“What Dreams May Come” is a pictorial photographed by Skye Ten Eyck of Radiance Photographics, including models (Dreamer) Nikki Funwin (Devil) Catrina Wilson (Witches) Andrea Von W & Vanessa Froehling. Created in Eugene, Oregon at Radiance Photographics, this work initially appeared in Issue #38 Vol. 2 our July 2016 issue themed with Phobias & Superstitions.
What Dreams May Come
Fear of devils, witches, and the occult is almost fundamental to our society. Every major religion reinforces that fear–the same fear responsible for the Salem Witch trials more than 300 years ago. You can call it Daemonophobia, Satanophobia or Wiccaphobia but I prefer to call it The Fear. The Fear is the unnamed panic we feel when dark forces are near.
Featuring Models (Dreamer) Nikki Funwin (Devil) Catrina Wilson (Witches) Andrea Von W & Vanessa Froehling
Photographed by Skye Ten Eyck of Radiance Photographics
http://www.radiancephotographics.zenfolio.com
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Makeup by Andrea Von W
Wardrobe designed by Vanessa
Froehling of Fraulein Couture
Lighting Assistance by Keith Ten Eyck & Jason Petorak
Dagger by TORCHer Glass
Created in Eugene, Oregon at Radiance Photographics
Inspired by the fear of devils, witches, and the occult. Every dominant religion reinforces that fear, and the same fear is responsible for the Salem Witch trials more than 300 years ago. You can call it Daemonophobia, Satanophobia, or Wiccaphobia, but I prefer to call it The Fear. The fear is the unnamed panic we feel when dark forces are near.
This photographic set was inspired by an actual dream. Photographer Skye Ten Eyck assembled her own personal dream team to bring it to reality. Vanessa Froehling of Fraulein Couture designed costumes, and she also models alongside Andrea Von W, who did all of the makeup and hair was styled by Layla Dudley. They repurposed an old closet door as a light modifier, and they also built this bedroom set inside of Skye Ten Eyck’s studio. Catrina Wilson plays the part of the devil, and Nikki Funwin portrays the poor soul who endured this horrific nightmare.
The set moves through chronological order beginning with our dreamer getting ready for bed. After she falls asleep, she receives some visitors. By the end, she literally becomes the devil’s puppet.
The photographer honestly shares, “I feel particularly attached to this set of images because I believe it accurately represents my work as an artist. I built the concept from the ground up, drawing light diagrams and building props to convey fear, panic, and doom. Dark, macabre, and cast entirely with women, it also reflects my tastes and interests as an individual.”
Gothesque Magazine: Do you suffer at all from any of the top 10 phobias (Arachnophobia, Ophidiophobia, Acrophobia, Agoraphobia, Cynophobia, Astraphobia, Claustrophobia, Mysophobia, Aerophobia & Trypophobia)?
Skye Ten Eyck: I suffer from none of the top 10 phobias. My only phobia is mice. I am utterly terrified of them. Rats, hamsters, and gerbils make me uneasy, but only mice instill within me a sense of absolute terror. Musophobia has haunted me for as long as I can remember. As a child, I saw them in my nightmares most nights. And it seemed so silly to fear something so tiny while spending my free time thrill-seeking. At 16, I bungee jumped for the first time. Just a few years later, I went skydiving. Snakes amuse me. Spiders don’t scare me. And I adore thunderstorms. But all these years later, my hair still stands on end at the mere mention of those wretched, skittering vermin.
Gothesque Magazine: Is there anything you were afraid of as a child that you no longer fear? And vice versa?
Skye Ten Eyck: Growing up watching horror flicks with my grandma prepared me for a generally fearless life. Vampires and monsters intrigued me from an early age. Of course—like most children—I did go through a phase where I feared the dark. That changed almost immediately after a conversation with my dad I will never forget. I believed him when he said, “The scariest thing you’ll ever see in the dark is me.” He was joking of course but it still rattled me.
Gothesque Magazine: Is there a superstition that your parents tried to instill in you, but to you, was just too silly?
Skye Ten Eyck: My parents have never been superstitious people, but they did teach me the little nursery rhyme about stepping on cracks and breaking backs. But I was a weird kid; it only encouraged me to step on cracks intentionally.
Gothesque Magazine: Are you superstitious? Are there any superstitions you partake in, such as breaking the wishbone or picking up a penny for good luck?
Skye Ten Eyck: I don’t think of myself as superstitious, but in all honesty, I do partake in most wish-making superstitions. I always hold my breath and make a wish while traveling through tunnels. I make wishes on eyelashes, stars and at 11:11. I do believe in setting intentions and those little superstitions seem like regular reminders to do so.
Gothesque Magazine: How did you decide upon the chosen phobia/superstition in this content? What made you feel it would translate well as an editorial?
Skye Ten Eyck: I was inspired to create this set after reading a fascinating recounting of a nightmare from a friend and fellow photographer—Kassi Gaffney. She said: “The dream took place at the old abode in Briggsdale. Jefe and I were on a vacation there and had just laid down to go to sleep. I heard the front door open and what sounded like a heavy pair of boots or high heels making their way through the kitchen and towards my room. As soon as she made it into the room I knew she was Satan. And not by sight or any of the other six but simply from her presence and my horrified reaction to it. I had my eyes closed tightly and the hoof steps continued their approach to my bed. I spat out my question as quickly as I could before my terror had the chance to fully paralyze me. She brought her lips to my ear and deposited her seed of an answer right into my brain. In the dream, I interpreted her answer as just a rearranging of the words from my question. The confusion that this caused is actually what woke me up from the dream. Only upon telling someone about the dream did I truly realize what was said.”
In the dream, she had asked the devil, “What do you want?” The devil answered, “What you want.” The image developed in my brain instantly. Visually, there was much more to tell. What if she hadn’t woken? Where would the devil take her? What did she and the devil want? I just HAD to answer those questions with an editorial.
I feel particularly attached to the set we created because it represents my work as an artist. I built the concept from the ground up, drawing light diagrams and building props to convey fear, panic and doom. I poured myself into every aspect of the shoot and it shows. Dark, macabre and cast entirely with women, it also reflects my tastes and interests as an individual.
Gothesque Magazine: Do you yourself have a fear of witches or the occult?
Skye Ten Eyck: Much to the contrary, I am captivated by the occult. I am neither a religious person nor an Atheist. I maintain a sense of receptiveness to energy and magic that, try as I might, I can’t snuff out with knowledge or reason. I also have tremendous respect for people willing to move against social currents—to embrace what others fear. Those combinations frequently lead me to produce images celebrating the occult.
Gothesque Magazine: Summer is gearing up, do you have any big plans personally and professionally?
Skye Ten Eyck: Every summer is wedding season for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love weddings. I love each glimpse I get into how different families celebrate love—the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the traditions they continue—it is all so interesting. And I must admit, some of the greatest joy I feel each year is watching couples gush over their wedding photos. It is so rewarding to know I made a couple look as amazing as they felt on a day they will talk about forever. On the weekdays, however, when I’m not in the studio I will be in the woods, on the river or in my garden.
Gothesque Magazine: When it comes to your photographic gear, what is one item you wish you had never purchased and what is something you take to every shoot (besides your camera)?
Skye Ten Eyck: I worked camera sales to get through college, which turned me into a bit of a gearhead. I can find an excuse to use virtually any piece of gear, but the one thing I can hardly justify is my battery grip. I purchased it to get a little extra power to my camera when I shoot time lapses—specifically for creating star trail composites. To date, those few shoots are the only times I have used it. Some people love to beef up their cameras, but my fingers actually begin to ache after spreading them around that massive beast. It was a total and complete waste of money.
One of my best purchases, however, was an LED panel. Originally, I bought the constant light for video work but I have found myself using it at most of my outdoor shoots. The light coming from 100 different LED provides enough diffusion to avoid cumbersome lightboxes or umbrellas and the variable temperature makes it easy to lift shadows on the face while maintaining a natural light look. It is one of my very favorite pieces of equipment!
Gothesque Magazine: What is something that most don’t know about you?
Skye Ten Eyck: Most people are shocked to learn that I am a huge Britney Spears fan—and completely unashamed. Her videos have inspired me visually since I was a teenager. I have already produced a handful of sets based on Britney videos, but my secret career goal is to style a shoot after each and every one.
