skills.

Jocelyn had the models do three poses, and then experimented with capturing them in motion.  Here are the photos.  All of the photos from this shoot and the two earlier shoots are in the Flickr set for this project.  You can see some of Cameron’s photographs on her site.

Above – Chica Kaliente tying her skates.  One of the most interesting parts of any of these shoots is watching the models get ready.  Everyone is simultaneously engaged in their personal beauty rituals, and at the same time, engaged in the serious work of putting on their equipment.

Above – More ritual. Smacdown had messed up her arm, so Thunder Kiss helped her with her makeup. There’s a whole “sisterhood is powerful” vibe to watching the women in their pack, the semi-private goings on of an exclusive group.

Above – Roxy Cotton’s skates. All ready to go.

Above – Photographer Cameron Crowe, in harness. Originally the idea was to strap Cameron into a suspended rock climbing platform from the ceiling, but that was a bit of overkill. Cameron probably spent close to an hour strapped into that harness, he was a real trooper.

Above – Video artist Jean Robison, a.k.a. Bad Hi Jean, one of the three non-Dolls, along with McLean Fahnestock a.k.a. Tami Screwplate and Amy, a.k.a. Diamond Dolphin, involved in the shoot, and the third documentarian. In a funny connection, Jean ended up wearing the humongous size 11 roller skates that Jeff Foye bought for his video piece from the first Art on the Waterfront festival container exhibition.

Above – Jocelyn, with the first arrivals, giving the lowdown.

Above – Pose 1 – Pose 1 was the “Doll Pile” pose. It most resembles Molinier’s original work. Loosely arranged to form a circle on the floor, watching everyone realize that a pile of people wearing roller skates is plenty uncomfortable wasn’t a surprise, but was slightly funny. One of the interesting things that occurred during the shoot was how easily the three non-Dolls were accepted into the group. It was like they were colonized by the energy of the Dolls. That variegated flat panel leaning against the wall is the impression from shoot #2 – it’s concrete.

Above – When Pierre Molinier made his various works, it probably took a long, long time to develop the images and then to do the painstaking editing work required to compose them. Jocelyn took a break between poses 1 & 2 to review dozens of images.

Above – Pose 2 – This was the “Dolls in a Circle” pose. I’m not sure how this shot from above, but it shot great from the floor.  I think this was the most “let’s see what happens” of the three static poses.

Above – Pose 2 – Legs in the Air Version. Jocelyn briefly experimented with having the models kick their legs into the air. It worked, but I think it went a bit far into Busby Berkeley territory. It was fun, though.

Above – Pose 3 – Pose 3 is the “Sardine Tin” pose. I really liked what was happening here. By this time in the shoot, everyone was super comfortable, and I think the models were able to get into very natural/comfortable-looking positions.  From the ground level, this position shot really well.

Above – Pose 3 – Smacdown and LEGacy. I think this is the best shot from the whole shoot (my end of the shoot, that is). Good lighting, decent composition, nice colour.

Above – Pose 4 – Dolls in motion. The lighting and geography of the space didn’t work for me, but Cameron got some great abstract motion shots from his skyward vantage point.  You can see one here.

That’s all folks.  The L.A. Derby Dolls are having a bout this Saturday night at their banked track Dollhouse in Historic Filipinotown.  If you haven’t been yet, get yourself a ticket, and support some amazing atheletes – I can’t roller skate at all and I’m awed by anyone who can, let alone anyone who can in hot pants in front of thousands of people.

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