Today I found out some less than exciting news. My friend and the man who got my modeling career started, one of my favorite photographers, David Bazzle has just passed away. At the age of only 29 years old, David passed today on July 7th, 2015, due to some severe Tachycardia: which is an issue with the heart and its rhythm.
David was, to be honest, simply amazing. Back in 2013, David was the photographer my friend had introduced me to to get some test shots. Funny enough, a shoot that was only supposed to be an hour long turned into eight, with several locations and outfit changes. We even almost got arrested because we looked like a bunch of bandits while we were shooting at an abandoned house. I remember the cops showed up and David in his Scottish accent talked our way out of it. From that day on, David and I did several other shoots together.
David even told me once or twice I was his favorite, not to rain on anyone’s parade or anything, but he was my favorite too. He always made me laugh and feel comfortable in front of the camera; even though when I first met him I told him he was extremely intimidating. Just this past winter David had convinced me to do a shoot with a puddle of water.
It was sunny out but cold as shit. He kept laughing at me because I wanted to only sit in the sun and shoot. After all, it was freezing everywhere else. We legit found only one puddle in a parking garage and then shot in it. Bare feet and all…it was so cold. It was a pretty fucking creative and awesome result, to say the least. In the end, David made it so my feet disappeared with just my reflection in the puddle. The rest of the shoot we did some “hipster crap” as he called it, but it all came out amazing again per usual.
David was always laughing at how insane I was, convincing him that climbing a tree or a statue would make for a good shot. I remember after that first eight-hour long shoot, I went home and played the whole list of stills for my family on the TV, and after it was done my mother told me how incredibly talented he was: not like I didn’t already know that. However, the way he captured emotion within the photos was just simply amazing. Just pure talent.
Last spring when David and I went to Gastonia to shoot, I kept telling him I wanted some cool dance pictures. So, we found this weird-looking unloading zone in this village with a door frame to take the picture. Well, knowing our luck, this woman and a man came out of the building and started asking us what the hell we were doing. Little did we know, there was a security camera in the corner of the building to make sure that NO TRESPASSERS came by. (Obviously us) So, this time I did the smooth-talking, which surprisingly worked, and we got to staff and finish taking the pictures: which came out sick as always!
Over the past couple of years, I was able to introduce David to a lot of new clients, which is probably why he never charged me when we took pictures. (Sorry I spilled the beans) One of the funniest times was when we were shooting with his guitars this past fall and David was making fun of me because I didn’t know half of the Scottish lingo he was saying. We shared a lot of stories though; about where we were from, wanted to go…who we wanted to be. We even just recently bitched about how we hated working, which don’t worry David, I still sometimes will hate for the both of us.
It sucks you know; we just spoke and had all these other plans to try several shots and create new art. It seems like life likes to fuck you like that; ruining your plans. One thing I will always be thankful to David for was always being there for me to talk to. David was the one person who understood, and I mean truly understood my anger with my mother’s death, as he too dealt with a parent’s death at a young age. He understood my pain, and though at times he was more grunge than I was, we shared similar interests and a passion for the arts. David had an amazing view of life, and frankly, that’s one thing I am going to deeply miss.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, because that’s not how David was nor I, and I am angry about his passing at such a young age; however, I truly know he is in a better place. I will also be thankful for being able to work with you David Bazzle and thank you for being my friend. I’m going to miss wearing your leather and bad-ass metal clothing too. (If you’ve ever shot with David before you know what I’m talking about) David, thank you for everything and for all you did for me. Don’t worry either, I kept from crying too. Thanks to you, I’m still the tough-ass bitch I told you id be.
With Love,
Lex Paige
Rest in Peace Our New Metal Angel
