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:
bookshelf
At Home With… Tea & Books
Well, mix up Helmut Newton (his nudes all around me on the walls at this location) and A God of Small Things (excellent and playful book, studied at uni, fatefully spotted on photographer’s shelf) and you somehow get a very Sunday-at-home sort of feeling; reading and brewing tea on the stove… Today’s update is from two (of several) scenes shot by Tony Ornstien recently. Continue reading