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This was daunting.
I had this vision to tell and I had done for some time.
I asked for models on facebook and here on my blog to participate for the very reason that proved to be a problem. Lots of lovely girls came forward and this really energized me to make the project a reality.
The project itself and my reason for doing it is outlined fully on my lomography article which will be out next week I think...
I booked a slot in a location called ‘Curious Science’ that my very good friend Sophie Eleanor Turner runs and I tried to make this shoot as factually accurate as I could with my style as the mediator of poetic licence.
The location is stunning, it is one of the prop houses and film sets the BBC regularly use for their shows, I find it so fascinating and love to spend time combing through all the props , I had high hopes.
I chose two of the models from the ones who volunteered and chose two agency girls. The agency will remain anonymous as I really like the bookers and they are always so good to me. We all turned up at the location, the girls from the internet were in wonderment at the props Sophie and her co workers had lovingly made but the agency girls looked wholly uneasy, which in turn made me very anxious. I looked at one girl and asked her if she was ok, she turned around and wouldn’t talk to me. I took them aside and told them I was taking them back to the station and when we stepped outside one of them gave an almighty yelp and fled into tears, telling me that the place was terrifying. Thinking she was joking I giggled and patted her on the back but she wasn’t joking. I knew there and then that these girls were not cut out for the story I had to tell. I took them home and returned to setting up with my lovely girls who volunteered.
I was left with a very unnatural and hesitant feeling throughout the day. It wasn’t their fault but it’s always difficult when coming across those who are so naturally different in taste to you that they make you feel ashamed of who you are and what you love.
The day wore on and my depression on the subject subsided slightly, one of the girls had called me to apologise and we tried to move on.
I had a wonderful team, a girl called Soliel Jackson, a makeup and hair stylist with a great knowledge of accurate hair styles from varying periods of time. I explained to her that the hair was to be from 1888 and she made this beautiful interpretation. I was overwhelmed.
Martina, one of my best friends and regular makeup artists had made burns on one model, Ingvild. and we used Martina herself as the third model as she had kindly stepping in to help me out. Martina donned a growth from the side of her neck as side effect from the ‘White Phosphorus’ Our second model Sarah was made a casualty of the workplace and had suffered leg injuries.
I hope you like this shoot, it’s one of the reasons I have not been around a lot lately, but for now I just want to let you guys know those who care, that I am ok and I am thinking of you even if I am not so immediately there these days.
As for everything else in life, I’m, we’re, doing ok. Tobias is moving his studio into our spare room as we don’t have so many guests these days, and Tobias and I have a tendency to get pretty depressed when we don’t work on art. So I wanted to make sure he had enough room to make his work in private. So we are settling for a sofa bed.
I am moving my studio out of the house and into a different space the darkroom smell has proven detrimental to our lives in general and its time I, umm drew a line under that issue? Well the house is a bit smelly when I develop my work so I wanted to stop that before it got worse.
Next week is fashion week, I know I owe many people emails and what not, but it may be a prolonged experiences this one. I’m not ignoring you honestly. I have been spending a lot of time with my friend Martina who did this shoot with me and staying at her flat in London whilst attending meetings, recently our friend Kim Howells moved in with her and I have got to see Kim a lot more. Kim is an amazing stylist which means I will be helping her at some of her shows for fashion which I look forward to.
Bear with me, I am here still. I hope you like these, sorry for the ramble.