Five of Coins 1.1

The Five of Coins is one of the few completely negative cards in the tarot, which made it interesting to shoot. While Stephanie and I sometimes differ on how to portray various cards, there is very little room for interpretive differences in the Five of Coins- it is just poverty, and destitution.

Four of Coins 2.2

We knew we wanted to shoot around some abandoned buildings, because that is one of the other main themes of this card- being shut out, abandoned in the cold. Fortunately, we live very near Treasure Island, which is chock full of boarded up buildings and empty lots.

Five of Cups 3.2

It was actually a really fun shoot- the light was great, we were entirely left alone, and we had basically a large photographer’s playground to shoot in. Just search “Treasure Island, CA” in google images, and you’ll turn up approximately a gajillion photos from every hipster and his yuppie cousin with a camera. They’re not wrong, though- it’s a great place to get a shot.

Five of Coins 4.2

I’m really happy with how these turned out- I think we managed to capture a sort of believable poverty. It’s easy, when doing this sort of costumed, staged, setting for things, to take it too far, to make it a caricature. I wanted to avoid that, and I think we did.

Five of Coins 5.2

Check out Stephanie’s blog about this shoot here, and the full set of photos here. Also remember to visit our facebook page and our website!

Five of Coins 6.1