bar

"The Guest Room" by Blake McCollum

Have you ever seen a movie where the character enters a secret bar? Well you can experience that in person now. If you haven't been lucky enough to experience "The Guest Room" in Starkville, MS it isn't because you missed their new big sign. Let me try to paint the picture for you. This "speakeasy" type bar is only accessible through a back Entry. A short walk down an alleyway into the basement of an existing business. There is no sign, there is no menu on the exterior wall. Only a small street light and a large wooden door down a short flight of stairs. If they are at maximum occupancy when you try and enter, they will politely tell you they are full and try back soon.  But once inside it is in my opinion one of the most interesting, best styled, and coolest vibed places to have a drink or even dinner in town. Bowties and aprons are a regular for the bartenders  who squeeze fresh fruit daily for their drink masterpieces. No loud music or TV's all over the walls just a great place to relax. Seriously my short summary of it does not do it justice, so go check them out and see for yourself (located under Restaurant Tyler in Starkville MS.) And if you want a bit more information on "The Guest Room" you can Click Here

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Don't miss their feature in the May issue of Town and Gown floating around the area. P.S. my last name is "McCollum"

Don't miss their feature in the May issue of Town and Gown floating around the area. P.S. my last name is "McCollum"

As far as lighting these images (I am going to start trying to do lighting setups on a majority of my future blog post) they all change from scene to scene drastically, but most of the imagery included one octobox as key with a strip box gelled extremely warm (to match the existing lights) for a rim/hair light. The location might not look it in the photos but is very small area with low ceilings. Lighting gear was extremely tight in here. The area itself is extremely low light but was scattered with wall mounted tungsten burning Edison bulbs which would act as my fill light. 

Camera: Canon 5d III 
              Canon 85mm 1.2L 
              Canon 24-70mm 2.8L

Flash: 2 Alienbee 400
          Cybersync reciever/trasmitter 
          47" Octobox
          10x36" Grided Stripbox (gelled warm)

          Vegabond Mini Power 
            Manfroto Q1 Tripod