A Blush of Wildlife

ERWhittington

After discussing the possibility for about 4 years(!), with me utterly failing to get it together in a timely manner, Hugh Alison and I finally managed to briefly align our diaries this summer to allow me to model in front of his lens, around another shoot I had in Snowdonia. It was a short-ish shoot but hopefully not the last!

I really like this one (thanks Hugh for letting me show it off!), and know there were many more I also liked that I saw on the back of the camera. 
This little patch of magenta flowers required sacrificing my skin to the local insect-life, but I was only in there for a couple of minutes (it was just a last minute idea; I thought it was such a pretty spot and the light was beautiful!) and I was thoroughly doused in repellant and escaped bite-free.

Scandinavia

ERWhittington

After this and this, I have another batch of images from Norway to show today!

These are more experimental, indoor (well, some are, and to be inside was a bit of a relief after all that mermaid-ing about in arctic winds, as thrilling as that was) and many of them, in my opinion, really capture the cool, glowy fresh light you get in Scandinavia.
by Mads Erik Husdal:

By Lars Andreas Dybvik:
(a couple of ‘behind the scenes’ scenes first!)

and by Hakon Gronning:

I’m off to Venice tomorrow, having got back from Vienna a couple of days ago. What a ridiculously exciting time it’s been, modelling at full throttle. I’m already taking bookings for next year (having taken one for August a little while ago already), and would urge anyone wishing to reserve some time with me in the UK or beyond to get in touch and start making arrangements. I’ll take just a few more bookings for this winter (November – Jan) – you can get in touch via www.ellarosemuse.co.uk.

Sunday Medley

ERWhittington

A medley of different images for this turn-the-heater-on Sunday.

I’ve been packing for Vienna and getting seriously excited about certain upcoming gallavants (came across this the other day which made me smile.. quite drastic!), while feeling all nostalgic in front of Jurassic Park, etc. (I think I know every scene of that film). Had a fun studio shoot yesterday – the first to show off my new hair colour (I accidentally walked into a hair salon as I fancied a change!). Tonight I’m back on Downton Abbey watch, though I fear they’re going to take blimmin’ ages to unveil the war memorial (one of the scenes I’m in).

(By Ken Pegg)

(By Max Operandi)

(By Max Operandi)

Arbroath – Tayport

ERWhittington
Always nice to shoot with Jim Furness, whose multi-camera set-up allows for some landscapes extraordinaires!
These were taken in Scotland the other day, including a place called ‘The Devil’s Head’ (or ‘the deil’s heid’):

I suggested this spot in the image below as it seemed to me like I’m at the top of a cracked earth; Jim’s clever fish eye makes it extra odd:

And, to finish, we got a lift in a yacht, so that I could do (a version of) my Kate Winslet impression. Thankfully I managed to stay upright-ish, clinging on in the wind:

… All in a day’s work. 🙂

The Wool Company

ERWhittington

Despite roasting in a studio yesterday along with 5 other models for an exciting shoot involving ghosts, cliffs & scaffolding(!!!) I feel like autumn is considering stopping twiddling its thumbs today and sadly, yet beautifully, hitting us with some cooler air…

To get over this shock (and also because I was, quite frankly, knackered, after non-stop shoots galore plus the horrible news that my doggie suffered heart failure while away; she is now on 3 different medications per day, poor thing (and we are grappling with the trauma – for all parties – of having to shove little tiny pieces of ‘make-you-better-I-promise’ down her little throat), and she is dealing incredibly well with her gorgeous little heart beating at several million miles an hour to cope with all that’s going on in there; seriously, I know it sounds weird, but the X-rays of her tiny little body were adorable!), I decided to take a nap this afternoon and make the most of a recent purchase: welcome The Wool Company’s mattress topper.
Wow. My entire bed is anew. Not that there was much wrong with it before; but seriously, I feel like it has new soft, floaty depths!
Gorgeous, afore-mentioned piglet certainly agrees (click to enlarge):
(yes, I have a rose on my pillowcase!)
Anyway, back (more directly) to The Wool Company. I’m delighted to be able to say that I’m their ‘face'(/body), having recently shot for the second time around the moors and beaches of Cornwall, and finding their lovely website adorned with pictures of my mug and windswept hair. It’s such a huge pleasure to shoot for them and I’m already looking forward to next season’s photoshoot. After spending a couple of nights at the family’s farmhouse I felt very much at home, and loved chatting to Harry and Sarah in the evening about music and life as much as snuggling up to the wool capes and cashmere scarves on little bridges and next to lakes. Definitely my cup of tea, that sort of thing! 🙂
I obviously had to make the most of the discount I was kindly offered and purchased a few things of my own after the shoot, one of which I’m wearing below (clue; I look particularly happy in it!). I just think it’s so nice to own things that feel so beautifully made and of the kind of quality that has you dreaming of autumn/winter nights by the fire…
Some shots and screengrabs:

 And in other news, I duck into La Galleria in Picadilly last night after a shoot in London to have a quick look at the painting ‘Access to Justice’ by Andrew Brady, which I posed for (as Justice herself!). I was pleased to get a text from Andy just beforehand telling me he’d won the ‘People’s Choice’ award! The exhibition, ‘Injustice’, was run by London Legal Support Trust in association with Arts for Justice and you can see the entries here.

Here’s ‘Access to Justice’:

About the artwork:  ‘Painted especially for this exhibition, this piece is an  allegory for the way in which the disadvantaged in society find it difficult to gain proper access to justice. Justice here is represented by the figure on the right; she is blind, which traditionally represents her impartiality.The bejewelled figure in the centre represents those with money, influence or power; able to gain the ear of Justice while at the same time obstructing the figure on the left, who, with her threadbare blouse represents the disadvantaged. Making cuts to Legal Aid is one of the greatest injustices in our country today.’

Tags

ERWhittington

Congratulations to Stephen Bassett who’s been awarded a Gold medal in a salon (1st DPW ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2014) for ‘Ella’s Eyes’:


I have to say I don’t think my eyes have received a medal before, so that’s nice. 🙂
I also like the one below. Both were taken at Catchlight Studios in Belfast.

In other ‘things I’ve been tagged in on facebook’ news, the incredible photographer Neil Snape, who I worked with in Paris plucked this image out of the ether and wrote the following very very touching note:

‘Funny Ella Rose Muse said when shooting, she didn’t think she’d fit into my style of shooting. In the way that must be because I had only one chance to shoot with you , the most romantic painterly Raphealesque model one could ever find…. I think I’ll have to remove this one quickly even though it shows nothing but beauty, unfortunately.’

… It’s true, I do remember saying I was surprised (and flattered) that he was so enthusiastic to shoot with me, despite being more usually working with supermodels and fashion advertising. It was a pleasant surprise that someone whose commercial clients include ‘Helena Rubenstein, Sonia Rykiel, YSL Beauté, Lanvin, Cartier, Lalique, Leonard, L’Oreal, and LMVH’ was so keen to work with my look and genuinely appreciative of it.

Actually, I think I’m due a visit to both Paris and Belfast again soon. Hhmm.

I hope you’re all as embarrassingly excited as I am about Downton Abbey’s new series starting this evening… Keep your eyes out for an appearance from me in a couple of scenes (though I have no idea which episode I’ll be in!).

P.S. Have you been following me on instagram? I’m posting behind the scenes and other such nonsense on there… and I promise it’s not ALL about my dog, despite the fact that she looks like this:

(Sometimes it’s also about my cat.)