idgonemad.com/gallery/lens/thorn

This selection of images was designed for some friends for use on their band's demo CD. I ended up only submitting two of them to the group, Phoenix Thorn, the two I thought were the most... something. Interesting? Cool? Something... very, very "Something" I think.

Unfortunately, the band broke up in late 2003 and these images were left in a sort of limbo. On July 1st, 2004, a long time friend, colleague and collaborator, Mike Brown, expressed interest in using one of these for cover art on a sampler CD featuring music from him and his accomplices at Mint Eye Presents. In a sort of phoenixy way, the images returned from limbo, risen from ash to find usage anew.

I waited a week for the bird used in the picture to be decayed to a certain point. See, that is what the picture is of... a dead bird. It was difficult to think up something appropriate for the band, so I concentrated on the most accessible content considering their name, the phoenix. Then I happened upon this dead avian, conveniently on my porch, and it became a bit of a waiting game. Then it rained, and washed away some of the bird's deadness and feathers, and at last, the time was right. I just needed some good light, now!

The good light never happened, and I had to bring out a pair of low-wattage lamps to try to illuminate the bird more. I found some success.

One hour of One Hour Photo waiting later, I had the pictures, scanned them, and toyed with them in an editing program.

End of Flight : ETA Death

This image is the one Phoenix Thorn decided to utilize.

Phoenix, Warm2

This image is in the same "series" as the above, but
is has its focus centered around the head and expanded wing.

Phoenix, Ignition4

I toyed with this image a little more than the others, trying
to make it look as if the bird is igniting, with billowing smoke and such.