Making a splash

As I was flipping through last year's annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, I noticed that the Denver Bronco cheerleaders weren't represented in the NFL cheerleader feature. So, I called up the team's coach and asked if her squad would model for us. She happily consented, and I organized this multi-media presentation. For print, we shot the cheerleaders in our studio, SI-style. During the shoot, I had a videographer on set, as well as a behind-the-scenes shooter. For Web, we had video and multiple slide shows. The shoot and presentation went off so well, the squad agreed to blog for us from their own swimsuit calendar shoot in Mexico. I posted daily blog items and photos from their adventures. The whole package was an enormous hit, bringing in more than a quarter million hits.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/30/lets-go-swim/

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/08/broncos-cheerleader-swimsuit-calendar-blog/





I kept thinking superheroes and swimsuits, and came up with this comic book approach. The artist wasn't thrilled about the assignment, but I'm happy to say he won multiple awards -- and no, he did not offer to share his prize money. I picked some of-the-moment superheroes, and worked with a stylist/makeup artist to paint on the looks. (No Photoshop needed!) Superman (a local minister who doubled as a model!), the Hulk, Poison Ivy, that blue chick from X-Men, all got painted up before they suited up. The details made the shoot. I love the towel that serves as Supergirl's cape and Jean Gray's painted-on boots and arm guards. And, of course, I had fun coming up with the comic phrases -- my favorite: "THWIP!" I also designed these pages.





For some reason, I was inspired by B-Movie posters and thought recreating them as swimsuit shoots would be a blast. To add another layer, I rewrote/imagined them to take place locally. So, Attack of the 50-foot Woman became Attack of the 50-foot Swimsuit Model ("If you thought T-Rex (the name of a construction project) was a monster, wait til you see a giant bikini-clad vixen stomping down Interstate 25."). Beach Blanket Bingo became Bergen Peak Bingo (shot on the rock climbing wall at REI -- oh, the wedgies!). And Creature from the Black Lagoon became Creature from the Cherry Creek Res (shot at a really rich person's indoor pool/outdoor oasis). I did a lot of Photoshop work on this one, pulling it all together. I still laugh at the touches of the hair stylist who posed as the little guy hanging from the car in the cover shot or the hilarious monster glove I donned in the pool for the Lagoon shot. This spread won first place for creativity in the Colorado Press Association Awards. I also designed these pages.