Tulle

 
I am feeling more inspired at the moment by photography than the dresses. They are almost becoming a vehicle for the photography. I tend to find new inspiration a distraction from what I am working on when it gets to the hard part of finishing the piece. Ideas are very easy but seeing it through to a finished body of work which may never pay the bills is hard. 
At the moment I need to see things through till the end of the year, maybe in 5 years time I could become a photographer if I put the work in. 

I am trying to produce an image a day of my fashion work to make days books which may help me engage more with this side of my work. I am so incredibly lucky and privileged to be able to work for myself creatively every day. Its silly that I would sometimes be happier washing up with less worries and cash at the end of the week. 
Above is the tulle on my machine table being made into an underskirt. 

Pink Peony Dress Remnant Photographs

The remaining photos that didn't make it to the set that I still liked on their own. Some were experiments, some with a different light. When I shot these a year ago I loved making everything misty. When I can to edit them this week I wanted things sharper. I guess I'll keep changing styles and using different techniques for different situations. 

Pink Peony Dress on the Street

A few black and white photos on the way to photographing Sophie at Lynnsey Kellys flower shop. 

Pink Peony Dress Portraits

Photographing Sophie in my pink peony dress at Lynney Kelly Flowers. 

Floral Remnants

Remaining flower photographs from my camera. The image above was made with a piece of blue silk behind. Part of my research for my English Rose project.

Pink Rose

Full Bloom Rose

I absolutely adore the full ruffled billowy rose. I've been looking at so many but this is just the shape and style I wanted.
After the rose died I picked and pressed each petal and a leaf to use in my work later.

Veiled Roses

I am obsessed with photographing flowers, they are pretty easy which is why. They just sit still and look beautiful for me.

I am starting an English Rose project in my other work, unpacking a little of what that means and my identity. This was playing with some tulle and roses in the garden. Enjoying the romance of it.

Melias Homework

I'm currently on The Melias Lost In The Light photography course (which is amazing!) and this is my homework. 

Photographing Velvet Jones

These photographs were taken last year behind the scenes of the Deadly is the Female shoot for the A/W collection. 
I was in awe of Sophia aka Velvet Jones who modeled with such elegance. I'd love to work with Sophia again with a ballet aesthetic.
I'm finding it really difficult to explain what I call beauty and why I choose my aesthetic. Its subjective, its definitely in the eye of the beholder and everyone is individually beautiful. I've met lots of beautiful women but a natural confidence and intelligence always come through. 

I need to learn more about the ethics and philosophy around beauty and aesthetics. Choosing and photographing a person as a model can be uncomfortable as they become an object of beauty that I am checking and observing.  

Black Lives Matter Bristol June 7th

Today I marched because black lives matter. I was here for my Mum and all the people of colour who have had to carry the pain of racism for hundreds of years. 
As a white person I must take responsibility and use my privilege to stand in the way of racism. 
We can't change history but we can change our future. Children of colour are entitled to grow up with opportunities, with confidence and pride in themselves. With absolute equality. 

No virus is as deadly as racism. 

I would like to thank the organizers, smart young people who bought people together and led a peaceful, respectful protest. The removal of the despicable slave trader statue was a joyous point in the march and simply a job that needed doing a long time ago. 

Update - In the week that has now passed I have thought a lot about photographing this moment. Was it voyeurism or documenting a moment that was important to me? Street photography and taking peoples photos without permission in public is hard, it feels invasive despite being perfectly legal and well intentioned.
How would I feel if I had been photographed, I probably was as there were lots of photographers all getting their shots. I suppose I would be fine as long as I looked ok! My face is out there in public anyway and I hope I am a kind photographer. 

Photographing protests in less safe countries ie. China would be a different process. It would be wrong to share anyone's faces. If I photographed the pulling down of the statue it wouldn't have been ok to share the peoples faces as they could have been at risk of arrest.

I need a lesson in ethics and photography. MORE PHOTOS BELOW.