Finding Colour - Alpine Green

I was listening to the Candid Frame as I do every day and on Episode 464 Sam Abel or 463 Sarah Terry they mentioned picking a colour and then looking for that colour in your street photography to build a pallet or theme. It may have been something learnt from Jay Maisel but anyway I thought I would give it a go on my walk back to the car. 

I definitely learn from very simple explanations of how to do something. The right sentence can unlock my brain and help me understand how to do something immediately. For years I struggled with pattern cutting until a sewing machine salesman walked into our uni studio and said, 'its just a 3D puzzle where each piece has to fit together' from that moment on I could visualize the garment and how to cut the pattern.

Building a colour theme in my photography is as simple as just looking for that particular colour everywhere you go and photographing it. It completely opened my eyes on the walk home. I spotted bright reds, dark reds, teal blues, dark greens, etc. Its made me a little less afraid of colour.

I need to take some workshops and tutoring in photography as there are some real basics I need to learn. 

Mannequin

 

The view from where I was sat trimming the hem of a tulle dress. Combining my photography with the garments and making money is what I need to explore for the rest of the year. I'm starting two daybooks. One here and one on my main website www.alexandra-king.com

I think I may be more honest here. 

Photographed on Canon 5d Mk3 50mm lens edited in lightroom with inferred filter. 

Silk Dress

 
For the first time I've been using the front room of my studio to work in. Why haven't I done this sooner. This is a silk dress I've been working on for a new project. 

I rented my studio so I had an 'impressive' space for customers and the front room was reserved for them whist I worked in the back with terrible light. So much of my confidence in my work was bound up in having a suitably luxurious space for brides and customers. I was so worried about what they would think that I dropped the prices of my dresses inline with my confidence.
After years of having various studios, a shop and now the dream studio I realize that my work is about the dresses I create not impressing customers with whats expected in the bridal industry. I used to stress about whether my teaspoons were fancy enough! 

I once heard a story about Alexander McQueen turning up with his dresses in a bin bag. He created some of the most beautiful garments I have ever seen up close.
As a designer maker I'm not here to fluff customers with bubbly and a sales performance, I'm here to make beautiful things. 

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.