Need a good alley in downtown FTW

[kachina]

I need a good alley in Downtown Fort Worth for a night senior shoot. I'm looking for a location with the edgy/urban feel. I will have lots of equipment set up so I don't want a great deal of traffic. However, it needs to be safe and easy to access. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Rusty

[Dokk]

As far as easy access, there are a few that come to mind. Safety may be a different matter altogether. Alleys are, by nature dark at night so anything or anyone could be lurking in any shadow and there are at least a few homeless people downtown with a variety of mental "abnormalities". The two that I'm thinking about are the one next to the old Barber Bookstore building. Not very long but brick on each side with a door or two, a dumpster, and a chainlink fence in one section. The other isn't really an alley but it's behind some shops in the block bounded by Houston and Main and 2nd and 3rd streets. It used to be an alley but it's been converted into a courtyard and might suit your needs. There are also some alleys and areas that pass for alleys in the Stockyards area.

[kachina]

Thanks, Dokk. I will check them out tomorrow.

[CaptainTom]

Keep in mind that there is a lot of activity in the downtown area at night. With a little pre-coordination you might be able to get the Bass Security folks to keep an eye out for you.
I also know that they can be a little obnoxious with photographers about setting up equipment, etc. If you are going to try to just set up, shoot, and vamoose, that's one thing.
But, if you are going to go full production,etc. it would be best to get prior approval.
I'm probably available as a grip, etc.

[Hogleg 44]

There might be a few suitable alleys in the stockyard area too????

[kachina]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

it would be best to get prior approval.

Approval from whom, Tom? I was thinking about calling the city but sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness I'm not sure if you could call a few strobes full production but I'll bet at least one officer will drop by to see what is going on. Thanks for your offer but I already have an assistant for this shoot.

Paul, the Stockyards would be cool. I may visit that one during the guy's shoot.

[CaptainTom]

I can't even give my services away....!!

I would also check out some of the side streets off of North Main near where the Cat's Play. There are a bunch of warhouses, etc. down there, and it will definitely be deserted at night.
Are you looking for a brick wall with graffiti type idea ? Sounds interesting, and I'll look forward to your posting some of it.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I can't even give my services away....!!

I would also check out some of the side streets off of North Main near where the Cat's Play. There are a bunch of warehouses, etc. down there, and it will definitely be deserted at night.
Are you looking for a brick wall with graffiti type idea ? Sounds interesting, and I'll look forward to your posting some of it.

Better pack heat or take a grand master in the martial arts along. LOL

[kachina]

Tom, I will give you a shout before the guy's shoot. I have not scheduled it yet but it will be in the next two weeks.

John, we will have about 10 folks in the group so we should be pretty safe. I'll have a can of bear spray in my camera bag just in case

[Bruce M. Morris]

If you want a photo that says downtown Ft Worth, the parking lot that has the big cattle drive mural in it to use the Mural as background.. but there is the small matter of cars moving through the lot...
For just rough brick and mortar, your best bet would be either the stockyards or maybe the T&P Warehouse building on Lancaster. It still has the graffiti and such but the roads are all torn up in front.

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by kachina

Approval from whom, Tom? I was thinking about calling the city but sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness I'm not sure if you could call a few strobes full production but I'll bet at least one officer will drop by to see what is going on. Thanks for your offer but I already have an assistant for this shoot.

Paul, the Stockyards would be cool. I may visit that one during the guy's shoot.

Question Rusty! How are you going to power the strobes ? Are you going Strobist on us with the P-Wizards?

[kachina]

Noop...White Lightning X1600s and an ABR 800 ring light powered by a Gen II Vagabond remote power supply, or two. I'm not a huge fan of "the strobist method" at this time. However, I may go over to the dark side after lugging all of this cr*p around for a couple of shoots. I was going to do the first shoot tonight but that got poo-pooed by our nice little thunderstorm this evening - bummer. Oh well, I guess I will have to repack all of my camera gear into dry bags and head off on a three day canoe trip

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by kachina

Noop...White Lightning X1600s and an ABR 800 ring light powered by a Gen II Vagabond remote power supply, or two. I'm not a huge fan of "the strobist method" at this time. However, I may go over to the dark side after lugging all of this cr*p around for a couple of shoots. I was going to do the first shoot tonight but that got poo-pooed by our nice little thunderstorm this evening - bummer. Oh well, I guess I will have to repack all of my camera gear into dry bags and head off on a three day canoe trip

What did the Gen II set you back ? I got some mula burning a hole in my pocket! I am thinking about some new strobes, I just want to be able to use them anywhere. Where are you going canoeing ?

[kachina]

$315 shipped per unit. Canoeing in Southeast okieland - Lower Mountainfork and Little Rivers. Three days of shooting (camera), fishing, dutch oven cooking, and consuming good Kentucky bourbon with the Dallas Downriver Club.

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by kachina

$315 shipped per unit. Canoeing in Southeast okieland - Lower Mountainfork and Little Rivers. Three days of shooting (camera), fishing, dutch oven cooking, and consuming good Kentucky bourbon with the Dallas Downriver Club.

Man! I want to be Rusty, LOL