That statement?
"Is there ANY way... (fill in the blank)."
Usually the person proposing the question already KNOWS the question is one that is pushing the proverbial envelope, or going outside the box or just generally asking for the impossible.
Enter East Marshall senior, Tony Cowell.
It didn't take me long to figure out that THIS dude has got some kinda sense of humor... and I like it. He also has quite the imagination... Thus, "the question."
"Is there ANY way you can make it look like I'm walking and being led by two tigers?"
Holy Barnum and Bailey!
Any one that knows me is aware that I'm in the making visions and dreams come true business... but TIGERS?!? Really?
I hated to disappoint right out of the gate, but short of going to Vegas, I wasn't sure how to ever make that happen!
I told our tiger lover, Tony (get it?) that I couldn't do THAT... but I would try to make up for it in other ways.
In reality, the FOCUS of his session was rooted not in over sized cats... but in something we could much more readily execute...
Bringing out Tony's inner hick.
Bust out the jeans, boots, plaid, camo hat, wrap arounds, rusty pickup, shot gun, fishin' boat and whaddya have?
Hillbilly Cowell... and dang proud of it.
Mama Tammy and I headed toward the Cowell ranch just north of Ferguson and Tony was following just behind us in his white pickup truck. The funny thing to me was that NORMALLY when a senior guy wants to work in his vehicle for pictures... they are meticulously taking care of their "baby"... spit shining it... making sure that every last detail (despite the fact it probably wont show anyway) is perfect.
Tony on the other hand? Follows us for MILES on gravel. The more dust on the rusting out GMC truck, the better!
When we arrived, I was in a photographer's paradise for what Tony was wanting. A perfectly laid out property for a morning session, I was a kid in a candy store making amazing fall style images with the aforementioned truck. But he wasn't done there... we had to get Tony fishin' in the family pond, huntin' in the timber and just general good ol' country boy images everywhere..
Once I got done giggling at all of Tony's ideas to poke fun at himself (who doesn't love self-deprecation, really?), it was time for me to jump into the fray and take his sense of humor and run along side with him.
Tony had mentioned that he REALLY wanted to light SOMETHING on fire. He had seen that we made a habit of it over the years. Many times with athletic endeavors. Footballs, basketballs, bats, hurdles, shoes... you name it... we've probably lit it on fire.
Tammy, Tony and I were throwing out and shooting down several potential ideas... and THEN, we hit the jackpot.
"How about one of my swords?!?!"
YES!!!
I instantly had the vision of making Tony look like a crazed warrior brandishing his flaming weapon... the only question was WHAT he'd be wearing for this potentially epic image??
"How about this t-shirt and jeans??"
Ummm... No.
I stepped in. "How about you throw on that suit that you brought... and we'll peel off the tie... wrap it around your head like a bandana and we'll wrap that sword up and around your head like THIS??!?!"
I didn't have to ask twice.
It might not be leading tigers... but I think it's kickin all kinds of hindquarters. :)
Mix in trademark images of Tony loving on his legendary Frosted Flakes (told him to love that box like it was a newborn child), as well as his Green Monster golf driver (go Mustang golf!) and I can safely say that we had ourselves a session that touched on all of quirky quirks that makes Mr. Cowell a interesting cat.
Did we go to Vegas? No. Did we make images that folks will be talking about?
I say yes.
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