Vote for: Featured Bedding of the Week

without sharing any details on either of this week's linen arrangements;
I'd love to hear which project you think was the bigger challenge, and why?

648+ Gerbera daisies


As part of a Spring campaign for a client, I built these images on foam core cut-out over a light table.  The entire image size was 5'x8' original.  The image was being shot from overhead with a Hasselblad H3D and, while it would be simple enough for it to be manipulated in post to avoid 'wasting' all the fresh floral, the final image would be printed in multiple media, including a direct mail 11" x 17" foldout on quality stock.  Because the goal was high end impact, we agreed that the real deal would be worth the effort.  It was literally back breaking, but who's to complain: I'm getting paid to surround myself with flowers! 
I did the math and pre-ordered 54 dozen gerbera daisies.  With the daffs, I needed a few more.  Carefully laid down, one by one for maximum pattern variation the first shot took about 2 hours to set up.  By the time I finished trimming off their little necks, I definitely wanted a manicure!

Since this was shot during the spring harvest, it wasn't as pricey as one might guess.
That said,  I just didn't have the heart to toss them into the yard waste bin after the shoot. (which, horrifically, is where much leftovers go, including food, after most productions. Something I will address in a later post).
But I couldn't imagine who would actually appreciate 1200 flowers without stems? 
Mother's day was upon us, but these beauties would never survive the trip. Who did I know nearby whose could utilize all this sunshine?
Hoping they would last til morning, I filled up 4 trash bags with the legless beauties and loaded them into the car.
As I drove around the corner,  I passed a retirement home. AHA!
I looped back around and pulled into the drive.
After a brief introduction and explanation why I was offering 4 sacks of flower heads, I was escorted into the dining hall where the evening dinner ritual was in progress.
During college, I spent sometime volunteering in retirement homes and working with seniors.  Its funny with older people living in group homes: They can easily resign themselves to just being bored out of their minds.  So any little action out of the routine is looked upon with either suspicion or pure glee. 
I approached with caution and a quick apology as to why there were no stems, I was rewarded with smiles at every table.
Happy Spring!