NOTES
It has arrived
The inspiration, explanation and guide to finding secret messages in my new horror photography book, Hairnomicon: Communiques from Beyond the Chair.
Hairnomicon: Communiques from Beyond the Chair has Arrived
This is my first photography book that tells a fictional story. In this one, several amateur spiritualists attempt to contact the spirits of long dead hairdressers from beyond the grave. Its during this session in which someone makes an error, unintentionally inviting into the abandoned chapel the spirit of Zozo (a supposed real life demon that consistently shows up during spirit board sessions).
The book was inspired by classic occult cinema, the Blair Witch Project and countless hoaxed images of ghosts made during the spiritualist era of the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was the culmination of years of research, which ultimately became this book; a very fun project that I collaborated with several hair stylists of the Left Brain Group.
We photographed this throughout New Orleans, Santa Clarita, California and New York City. It took us to an allegedly haunted location, my own home and a friend's home studio in Astoria. Sometimes the spaces were confined, which required a lot of creative techniques to keep the light from bouncing all over the place. And then, when all that was done, the images were laid into Photoshop to create the final versions I had sketched in my notebooks.
It was amazing to see my vision, the one I had scrawled on hard pages, come together so easily, as if guided by something else. I had never done a book like this due to a lack of courage. I had previously made photos that were inspired by ghost photography...it was how I began my career but years of trying to eke out a living, making photographs pushed me into another direction -- an often lucrative one but it wasn't passion. I was just trying to stay out of the poor house.
New Orleans was my gateway to the inner place within my imagination. This had always been the city for me. My work was much more well received here than it had been in New York City. I found dozens of kindred spirits, those whose dark curiosities mirrored my own. I began to experiment with the breaking of the two dimensional world. How could I make work that was felt dangerous?
Like the Necronomicon in HP Lovecraft's works, I wanted my photography book feel as if one could experience a work that reached out to them. Perhaps literally. What would Hairnomicon look like? How would it feel? I reached into decades of memories, searching for inspiration from books I had read since I was a child. I remembered automatic writings and hidden messages purportedly imprinted by ghosts onto photographs or the dangers of contacting the dead without the guidance of a medium or spirit expert. I wanted my audience to spend more time on this book and look for the hidden messages that relate to the story or hidden figures lurking behind my characters. It is all here.
When you purchase a copy of Hairnomicon: Communiques from Beyond the Chair, I want you to spend time looking carefully through each photograph. Do you see anything else? Does something speak back to you? Maybe you'll find something that I hadn't intended to include or maybe you'll find something that wasn't supposed to be seen. Whatever it is, Hairnomicon is the most interactive collection of photographs I've ever produced. I hope you have fun with it.
To purchase a copy of HAIRNOMICON: COMMUNIQUES FROM BEYOND THE CHAIR, click this link.
Hairnomicon: Communiques from Beyond the Chair (The Preview)
A Q&A about my latest book including information on how to purchase your copy.
One misty night in New Orleans, a group of spiritualist amateurs attempt to contact the spirits of their favorite departed hairdressers. Their innocent conjuring is cut short when an unintended guest makes a host of a hostess.
I've had many people ask about my new book HAIRNOMICON: COMMUNIQUES FROM BEYOND THE CHAIR. I decided to do a Q&A to answer some of the obvious questions as well as how you can get a copy (skip to link at bottom if you like).
From HAIRNOMICON: COMMUNIQUES FROM BEYOND THE CHAIR
WTF IS HAIRNOMICON...?
HAIRNOMICON: COMMUNIQUÉS FROM BEYOND THE CHAIR is a photo story book that pays tributes to manipulated ghost photography of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, occult and ghost horror films.
WHY?
HAIRNOMICON was created as an offering to Bayou St. Blonde (a creative hair event produced by the Left Brain Group). It was an effort to create a narrative driven work that included thinly veiled messages, hidden ghostly figures and of course amazing hairstyles by the talented artists of the Left Brain Group. I wanted to make was a fun, cheeky throwback to 1970s occult horror films. After years of photographing hair styles I thought that it was time to do something different and story driven. I wanted to make something that I had never before seen.
From HAIRNOMICON: COMMUNIQUES FROM BEYOND THE CHAIR
WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS BOOK?
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. Isn't she a doll?
This work was inspired by films such as Sleepy Hollow (cartoon), The Blair Witch Project, The Legend of Hell House, the books of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and of course William Mumler’s alleged spirit photography from the late nineteenth century.
As a child I was fascinated with ghost stories. It inevitably led to a desire to see a picture of one. In the 1980s it was rare to find these elusive photographs but once in a while I’d come across one. I remember the first time I saw the famous photo of the "Brown Lady of Raynham Hall". The image of the spectral figure descending an ancient staircase terrified me. I became addicted to that feeling.
HOW WAS IT MADE?
After years of making images that emulated the look and feel of those old ghost photographs I had yet to make a complete body of work. Many of the images were manipulated in Photoshop. Some of the techniques used by William Mumler were emulated in the creation of these photos. I tried to make it as authentic as possible, including the spirit writing written in reverse on the frames of some choice photos.
HAIRNOMICON...was shot in Astoria, New York; Santa Clarita, California; New Orleans, Louisiana. Hair by Cyd Charisse, Dante Pronio, Garrett Markenson, Brittni Scandaliato. Makeup by Javier Mena. Players: Alexis Guerra, Emily Komer, Mazzy McDaid, Valeria Ruelas, Melissa Martinelli and Aryn Detres.
HOW MANY PAGES IS IT?
There are 64 pages in the book. Photos are full-paged with plenty of detail.
WHAT'S THE RELEASE DATE?
April 3, 2018 will be the official release date, however copies will be available for $20 at Bayou St. Blonde in New Orleans and is included in the VIP swag bags. If you order a presale copy then it will be shipped on March 30, 2018.
Click the book cover for your copy.
Inspiration Board: Hairnomicon: Communiques from Beyond the Chair
Antique fake ghost photography to be the inspiration for a new book.
I wanted to share with you the inspiration board for a project I'm working on with the Left Brain Group for the upcoming event in March called Bayou St. Blonde, which will happen here in New Orleans. The goal of this project is to create a brief, fun photo book displaying the talents and craft of the artists represented by the Left Brain Group.
The story behind this project is a seance conducted by amateur spiritualists who want to communicate with their favorite hair stylists who have departed from this existence. As someone who is enamored with hoaxed ghost photography from the late 1800s and early 1900s, it made sense to emulate some of the old techniques used by these talented fakers of the time. Although there is hardly any mention of the photographers who did these shoots, I thought it was time to honor the creative methods they used to create these faked images of spirit activity.
Bayou St. Blonde, New Orleans
Some snaps from the Left Brain Group's Bayou St. Blonde event in New Orleans.
Bayou St. Blonde was an event that took place on January 29th and 30th 2017. It was hosted by The LEFT BRAIN Group (my wife's company), which also does a chunk of my bookings throughout the year. Spread across five locations throughout the city, BSB hosted guests from all over the country.
I don't work in hair but I found it inspiring to see so many creative people gathered together to share new ideas and have more control over the future of this industry. I was especially proud of my wife who put this massive event together in relatively short time. Covering this event was a highlight of 2017 thus far.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
PAGAN
Will photos from the PAGAN shoot springboard a series based on practices of ancient pagans?
When I was last in New York, I coordinated and did a photo shoot with hair stylist, Andrea Donoghue. The inspiration behind the shot was "pagan". We wanted the essence of the natural elements while highlighting the different hair styles. If you've viewed my portfolio, you may have already seen a few of these.
I've always had a fascination with the esoteric and pagan rituals of ancient times and its continued practice in modern society. This was a simple, straightforward shoot but it was a launching pad for other ideas I'd like to pursue.
As I've written before, I'm not a fan of shooting in-studio, despite its convenience. Maybe one of these days I'll do a photo shoot completely based on people who worship and respect nature and honor old spirits. That's my kind of religion.
Hair by Andrea Donoghue
Makeup by Marie Schumacher
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
My 10 Photos of 2015
10 photographs that I had a lot of fun making in 2015 with clients ranging from liquor brands to hair salons.
Two thousand and fifteen was the year I experienced the most creative growth of any year throughout my career as a photographer. Maybe it was the gris-gris bag I had especially made (to help with "creative insight") in February or just months of diligent work and study or maybe a little of all of the above. These images are a bit better than what I did in 2014 but not a complete representation of the work I did with so many talented stylists, models and makeup artists or projects that were shot from November-December.
Clients and projects featured: De La Mer, Brugal, Die and Let Die, Black Ink
