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 :-)

Progress

Looking at my increased blog stats for the last 3/4 days, I think people must be catching up with internet life after xmas and having a nosy at what everyone's up to, so I better update with some new posts! Thank you for visiting :-) I put together a whopping 71 blog entries last year! Though down from 84 the year before, so will do my best to keep up and top that in 2012 with images, thoughts & experiences from my shoots & travels. Your feedback is always helpful & appreciated, I once read that 'comments are the lifeblood of a blog', and although I don't post stuff here specifically for a reaction, I'm always pleased to hear when certain images grab you or inspire you, plus the photographers who kindly send me pictures to share I think will be grateful to be able to view any comments too.

And of course, if images here and the way I work inspires you, please don't just sit and watch - book me for a shoot! :-) I may not be able to get to all parts of the world, but certainly anywhere in the UK, Scotland, Ireland, Europe... and possibly further. I can recommend studios around England as well as locally to me, and regularly travel around but if you don't let me know you want to work with me, I might come to your area without you knowing... so EMAIL ME! :-D Directly to holly@ivoryflame.co.uk with your name, location, a link to your work, an introduction about your situation, aims or constraints, and we can discuss possibilities.

And the same for any other models you want to work with. There's such a great selection of creative, unique & stunning professional models out there right now, who have worked hard to build experience, skill and inspiration for creating great imagery, but modelling as a full time living is not without it's hard times, difficulties & frustrations as well as it's perks. So if you like their style, with whatever you can afford - support them in their work. They will be able to help you capture your visions, listen to your ideas, have patience with your experiments, take the quality to the next level and probably go off on a brilliant tangent or two, and if you're feeling unsure about styles or concepts, be always happy to help out with suggestions.

This may sound like a big sell, but I'm trying to be more assertive this year rather than leaving a lot of communications open-ended. I'm always worried about sounding too pushy, but I realise sometimes everyone needs a bit of well-meant encouragement in these busy times. Having not done as much of my own photography in the last year or so, I understand how easy it can be to put things off, not feel confident enough, not have enough 'spare' money or to be vague about plans. But I realise this gets me nowhere and I want to progress - stop thinking so much and start doing. So I'm certainly gonna be booking in with some of my favourite models and making shoots happen.

I'm leaving you with a selection of some of my favourite images that I blogged in 2011... a bit of an epic task since I adore the pics in EVERY blog, but I think this is a nice representation of my year! The links to each blog with more detail and where it was taken are below each image.
Thank you to everyone that booked me as their model this last year, I gratefully appreciate it... the new photographers that booked me for their first shoots, the people that booked me whilst travelling to the UK, the painters, sculptors and designers who used me for their projects, those that helped organise workshops and studio days, everyone that booked me on my own travel trips, and those who booked me again and again for continued collaboration.
I look forward so much to what I can be involved in next! May 2012 hold much creativity, reward and enjoyment in your art for you all! :-)

Eric Kellerman, from 'Moonscape', Holland

Willie Nash, from 'The Sweet Sickness', London

Karen Jones, from 'Firefly', KV Media Studio, Chesham

Garry Harris, from 'Northwest Results Part 1', Tally Ho Studio

Kwame Asiaw, from 'Northwest Results Part 1', Tally Ho Studio

Raluca S, from 'Raven Child', Aylesbury

Vlastimil Busek, from 'Quiet from the Constant', Dublin, Ireland.

India Hobson, from 'Through my Reflection', Sheffield

Adam Robertson, alongside Madame Bink, from 'Fashion Adventures', Oxfordshire

Holmax, from 'Here comes the Rain', Hull

Nigel Johnson, from 'Of Flesh & Bone', KV Media Studios, Chesham

India Hobson, from 'Alone with the Lens', Sheffield

Eric Kellerman, from 'Box Nudes', Holland

Louis Smith, from 'Portrait Awards Shortlist Unveiled', London

Pierus, from 'Sunshine', Cambridge

Brian Martin, from 'Secret Garden', Fife, Scotland

Javi Miqueleiz, from 'Porcelain Souls', Brighton

Catherine Barrow, from 'Lost', London

Nigel Johnson, from 'Aura', KV Media Studios, Chesham

Allan Schaap, from 'Once Upon a Time in Spring', Holland

Lee H, from 'Once Upon a Time in Spring', Holland

Sean Elliot, modelling Sparklewren Corsets, from 'Adorned', London

Britalicus, from 'I Make Shapes', Scotland

Helen Matthews, from 'Land of Amazing Locations', Elgin Studio, Scotland

Tintin007, from 'Autumn Magic', Ashridge Forest, Buckinghamshire

Dave Mansi, from 'A Rose in the Arches', Sussex

Barrie Spence, from 'The Minotaur's House', Scotland

Paul Bartholemew, from 'Window Light', Hallam Mill, Stockport

Aaron Storry, from 'Wedding Storry', Bedfordshire

Neil Attard, from 'Bold, Funky & Beautiful', KV Media Studios, Chesham

Karen Jones, from 'Winter Wonderland', KV Media Studios, Chesham

Eric Kellerman, from 'Slope & Curve', Holland

Terry Joslin, from 'Metamorphosis', KV Media Studios, Chesham.


To be continued... :-)