Love and War

Just been watching America's Next Top Model All Stars where the models were posing with Coco Rocha in fiesty fight scenes, so though it would be appropriate to get on with sharing these new photos by Stefano Brunesci, consisting of a funky power-battle between me and the gorgeous Madame Bink - my art nude partner in crime!

Both of us work with other models too, but I've known Bink the longest and worked with her the most - so always feel very comfortable modelling alongside (and often very up close!) with her. Our friendship and experience help us work as a harmoneous model duo, bouncing suggestions off each other and trying out new poses, and with this shoot we really broke out the box!
When Stefano showed us some of the loose ideas and inspirations he had for the shoot, which were, to be fair, quite a lot raunchier than our usual style (considering we normally do very classical, fine art nudes, strictly devoid of anything overtly 'sexy') I think we both did a sharp, slightly concerned intake of breath. But then we got going and I ended up riding on her head, posed like some bizarre fetish centaur.

Of course lots of laughing ensued, along with lots of apologies as some of the other poses we tried out didn't quite work or involved lots of painful stances trying to get them right. Do LOVE a posed fight though. It seems especially fun with someone you really get on with, even though we had to stop every now and again to have a hug to clarify 'I don't mean it!' (after having Bink in a thigh-lock) I seem to appear the dominant one as Bink isn't so keen on doing mean faces (not that it's really my forté either!) but I assure you I got lots of evils inbetween takes. Fight me Binky!!! :-D

Stefano was brilliant at helping direct us, reviewing images as we went along, and just letting us get on with the little semi-telepathic communicating we seem to have become good at.
They are certainly a bit different for us, of course the superb lighting Stefano set up takes the poses to the next level, really showing us off so well and adding that dark, classy, fashion edge - I just think they are majorly cool and that we look EPIC! Thank you Stefano for trying out something so cool with us, and making it look so damn good! And thanks to Bink for always being freakin' awesome fun to work with :-)

Lady of the Lake

Taken by Marta Bevacqua who came over to London from Italy in December. We worked for a full day together including these beautiful pre-raphaelite shots on location at Hamstead Heath, by one of the lakes and then into the trees. It was f-f-freezing but thankfully there was a little team off-camera poised with coats and earmuffs and gloves inbetween shooting :-) I love the feel of these, very film like, though they were shot on digital. Adore the flowing material of the green chiffon dress, and the bare trees and fallen autumn leaves add a wistful melancholy to the sad and poetic style.

Photography: Marta Bevacqua
Make Up: Dominique Heslop
Dress: Eki Orleans

Regeneration

Some nudes by the lovely Tim Pile, who I have had some fantastic shoots with over the last year or so, and more to post from our collaborations together soon.
These were taken looking down from the mezzanine of a gorgeous quaint cottage. It's very liberating posing on the floor and being able to stretch out and arch in different ways not possible when standing, similar to when modelling underwater, there's a beautiful freedom. I really love the tones and lighting on these, my pale skin against the textured flooring, and the poses and closed eyes give these a quality I think works so well.

I'm feeling much better this week after finishing my tax return, and then getting up to date with this years records too, it can be such a stress to have hanging over you, so I'm really gonna try and make sure I finish 2011-2011's records in April so I am ahead of myself, and keep up with them often thereon. If there's any of you self employed peeps still struggling through yours, my spirit is with you, rise above the guilt of not doing it sooner and there is light at the end of the tunnel, just do it piece by piece :-) It proves the notion you hear so often though, that starting something is always the hardest part. Whenever you have a daunting task ahead of you it's so easy to try to avoid it altogther but just sitting down and forcing yourself to start, no matter how much you're battling not to, it is true that the rest just flows. Maybe not without hard work, but so much easier than you had imagined. As one of the things I have pinned on the big montage I have above my desk reads...

'Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them' (Orison Swett Marden)

I guess tax isn't the deepest thing in life that can apply to but it's a good place to start.


I'm looking forward to my first modelling trip of the year this weekend... up to Chester via Birmingham, for a few days, then over to the Peak District, then Chesterfield. One of the hotels I'm staying in has a pool which will be good as I've been getting into swimming lengths again recently. It has a steam room too, love those :-) (and a very good price too despite sounding quite posh)

I also have trips planned to the Northwest (1st-5th March), Gloucestershire & Wiltshire (9th-11th March) and Scotland (23rd March - 2nd April)... and 2 bookings abroad - Portugal, and possibly Spain also. Exciting times!! So get in touch if you're in those places, or fancy a shoot in general... other trips will be created :-)

Included are a few Studio Days (keep your eye on my travels tab at the top of my blog for new ones too)

Immortal Eye Studio, Aylesbury - Sat 25th February
Hallam Mill Studios, Stockport - Sun 4th March
Film Photo Studios (new bigger place!) Cheltenham - Sat 10th March
Elgin Studio, Scotland - Sat 24th March
Pavillion Studios, Bathgate, Scotland - Sat 31st March

I just recently heard some more music by artist Lana Del Rey, since she was in the news because of her apparent bad performance on Saturday Night Live in the US (I personally didn't think it was that bad considering her whole style and the mood of the lyrics) but basically it made me download her new song, and I really love the video too. That building featured is incredible and I love her styling and lofty attitude. It's all quite unsettling but so evocative and hauntingly beautiful.

Spirit Dance

Beautiful abstract nudes using red fabric and experimenting with double exposures and slow shutter speeds... captured by the lovely Keith Cooper from a brilliant full day shoot at KV Media Studios. I wouldn't usually post as many images but I just love so many here, the fiery colours and flowing effects of the movement around my swirling figure are so mesmerizing. Thank you Keith :-)

Babe in the Wood

Sharing these beautiful images taken by Mark Liddell last year. I really adore how these turned out. Mark had sent me inspiration images for ideas about colours and clothing, including many images of british supermodel Lily Cole, and that dreamy, doll-like, fairytale kind of feel in a natural woodland setting. I was completely in charge of my make-up, outfits and styling, and am so pleased with the look and mood captured in the results. Mark did a brilliant job, and especially with the beautiful lighting (a mixture of natural light & portable powerpacks) really setting off the details.
The outfit I put together here, includes my powder blue corset by Sparklewren, lace bustle by LoveChild Boudoir, tulle skirt, hooped petticoat, sheer blouse, necklace and blue flowers in my hair, from my modelling wardrobe.
These images are my favourite, but there are some more lovely shots on Mark's blog here - www.liddellphoto.com/blog

P.S - I was one of the 'Babes in the Wood' from a little production when I was at playschool, me & my friend Amanda; we wore sweet peach silk dresses and had to pretend to be asleep. You see, I have always been a dreamy princess :-)

The Studio Bizarre

So I was booked with a photographer at Gregory Brown's Loft Studio in London in December, and me & Greg managed to squeeze in about 45 mins of shooting beforehand. Wacky and fun as ever, props are literally shoved at you to 'do something interesting' with, with not much time to stop and think... giant propeller, rocking chair, prosthetic arm, just the usual. This was majorly productive for such a quick shoot.
(Think I look pretty cool in those sunnies though if I do say so myself :-P haha)

(P.S Also just noticed Greg has a new book out with John Evans of amazing pictures from their latest Spain trip 'Moorish Nudes' - incredible work!!)

Harmony of Two

Some images I didn't blog yet from quite a while ago...Taken by Phine Ka, featuring Madame Bink from our Harmony of Two studio day last year at Light Spot Studio.

Contemplation

More images from a shoot with Barrie Spence last year on my Scotland trip. We had a great full day shooting together, creating the gorgeous 'Minotaur's House' images, and also these in the studio and out on location... soft boudoir, lens baby nudes, frolicking in yellow fields and colourful gypsy fashion against photoliscious textures! The one with the green doors and peeling paint is so fantastically vivid. I'd bought that dress with this kind of image in mind, and I'm so pleased how it shows off the graduating tones. I also adore the last picture; love the composition, colour and detail. Beautiful!

And for anyone interested I'm thinking I will be coming up to Scotland for a week or so in late March... I'll keep you posted with dates and more info :-)