The Tree Mistress Shoot and poem has inspired me to continue with myths and legends as a theme.  Regular readers will know from recent blogs that I found an odd waterfall near Alsancak.  It is not much of a waterfall in the height of summer, but it does have a tunnel archway lower down.  Anyway, from teenage years, I read a fantasy type novel named Rusalka by C.J. Cherryh, that introduced me to Russian folklore.  Further research reveals that there are many regional tales of water spirits and many slightly different tales about the Rusalka.  I decided to focus on the auburn hair and pale skin type, and once I secured my model, I went ahead and wrote another poem (sonnet).  Maybe I’ll call it the Sonnet Series.  The poem appears below where the story photos start. There is also a short film included at the end.
 

So first, a big thank you to Alisa or Tropalisa.  She is good friends with Alisa K the model, and also a graduate and creative.

 I needed a lot of help on the shoot and Alisa stepped up, helping the model with make up, and everything really, helping me with lights, and having good ideas and suggestions.

She worked on the Tree Mistress Shoot too. The end shots with water is all Alisa’s work.  She stepped up on a weird concrete platform and threw water at her friend!  I think maybe she could make a career as some sort of stylist or production coordinator.  Anyway, it was very much appreciated.  

Amir was a really gentleman too.  He carried without complaint and took care of the main white light.  He went up and down the hill several times to get a flash, or a stool, and we chatted nicely while the girls did their thing.  He is a filmmaker and has a good eye for things.  I got some further shots of them all.

This one below is the final shot of the day.  I had packed the camera away, but even after a full shoot, I saw this and wanted a record.

Alisa K, the model, is also a Arucad graduate and working film and photography, as well as modelling.  We met a while ago at an exhibition, but I don't really know her well.  I asked the other Alisa to pitch the idea to her as they are friends. She is tall (maybe 6 foot), and elegant, and always smiling, she can’t help it.  She was good on texts and sent costume ideas and stuff too, and she worked hard on the day.  She was ok with getting drenched in water, although it was probably a little bit of a relief in the heat.

Thank you for all your efforts, I really appreciate it.

So on with the poem and story photos.

Rusalka

With pallid skin and auburn hair askew,
Her garments loosely draped in silent grief;
Betrayed by him who swore his love was true,
She drowned beside the river, past relief.
Now doomed to haunt the river where she died,
She uses feminine and fatal grace
To draw the foolish mortals to her side,
And lead them to a cold and dark embrace.
Beneath her smiling face a hunger hides,
A secret wish to pull them down below,
Into the chilling depths where sorrow bides,
To join her in the sunless undertow.
Thus bound forever to the stream's cold bed,
She claims the living to avenge the dead.

There are quite few more shots in the Cyprus Shoots album, linked here. 

Finally, largely due to Alisa K recording things on her phone, we have a short film presentation of the shoot.

Best watched in full screen on a TV, or computer, click the watch on youtube link lower right..