Corey Feldman & Many Others....

I was once again the official photographer to my favourite weekend of the year: Horrorcon!

Corey Feldman, meeting and greeting his guests

Not only did I get to shoot Corey Feldman and all of the other guests, but hanging out with Dario Argento, my favourite movie director of all time, was more fun than I ever imagined!

I even had Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween) re-enact meeting Michael Myers! It was actually taken in the break room behind the stage area, so no studio. Just my assistant with a speedlight and some camera know how!

Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween) meeting Michael Myers one last time….

So what was it like? In a word, this weekend is SPECTACULAR! The organizers do such an amazing job, and the atmosphere is electric. This is my 3rd time at the convention, and 2nd as their photographer, and they really, truly knocked it out of the park this year on all fronts.

The guests?

  • Corey Feldman - An absolute gentleman

  • Ed Neal (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) - The funniest man alive and a treasure trove of movie knowledge

  • Sean Pertwee (Gotham, Dog Soldiers) - Beautiful guy, has time for everyone he meets

  • Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween) - Sushi fiend, and the best fun! The crowd loved her

  • Victoria Price (Vincent Price’s daughter, author) - Wonderful! So kind, and a fountain of knowledge!

  • Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story) - Great fun, and my assistant was in complete awe to meet him. Always a good sign!

  • Jennifer Rubin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3) - A personal favourite guest. I accidentally bumped into a famous UK model because of Jennifer, so more pictures for another time!

  • Duncan Regehr (Monster Squad) - A seriously, seriously great guest with many a tale to tell!

  • Dario Argento (Suspiria, Tenebrae, Opera) - My favourite movie director of all time. The Italian Hitchcock that inspired John Carpenter (they’re good friends, see them at Cannes!), Tarantino and so many more - an endless list

Here’s a personal gallery behind the scenes:

What a weekend! Several shoots yet to be published with amazing people. Another great event with great people, and long may it continue to be the very best gathering of its kind in the UK!

Martin, The Barefoot Photographer

Cult Movie Director, Dario Argento Shoot!

Dario Argento has inspired me for 30 years. Visually, his works are a masterpiece of colour, composition and lighting. His tour-de-force technicality in visceral movie making is legendary and he is a known influence on his good friends Quinten Tarantino, John Carpenter and many more. He’s not referred to as “The Italian Hitchcock” for no reason!

I was having dinner with him while we flipped through my portfolio. I will never forget the moment when this master of visuals sat back, looked at my work and simply said “Bellissimo!” with no hesitation. Magical.

Next day we were shooting! Dario doesn’t do photo-shoots like this. Not ever. We went deep into an industrial steel complex, lit the scene and began shooting. It was an instant synergy. Having the maestro himself as my subject, I put him into a giallo film noir! We’d discussed film noir the night before, and it seemed only fitting given the over sized trench coat he was wearing and the massive space we were in to bring out that look.

Dario Argento, Shot by Martin Brown, The Barefoot Photographer

I have many more to come from this shoot. I will see Dario again in August for the launch of his auto-biography and be doing the photography to cover the event. I will take a print in of this image for Dario to sign as a one off, signed by myself and Dario as a true collector’s piece.

Until August for more work with the Maestro!

Martin