Location

Modelling for Workshops

ERWhittington 3 Comments

I’ve noticed that some photographers think models might not be too interested in seeing their shots of you, as you have (as a photographer said to me yesterday) ‘billions’ of photos of yourself already. Well, I don’t think I quite have a billion(!) but it’s true I’ve seen renditions of my own mug a few more times than the average person. However, I’m always interested in seeing how things turn out – different effects and styles mean there are a corresponding billion ways my mug can manifest itself as a photographic image, and I genuinely love seeing the fruits of mine and a photographer’s labour!

SO, I am always particularly chuffed when budding photographers attending workshops I model for then add me on facebook, tagging me in shots they’ve taken, or email me to show me their results!

Here are two more from the Yerbury boudoir workshop I modelled for recently. I thought the glowy light in these was fantastic when I saw them! By Donovan & Donovan Photography:

I’ve also modelled many times for the British Institute of Professional Photography, for their fashion, portrait and bridal workshops (I’ll be modelling on 16th March for another bridal workshop). This is by Rob Grimes, for a workshop led by the lovely Kelly Hearn. Photographing through a veil can be difficult, focus-wise, but makes for a really nice effect:

Yerbury Boudoir Training

ERWhittington 4 Comments

I had four exciting shoots this last week, one of which was for Faye and Trevor Yerbury‘s Boudoir Workshop at a beautiful hotel (The Greenway) in Cheltenham. It was a perfect opportunity to wear some new lingerie sets, I thought. The day went very well. The Yerburys are an impressive husband and wife team who have both won a ridiculous amount of awards individually – they have a genuine enthusiasm for creating beautiful images, and for passing on the necessary skills. I have unexpectedly been sent lots of the images from the day (both from the Yerburys and the delegates), which is always a nice bonus!

The following were taken by Yvonne Lorraine (one of the delegates at the workshop):

This was taken by Barbara Leatham (another delegate):

(Rocking the demonic look:)

By Faye Yerbury:
 (Rolling around the floor while a room full of people take shots, as one does:)

Obviously, there are lot of similar-ish photos here, but they’re all slightly different and the delegates had the chance to direct me individually as well as snapping all at once. If you think you might be interested in getting some tips and know-how from the Yerburys, you can find information about their upcoming workshops (based all around the country) on their facebook group: ‘Boudoir Academy‘. I’ll be modelling for them again soon… Maybe see you there? 🙂

Sunday ‘me time’

ERWhittington 5 Comments

I meant to show these a while ago, and I think they make a nice contrast with some of the recent images I’ve blogged here. The following were taken on film by Tony Ornstien, who booked me quite a few times late last year (read a previous post here). They’re very relaxed and almost candid (I was genuinely quite engrossed in the magazine I was reading) and not at all ‘try-hard’ or overly posed, which I like.

Big Hair and B&W Film

ERWhittington 6 Comments

I’ve had three shoots recently with a wonderful hobbiest photographer called Tony Ornstien (no link, unfortunately) and his wife Jennifer. Tony contacted me via my website a while ago wanting to work on some images in which the women are portrayed as strong, powerful and glamorous; he and Jennifer are big fans of the likes of Helmut Newton (their house is covered in bold and intriguing art works), and make an incredibly enthusiastic team. Tony is always striving to improve on his last efforts, keen to perfect the lighting, and seems to really enjoy having me to practise on (I’ll be seeing him again soon for a fourth visit to work on a particular set which has a lot of potential!) and Jennifer, an ex-racing car driver, enjoys brushing my hair and making it ENORMOUS!! 🙂 Both are careful to check details (of both myself and the background) before a set is ready to be clicked; it’s important that the images convey a plausible context.

Because Tony works with film (Hasselblad) rather than a digital camera, there’s no checking the back of the camera to see what the results are like, so each visit begins with a table display of the last visit’s images (developed in the dark room), which is always fun and involves lots of analysis! I actually met them both last night in Oxford, for a quick dinner and perusal of the latest shots of my generally-naked self, before a dance troupe practise.

Here are a few of the shots so far. I was kindly given a print of the first!

Perspectives

ERWhittington 4 Comments

Well, Dubai was fun! Ridiculously hot and humid, a breeze was like an oasis in the desert. I stayed on the 44th floor in my friend’s apartment (ears popped each day on the way up and down! I hate lifts but am proud to say I remained calm at all times; even I didn’t fancy all those stairs…), managed to avoid tan lines (I’m not entirely sure how I did that; probably a mixture of paranoia and factor 40!), got a henna tattoo (slight infactuation with tattoos on feet – and yes, it’s pretty much faded now), went on a desert safari where we surfed around dunes by car at top speed (felt like a rollercoaster – totally unsafe – amazing!), saw a belly dancer (and indulged myself in some new costumes), went to a 12-hour beach party at Nasimi beach and saw Armen van Helden, Chicane, Zero 7 (MUST persuade them to let me join the group as a guest star one day…) and others, swam in a pool surrounded by sky-scrapers (I woke up on my lounger and briefly thought the sky was falling down on me; scary perspectives out there!), saw all the various superlatives (7 star hotel, tallest building in the world, biggest gold ring in the world – that’s a lot of bling!), floated in the beautiful warm sea and was shown around the textile, spice and gold souks by a guy who bought a jet ski but forgot to use it more than twice…. What a fascinating place Dubai is and full of interesting, ambitious people. Omnipresent, palpable sense of possibility. Really pleased I packed quite a lot into one week. Lots of inspiration for one of the characters in the book I’m starting to write and some other things I have in the pipeline at the back of my mind. Other interesting facts about Dubai: 51% of every single business over there is owned by a sheik, no one is allowed to be unemployed (i.e. they kick you out if you are, hence the many abandoned vehicles lying covered in layers of sand-dust!), you go to jail if you write a cheque and it bounces, and there is NO income tax.

(Sorry about all the brackets… It’s lazy of me but I like the fast pace.)

Anyway, I worked recently with Tim Pile, who has a bit of a thing for interesting perspectives and angles in his photography. I was very pleased to be shooting with him (and two other photographers he often works with, Mary and Dinah) as he’s produced some fantastic work so far, describing himself as an ‘improving amateur’ and shooting for a camera club and national/international competitions. The location was very unique and characterful – the Victoria Baths in Manchester, so we had about a million sets to play with.

Here are some of my favourites from the day. Tim likes to experiment with treatments to bring out the best in the shots, so I’m posting a variety. I call this first set my ‘floating down the shaft/falling down the rabbit-hole) look:

I also have these from Dinah:

The lighting conditions in the first shot were very challenging, but I think it came out really well and makes an interesting, quirky image. It was a tiny room full of a very eerie, green light. I’m sitting in a rocking chair, like a strange Miss Havisham; just me and the shadows…

The previous day, Tim came along for part of my shoot with Rebecca Parker (see previous blog entry) and got his own take on the fields of heather, again working with his interest in unusual perspectives: