Daisy 062

I prefer outdoor photo shoots as the background enables the models to show the effects of the prescription lenses as well as the frames. An obvious problem when arranging a photo shoot in unknown territory is that it calls for an indoor (or at least sheltered) location in case of rain. My life partner Nel and I arrived in the Deinze area two days before the day of the photo shoot with Daisy and the next day was spent in search for suitable locations. Around lunchtime we discovered a jewel of a location in town. A big empty house with a garden so big that it might be called a park. Deep shadows under the trees and umpteen scenic spots. There had been a fire in the upper floor of the house and I imagined that a part of the photo shoot could be done in that charcoal setting, using the open entrance for maximal effect between sunlight and pitch darkness. I was a happy man and we spent the rest of the day sightseeing. In the evening we returned into town and found the market square blocked. International television crews all over the place.... It turned out that the national cycling competition for aspirants was taking place the next day, with start and finish almost on the doorstep of our location for the photo shoot. So the next morning Nel and I checked the gardens of Ooidonk Castle as an alternative location. The staff was very obliging and we were allowed to do the photo shoot in the gardens. Lighting conditions were less than ideal (no deep shadows from the trees) and we were not allowed to take pictures inside the castle so we had to keep our fingers crossed and hope for a dry afternoon. Fortune was on our side. The gardens were in sunlight when we started the photo shoot but after an hour or so clouds came in. Occasionally the sun would come back for a brief moment, showing the immense contrast between a red haired model on a cloudy day and a sunny day. Great!