Thu Nov 07, 2013 4:54 pm
#84461
Boy, it took me a while to sort through my pumpkin photos this year. I think I took more than usual. Plus, photos of my costumes, pumpkin suit, Halloween decorations, and other things. Lots of photos (some I've yet to share, stay tuned). But now... on with the pumpkin show!
Some of these were carved by my mom. But since I perform their final touch ups and then photograph them, I'm taking partial credit here.
She warmed up with the Face of the Minions. A jack 'o lantern face is the ideal sort of design to make use of the pumpkin vine arms. Here you can see that he's ready to help carve more pumpkins. And he is clutching a "pumpkin patch" of his own face.
Then she did The Mummy. I love this design, but regret that I haven't carved it yet. I've been meaning to add him to my foam pumpkin collection. But this year, he came alive in a real pumpkin. Here he is, emerging from the Egyptian tomb:
It's been a big year for Sleepy Hollow for me, having visited the town earlier this year. My mom paid respects to the Hollow with this Hessian Horseman. Posed with my new horseman statue.
And here's an alternate shot, with the Sleepy Hollow Scarecrow Jack design:
Then my mom asked if she could carve Victor Crowley. She has no idea who he is, but knows I have a real hatchet, which made for a fitting photo prop! Oh, and my horseman and hatchet photos use one of those plastic backdrops for a background. Thanks for the idea Raven (same one you used on your Hessian photo, I think)
Speaking of stealing ideas... I mean, taking inspiration from... I sort of borrowed your idea for this next one, Mesmark. I thought it was genius to have Mike and Sulley being scared by Boo's shadow. Here she is coming through the closet doorway, appropriately enough (in reality, she was cut out of card stock, and projected with a pumpkin light).
Mike and Sulley were popular with the kids. I placed those pumpkins on a low porch step during trick-or-treat hours, so the wee ones could see them at child-height. We had a few kids come dressed as the Monsters Inc/University guys actually. I said things like, "Hey, Mike Wazowski, I knew you were coming, so I carved a pumpkin of you!" The parents of all of these kids had the same idea to pose their kid next to the matching pumpkin, to take a photo. A photo taken with a cell phone using the camera's flash.
But I'm sure they'll cherish the memory evoked by the lousy photo. 
I always like to carve my unique creations, and the Grave 'n' Raven was my favorite from this year. Had to carve this one next. I knew I had a lot of raven/crow props handy, but I sort of forgot that it's tricky to photograph objects that are black, when the lights are mostly turned off.
I also had some pirate/skull props close by, so I carved the Ghost Pirate. This was the last carving I did, so he was a bit rushed. It was Halloween afternoon, and I still had to carve this pirate, photograph him, put my pumpkins on display, and put on my Halloween costume (with face makeup). In my haste, I broke off one of the crossbones in this captain's hat logo. But as we know, toothpicks can work miracles.
And now bear with me during this flood of Frankenstein imagery, but the good doctor and his monsters were a big part of my Halloween.
The monster looming over his pumpkin likeness:
And his beautiful bride with her portrait:
The monster and his mate together. What you can't really appreciate from this photo... the hassle it was to position two 20 lb pumpkins (and lit candles) to a height of about 6 feet off the floor, to line up with the hanging portraits which are firmly attached to the wall.
And then these two creations in a laboratory setting. This one was fun to shoot. It was quite an evolution, as I kept grabbing more bottles and colored lights, before eventually ending up with this photo. I think it's my favorite of the year:
I had to get a photo of Frankenstein's Monster and The Mummy together, for comparison sake. They were both played by the uncanny Karloff, after all:
In case you wanted to read that entire sign behind them, you can see it here:
A group shot of 5. Mike, Sulley, Mummy, Minions, Frank. The rear two pumpkins are propped on plates on adjustable speaker stands. A novel approach, I thought.
After their big night on display, the pumpkins hang out under the skeleton tree. It was raining, which the pumpkins liked. The droplets look pretty cool.
My cousin also contributed pumpkins to the display (Minion, Weeping Angel, Jim Morrison, Rick Grimes), which put the total around 14 real pumpkins. I didn't get a group shot of all of them, sadly. But here's one final group shot of most of the class of 2013.
As usual, the guests and trick-or-treaters had great reactions to the pumpkins. I heard someone say, "This is the house with the pumpkins." It's nice to have that reputation.
Some of these were carved by my mom. But since I perform their final touch ups and then photograph them, I'm taking partial credit here.
She warmed up with the Face of the Minions. A jack 'o lantern face is the ideal sort of design to make use of the pumpkin vine arms. Here you can see that he's ready to help carve more pumpkins. And he is clutching a "pumpkin patch" of his own face.
Then she did The Mummy. I love this design, but regret that I haven't carved it yet. I've been meaning to add him to my foam pumpkin collection. But this year, he came alive in a real pumpkin. Here he is, emerging from the Egyptian tomb:
It's been a big year for Sleepy Hollow for me, having visited the town earlier this year. My mom paid respects to the Hollow with this Hessian Horseman. Posed with my new horseman statue.
And here's an alternate shot, with the Sleepy Hollow Scarecrow Jack design:
Then my mom asked if she could carve Victor Crowley. She has no idea who he is, but knows I have a real hatchet, which made for a fitting photo prop! Oh, and my horseman and hatchet photos use one of those plastic backdrops for a background. Thanks for the idea Raven (same one you used on your Hessian photo, I think)
Speaking of stealing ideas... I mean, taking inspiration from... I sort of borrowed your idea for this next one, Mesmark. I thought it was genius to have Mike and Sulley being scared by Boo's shadow. Here she is coming through the closet doorway, appropriately enough (in reality, she was cut out of card stock, and projected with a pumpkin light).
Mike and Sulley were popular with the kids. I placed those pumpkins on a low porch step during trick-or-treat hours, so the wee ones could see them at child-height. We had a few kids come dressed as the Monsters Inc/University guys actually. I said things like, "Hey, Mike Wazowski, I knew you were coming, so I carved a pumpkin of you!" The parents of all of these kids had the same idea to pose their kid next to the matching pumpkin, to take a photo. A photo taken with a cell phone using the camera's flash.
But I'm sure they'll cherish the memory evoked by the lousy photo. I always like to carve my unique creations, and the Grave 'n' Raven was my favorite from this year. Had to carve this one next. I knew I had a lot of raven/crow props handy, but I sort of forgot that it's tricky to photograph objects that are black, when the lights are mostly turned off.
I also had some pirate/skull props close by, so I carved the Ghost Pirate. This was the last carving I did, so he was a bit rushed. It was Halloween afternoon, and I still had to carve this pirate, photograph him, put my pumpkins on display, and put on my Halloween costume (with face makeup). In my haste, I broke off one of the crossbones in this captain's hat logo. But as we know, toothpicks can work miracles.
And now bear with me during this flood of Frankenstein imagery, but the good doctor and his monsters were a big part of my Halloween.
The monster looming over his pumpkin likeness:
And his beautiful bride with her portrait:
The monster and his mate together. What you can't really appreciate from this photo... the hassle it was to position two 20 lb pumpkins (and lit candles) to a height of about 6 feet off the floor, to line up with the hanging portraits which are firmly attached to the wall.
And then these two creations in a laboratory setting. This one was fun to shoot. It was quite an evolution, as I kept grabbing more bottles and colored lights, before eventually ending up with this photo. I think it's my favorite of the year:
I had to get a photo of Frankenstein's Monster and The Mummy together, for comparison sake. They were both played by the uncanny Karloff, after all:
In case you wanted to read that entire sign behind them, you can see it here:
A group shot of 5. Mike, Sulley, Mummy, Minions, Frank. The rear two pumpkins are propped on plates on adjustable speaker stands. A novel approach, I thought.
After their big night on display, the pumpkins hang out under the skeleton tree. It was raining, which the pumpkins liked. The droplets look pretty cool.
My cousin also contributed pumpkins to the display (Minion, Weeping Angel, Jim Morrison, Rick Grimes), which put the total around 14 real pumpkins. I didn't get a group shot of all of them, sadly. But here's one final group shot of most of the class of 2013.
As usual, the guests and trick-or-treaters had great reactions to the pumpkins. I heard someone say, "This is the house with the pumpkins." It's nice to have that reputation.
I really like the minion with vine arms. Love the props, specially 
I do love a good group shot and yours gathered around the skeleton tree look supurb! Then there is laboratory scene which is pure brilliance, with the props; hand in the jar and are those other things eye balls or pickled eggs...mmm I'm peckish now 
