The Six. Has taken. For-bloody-ever. Seriously. The six is a card of public triumph, generally showing someone on horseback with a laurel wreath and a cheering crowd. I nixed horseback, much to Stephanie's dismay, and we tried for a cheering throng, but no one showed (note to self- invite people personally instead of with a … Continue reading Six of Staves
Black Widow Honey
Co-operative photography projects with Stephanie Whiteside.
Five of Staves
The Five of Staves is perhaps my favorite of the staves so far, and maybe even of the whole deck. The Five of Staves is traditionally five persons with sticks engaged in combat; it depends on the depiction whether this combat is perceived as friendly practice, a striving competition, or a pitched battle. To both … Continue reading Five of Staves
Four of Staves
The Four of Staves was... complicated. It was one of the few cards we've tried, and then had to try again. The idea was simple enough; the four of wands is generally interpreted as a card of domestic beginnings, and I immediately jumped to the idea of depicting Stephanie under a chuppah, waiting. And then … Continue reading Four of Staves
Three of Staves
Where the Two of Staves was more inwardly focused, the Three of Staves is an outwardly focused card. Where the Two is about what one already has, about taking stock of what one values, where one has succeeded, the Three is more focused on what one is beginning. The look outward for new territory, for … Continue reading Three of Staves
Two of Staves
The Two of Staves initially looked like it could be a difficult card to convey- in the traditional Rider-Waite imagery, both the Two and the Three of wands are sort of grand cards without much specific detail with which to engage. We decided to go a different route. We both see the two as an … Continue reading Two of Staves
Ace of Staves
This... was supposed to be a simple shoot. This was a card we mostly agreed about, which was nice- the staves are fire, and passion, and energy. I was really stuck on motion, at least in part because so many of the blades images had been very static. So we talked it over and made … Continue reading Ace of Staves
The Blades- A Retrospective
Well, it took the better part of a year, but we have finished the suit of Blades! We are approximately one-fifth of the way done, and as I look back at the Blades, I have to say that I am pretty dang pleased with how some of them have turned out. It started as just … Continue reading The Blades- A Retrospective
King of Blades
Kings are generally men*, and generally conceived of as large and/or imposing and/or powerful, etc. Given that Stephanie is neither large, nor imposing (at least in the physical sense), I had to spend some time thinking about how to convey the idea of size and force. I wanted to convey a sense of quiet power … Continue reading King of Blades
Queen of Blades
The Queen of Blades. Traditionally a somber card, often a widow or a barren woman. Someone ill-used by life, accustomed to disappointment either from themselves or others. A person who is always on guard, waiting defensively for the next hurt or attack. When read as a person, this can be seen as an adult, ages … Continue reading Queen of Blades
Knight of Blades
Where the pages are childhood and youth, the knights are, to me, young adulthood. 18-35 or so. Thus, where the pages are the part of our lives about beginning a quest, of being a seeker, the knights are about change and information. They symbolize rapid change, swift understandings, game-changing ideals. As this is the knight … Continue reading Knight of Blades
Idlewilde 