June 2, 2010
Post Script: Days 2 – 10 were added after we were home due to the failure of my iPhone App to function properly.
Day 2 was ‘scout day’ as we prepared to begin shooting tomorrow (Thursday, June 3). WARNING – lots of photos for this post as we scouted the island for locations to shoot.
It was something of a late night getting to bed last night with such a delicious, large dinner at Valentine’s (the food was amazing). Afterwards Sara and I hung out in the hammock updating my blog for about an hour, so this morning we both felt hungover from the lack of sleep the previous night…er day, whatever. Sleeping in the Guest House feels kind of special with it’s mix of old world style and new (it was built about 10 years ago but feels older). I wish we could have stayed there longer, but not with everyone else…nothing against them, it’s just not the same thing when you’re sharing close quarters with workmates instead of family. Still, one night was better than none at all.
Since scouting with Lance (my boss) and Dewey (the photographer) didn’t start until after lunch, Greg and I took off for a spin around the area/town in a golf cart in the morning, photographing lots of things along the way. It’s an interesting mix of poverty and wealth but it seems like everyone gets along with each other as far as I can tell. The locals are pretty friendly as most wave to you (either initiating the wave or waving back after you wave), but I think it would be naive to think that there isn’t some tension in the mix, at least with some people on both sides. I certainly didn’t feel at ease or welcome on the fishing docks last night, but then again I was in the midst of sport fishermen and wealthy boat owners who I’m sure didn’t think I belonged on the same dock…like I care, but I wouldn’t have felt good about Sara walking around there by herself. Then again, if she were with me (she didn’t join us for dinner), maybe I would have gotten different looks…like envy 🙂
The architecture around town is mostly a mix of British Colonial and Bahamian with some modern or contemporary mixed in here and there and a plethora of varying local flavor. There are beautiful splashes of color everywhere due to either the flowers, trees and water (the most intense shades of turquoise blue I’ve ever seen) or the painted homes, fences and signs. I thought Merida Mexico was colorful, but it doesn’t compare at all to the Bahamas, particularly the Bouganvilla – there were so many bright shades and against the predominant white of many of the walls and buildings, it is truly striking. The Royal Poinciana were in full bloom too, so needless to say it was quite…uh, beautiful (remember, not a wordsmith).
The following photos are images taken throughout the day, starting around Hibiscus Hill and heading across the island with everything in between. We criss-crossed it several times, so by the end of the day I felt like I actually knew the place.
-C
Yeah, OK so what is this? The wooden floor of the Guest House…the wood used in floors, ceilings, even the wood studs is beautiful.
The coffee table upstairs outside our room. They have such great books in all the properties we saw, whether on tables or in bookshelves. Several of the ones I picked up were signed with a personal note to India and David…I suppose that’s what happens when you’re famous and wealthy.
The aged/weathered doorknob on the french doors heading outside to the upstairs deck. The structure is only 10+ years old so I don’t know if this is an old doorknob or they somehow aged it, either way I liked it. My obsession knows no bounds..if we lived here we would either be great friends with India & David or in jail for stalking…
Hats at the bottom of the stairs. Think of it like an umbrella rack in Seattle – you kind of need one almost everyday you’re outside for any length of time.
One last shot of the benches on the front deck as I head out for a ride about town.
I did mention that I love this grove of palms around the Guest House didn’t I? Apparently coconut palms are not indigenous to the island and are flown in for about 100K per tree…not sure if all these trees got here ‘that way’, but we found later in the trip that Harbor Island has a lot more coconut palms than Eleuthera and I imagine the other islands as well.
Swing to the right and you find parking…
OK, so maybe I’m obsessed with the hammock and palms in front…
Looking back towards the Guest House.
Maybe obsessed isn’t the right word…
The Guest House.
Greg and I head out for a look around while we wait for everyone else. Turns out to be quite interesting and fruitful…we see more than we eventually did with the whole group. Something along the way out…even the construction sites are visually interesting to me.
Pineapples are a symbol of ‘welcome’ in the islands…when they’re bigger like these (about a foot tall) does that mean you’re more welcome than at homes where they’re smaller?
Beautiful garden/walkway at one of the homes we drove by.
One of the more modern homes we came across while scouting.
Something a little more traditional.
Couldn’t resist this sign. I guess one does what they have to in order to eak out a living down here…
Street sign for a speed bump…not sure if it’s intended for the golf carts or cars/trucks, but if you don’t slow down you definitely feel them.
Not what you would expect for a ‘Queens Highway’ sign, then again nothing is as expected here. Love the hand-made quality of things here, there’s a certain charm in it vs. mass produced things.
Never too early for something cold for relief from the heat.
What came first, the sign for ‘Bahama House Inn’ or the ‘Tommy Bahama’ logo type from a few years ago? I’m going with this sign…uncanny how much our logo resembles this typeface (coincidence? I think not ;))
These two panels are located on posts outside St. John’s Church. Again note the hand-made charm…
St. John’s Church
Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs…and I can’t help but photograph them.
This particular graphic was on a gate across a driveway entrance. No doubt about the influence of this place in our brand/company…
Little structure across the street from the King’s Treat building on King Street. I have no idea how old it is, but judging from the rust and weathering on the layers of peeled-away construction it’s gotta be old. And someone actually lives inside…
Some sort of shop on the waterfront at the end of King Street.
Typical architecture of the homes along the waterfront/town.
Tile on that house’s fence post. It’s all about the details.
Another little sign on a fence gate that I had to get in two shots. Hand-painted of course.
One of the docks along the waterfront. A view I would also photograph often on the trip.
Looking back across the bay towards the main dock for island shuttles from the waterfront.
Another dock…they never get old to me.
After Greg and I made our trip around town it was back to Hibiscus Hill for lunch and picking up the others for the official scouting trip around town. A view off the porch from the Cricket Pavillion.
Porch furniture. Big, chunky and beautiful.
Hurricanes on the deck table. In a place like this hurricane fixtures actually make sense.
Large conch shell on the coffee table outside. Conch’s are plentiful, and India uses them at all her properties.
Large globe on the table inside the entry.
Did I mention India likes books? Note the Hermes items on the lower right hand…just like ours. As if!
I don’t know who the artist is for this, but I love this framed sketch. No doubt it’s an original.
While waiting for the group I head down to the beach below HH. It’s actually quite steep and long…
…but the view is worth the effort.
The beach. Yes, it really is that dramatic.
Once everyone showed up it was off to scout. First stop – on foot to the beachhouse we used for the first 2 mornings of the shoot next door.
This is a detail of the weather vane.
How ’bout them knockers? What?! They’re cool.
Palm detail. There’s something about the palm trees here…they’re perfect!
Another detail of what I assume is a studio or garage of some sort.
View of the beach from the backyard, about 50-75′ below.
Looking back up at the house from the beach. I came to know these stairs quite well over the 2 days of shooting.
The neighbor’s steps leading back up the bluff from the beach.
Looking back up the beach (or is it down?).
Next stop, Hibiscus Hill. These are the 2 large entry columns at the ‘front gate’. Not really a gate, just a dirt road off the main road, but this is what greets you so you know it’s not just a road to the beach.
The main residence of India Hicks and David Flint Wood.
Porch detail. The bougenvilla were amazing.
From the pool area. I’m not certain but I think the monolith is a replica of the one in town indicating an historical site.
Another detail…what else can I say: beautiful!
Into the golf carts for a lengthy trip around town and the island.
Off to the beach at Coral Sands…one of the palapas that dot the beach.
Once in a while you just gotta look up…
…and down.
Then it’s off to a little resort/restaurant near the waterfront/harbor on the opposite side of the island, near Valentines.
Definitely not short of color or style.
When you’re in the path of Hurricanes the shutters are more functional than say in Seattle, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look great!
This is a burned out hotel that is used for weddings, receptions and other festivities. And it’s haunted to boot.
Yes, this really is a big tuba hanging on one of the walls.
Into town and the waterfront with the group. This house is one of my favorites. The wood siding is amazing – what is it?! The details tie it all together…Sara, Greg and I all end up photographing this several times throughout the trip.
See what I mean?
A little local flavor. Can’t say these people aren’t interesting…the older residents are as weathered as some of the buildings, but they seem happy.
Queen Conch, one of the many shops that dot the waterfront. They sell fresh conch salad and, surprise, shells. Only $200 if you want to use the place as a backdrop for a photoshoot.
What other color would you expect for the color of the building?
Also dotting the waterfront – piles of conch shells. The Bahamas are known for their abundance of shells, and this is proof that you don’t have to look far to find something impressive. We ended up bring back 3 large shells from the islands, all of which Sara found along the beaches and waterfront, not to mention the many smaller shells found and bought.
Detail from the neighboring shop/shack with contrasting colors. Makes for quite a colorful waterfront.
From town and the waterfront we head north, passing this barge that Sara and I photographed several times (it’s right next to the famous ‘tree’ which will show up later in the trip).
What else, another sign…at least it’s on the other side of the island.
We didn’t find much over on that side of the island but we did find Micky Drexler’s place, the CEO and visionary of JCrew. Would love to see inside the gates, but not going to happen this trip…I also spotted ‘the tree’, but wouldn’t get there for a few days longer.
L to R: Dewey Nicks, photographer extraordinary; Denard, the local contact who helped us out on the island during the shoot and helped Sara and I secure a rental car; Jodi, our producer’s assistant.
We wrap it up by heading back across the island towards Valentine’s looking for a good dock. We never find it, but we found this at one of the oldest estates on the island.