With A Noose Around Your Neck Can You Still Feel Free?

So, I'm going to try and update this little guy as often as possible. As I get more involved with the photography and writing the posts may be less frequent but bare with me as I promise I'm trying. SO! Yesterday was the first portrait shoot for the series. It was with a really awesome guy called Joshua Mann. He has been living in Brighton for the past three years studying Performance Arts at Brighton University. I ended up connecting with him using the website Model Mayhem, www.modelmayhem.com. FYI: if you are a portrait/fashion/fine art photographer it's a really good way to connect with models, make-up artists, other photographers...whatever you need really. It's been extremely useful while being in Brighton as when I rolled up in this bohemian city I didn't know a soul...Not the best situation for someone who loves taking 'people pictures.'

With the first shoot we decided to explore the darker aspects of water imagery. We tried to expressed feeling trapped and constricted but also wanting to break free... There was rope, black clothes and eyeliner involved but I swear to you it wasn't as emo as it sounds and no black tears were harmed in the making of it. We decided to use the ocean as a backdrop and maybe centre stage for a few of the pictures. I have to say, I'm pretty happy about the photos. Although I cannot show you any as you'll have to wait until the end of July for the final unveiling of the series, I feel like we really captured the essence of being crashed down and yet wanting to escape this feeling.

Even though these portraits were meant to be quite dark, I thought I'd share with you some of the behind the scenes moments of the shoot which were actually quite hilarious. Joshua and I met on the beach where we sat and had a quick, 'hi! I just met you and now we have to get to know each other and work together chat.' I then proceeded to get up close and personal and apply eyeliner to the guy I met 5 minutes ago. I always find those moments so funny as they would only happen in this line of work. But the best moment had to be when Joshua was tied up with rope and climbed on top of a brick wall that sticks out into the ocean. Just as i was about to shoot a lifeguard came over to me and asked me to tell Joshua to come down. She looked at me with an extremely worried face and then asked, "is he going to be okay?" Ha. I think our lifeguard friend thought Joshua was going to end it all. Either that or he was the victim of stag party antics the night before.

Next up on the list, working on some short stories this weekend, meeting with potential models for the next shoot and perhaps getting a bit of sun by the sea.

Thanks for listening,

Stephanie