Cocktales and Hot Sauce: Happy Halloween! 'Shadowman' photo shoot

IDEA -

Ever since reading 'His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood' by Poppy Z. Brite I've absolutely loved the idea of a young, white boy being a voodoo priest. In Brite's story, set in New Orleans, the voodoo priest is Cajun (hence the being white) and preys on his victims in goth clubs.
Mixing the interest of the voodoo world with alternative subculture has been stuck in my mind for a decade, since reading Brite's story. I love anything set in New Orleans, old voodoo, witchcraft, and of course underground subculture.

Recently, Disney brought out a new animated romp 'The Princess and the Frog' which had an awesome baddie, Dr. Facilier, a voodoo witch doctor referred to as 'the shadowman.'
It reignited my love of this imagery (painted faces, top hats, skull-topped canes) and together with make-up artist Bebe Newson and photographer T. D'Villas we decided to collaborate on a project!

WRITING PROJECT -

I aimed release a new short story for Halloween 2011. I had an idea based around a haunted house motif, largely from mine and my friend's experiences. I spent a couple of weeks researching British based magic and different eras to set the story in, as it would be a British story, and started writing.
I'm not good at shorts. My short story over-flowed into lots of chapters, and I realised this would be a great story if I spent more time on it.
So at the moment, the haunted house story has been put to the side (sob sob) but it will be released hopefully 2012.

PHOTO PROJECT -

However, the photographic project for the eventual front cover would still go ahead. Mostly as I wanted to grab my friend Matt to model for us while he was around.
Without giving too much away, Matt is modelling one of my modern day, normal human characters who has dressed up on Halloween.
We loved the pics that came out (well actually I don't think Matt's seen them yet but I'm sure you'll agree he looks fabulous!)
Big thanks to Bebe for make-up, T. D'Villas for yet more awesome photos, The Regency Hotel Brighton for the space, and of course Matt!

These are a few of my favourite shots from the shoot...