I had a really nice, laid back shoot in Gloucestershire with Mike Bradbury last year, dropping in on my way home from a couple of shoots at a studio nearby. I love these simple, relaxed shots we took in his home studio (in between chats). The eagle-eyed among you will notice I didn’t point my toes in the casual sitting shots – I really like this about them. I have to admit I often find the propensity for art models (and I do include myself) to point their toes to be a little too unnatural and (ironically) awkward looking sometimes – it can be such a beautiful finish to a line, which is why we so often do it (and some of us have dance/ballet backgrounds from which this trait is perhaps borrowed), but sometimes it becomes a bit too much, in my opinion, and I see it slightly overdone at the loss of the natural feeling of an image (and I get that not all images are meant to look natural!). I think there is a lot to be said for a more authentic, less ‘stylised’/gymnastic way of being in photos, now and then. (Cue everyone looking at my toes now… eek!)
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Sunflowers & Dungarees
Today I’m sharing a collection of images I’ve been sent by Colin (Capture77) taken at Big Shot Studio in Leighton Buzzard, when I’ve dropped by for a few studio days over the last few months. I really love his style and we are definitely on the same page in terms of taste. All styling is mine, though it was Colin who suggested I bring dungarees (nice to do something different!). Hope you like these as much as I do…
The sunflowers one was the last set we did after one of the days (I think it may even have been the last frame), and it was a case of me grabbing them when I spotted them in the studio and demanding we shoot with them(!). Sunflowers, for me, are a symbol of self-belief and confidence. If you are into this kind of thing, they represent the solar plexis chakra and I was once told to visualise them in order to boost feelings of self-esteem and personal power. The portrait that resulted, below, definitely channels this, and I love it for that reason.
(Some of) the many faces of 2018
I’m not doing a 2018 version of my usual ‘highlights from each shoot’ bumper post this year – simply because I have the work of precisely 70 photographers I’ve modelled for this year that I’m yet to share! (What can I say – it’s been a busy one even by my standards!!!) So I’m keeping calm and carrying on, and doubling up this blog post to show the work of TWO photographers I worked with this year, with the theme of ‘portraits’.
First, I am delighted to show three of my favourite images here which were taken by Joe B all the way back in January(!). He was going (as you can probably tell) for a sort of ‘Hollywood’ feel to these, and it was really cool to see what he was able to achieve, especially as the studio technology was playing up a bit and it all became a bit of a challenge, skilfully worked around in the end with some striking results:
A Herring Factory, a Piano & a Window
When Bragi Kort told me the next location during our week in the westfjords of Iceland in June was going to be an abandoned herring factory, I was half expecting (/dreading) rotting fish flesh and a bed of bones. But it wasn’t quite like that, thankfully, and in fact Bragi was right to be so excited – it was a fantastic location full of massive shapes, textures, industrial machines and window lights. A photographer’s dream and I love so many of his shots I’m accidentally sharing 40-odd here all at once… Including some taken at one of the hotels we stayed at which (to my absolute delight) had a piano (and an open-minded owner!).
I think a personal favourite is the set with the huge upside-down, rusting cone-shape (basically it was a space ship). It was a bit precarious and we had to be careful not to get too close; we were actually very kindly guided around by the owners of the land for our safety, before being left to do our thing.
As you’ll see, I’m suffering from a horrible bout of ‘colour or mono?’ indecision, so am showing some of both. I think I’m quite drawn to the colour ones for many – I love the muted tones.
If you like the images below, make sure you’ve also had a look at this other bumper post, which shows a totally different side of Iceland – the outdoor moonscapes and magnificent beauty of the landscapes (with little old me frolicking about among it all).
Attenborough meets nude model
I’m about to fly to Australia. The last time I was in Queensland, Adam Hauldren and I wound our way to this famous curtain fig tree. A fellow Brit somehow surviving upside-down living on a permanent basis (must be awful living with all that sunshine..), he kept me entertained with a spontaneous (and rather impressive) Attenborough impression (see behind-the-scenes vid I posted on facebook here for some of it!!), and when the time was right (i.e. when we felt particularly rebellious and I dared to climb the fence, take my clothes off and very quickly and unobtrusively pose by this absolute honour of a tree, he took some photos over about 3 minutes in total, I would imagine. I, of course, felt hugely privileged to encounter such a place and treated it with respect as always (in general, for example, I always make sure not to trample wildflowers, when posing, or snap twigs – I bend them gently away instead if needed and blow gently at spiders or reason with them rather than do them any harm…). Here, I just stood briefly in the majesty of this enormous, spectactular and ancient tree, and felt the journeys of glorious roots at my feet. So wonderful. Thank you Adam for detouring us to this magical place!
Below the images of me at the curtain fig are a few of the infra-red portraits he took earlier that week. Infra-red + very little make up = brilliant, ghostly, etheral, other-worldliness. I think I look quite spooky! Aren’t the leaves lovely? And you can see all my veins! So cool.
Hope you like these! I’m sending out a newsletter over the next week with updates on all my antics and some upcoming travel tour dates, so please do sign up if you haven’t already. Filling in that quick form is the best way of making sure I send you a direct email when next visiting your area, too, and is a new system that surpasses all previous attempts at systems I have made over the years. (Can you believe I’ve been modelling all over this planet for nearly a decade? What a bizarre and wonderful way to spend time! Thanks for watching…)
October’s Blue Ring Octopus
Shoot numero one in Australia and I’m already being educated about their wild and wonderful creatures. Blue octopi (extraordinarily pretty, but not particularly friendly) hang out in tide pools, etc.. I didn’t actually spot one but after they were mentioned on this lovely little shoot with photographer Geoffrey Cutts, I kept an eye out! I love Australian shoots – every moment is a wildlife lesson. And, alarmingly often, the creatures they describe are not actually made up.
I’d actually modelled at this particular location a few times before, but it seems that every time I’m there, the water revs up and goes crazy, which makes for some dramatic shots. I’m going to just assume it’s because I’m extremely powerful – some kind of magnetic force. 🙂
Well, to avoid this post seeming like clickbait, here’s a blue octopus so no one is disappointed:
And here are a few of Geoff’s photos of me. We had a lovely time – I really enjoyed it! 🙂
The Albion Beatnik Bookstore
The Albion Beatnik Bookstore in Oxford, recently closed, was one of a kind. A totally unique haven for book and music lovers, with a hefty collection of loose leaf tea. You can imagine: I spent quite a bit of time there. I was granted access to using this characterful place as a photographic location last year for a couple of shoots, and briefly advertised this (it pays to be on my mailing list, take note..!) the following were taken by Paul Jeffery, who grappled bravely with minimal light options and cramped dimensions in such a brilliantly chaotic place. Throw a piano into the situation, plus a touch of costuming towards the end (a good art model always packs her finger cymbals for a shoot!), and this is what you get:
Ella Rose - Photo actress, Muse & Dancer 