Wonderful Seasons

The autumn passed me by quite fast this year, so fleeting, as always like a dancing twirling leaf I can't quite grab hold to keep. I just adore the cooler seasons, with those gorgeous first crisp mornings that send familiar memories flooding through my senses, getting out the thick scarves & furry hats, luscious autumnal fashion in the shops, the devilish parties at Halloween, the traditions, sparklers and hot steaming food of Bonfire Night followed by my birthday celebrations, then the start of the run up to Christmas, filled with get togethers and sharing, as well as quiet moments alone to reflect over the months past. Definately my favourite time of year - as a seasonally named 'Holly', November born Scorpio and pale-skinned, redhaired creature suited to the lesser sun - I feel made for the poetic autumn breeze and magical wintry wonders :-)
I had a fantastic birthday weekend away with friends to Brighton, including spending Guy Fawkes night in Lewes, where they have annual traditional processions through the town. It was very exciting, with people dressed up in long black cloaks and pirate outfits and as old style soldiers, and the marching band thumping through the street with firecrackers going off everywhere, glowing torches leading us through illuminated tunnels of forest into a field with a raging bonfire, stalls selling boar & venison burgers and one of the best fireworks displays I've ever seen.

I had some stunning drives to work through the gorgeous countryside too, some great routes towards Cheltenham, and Chesham... the colours were absolutely phenomenal this year! The richest most vibrant, graduating mass of raging scarlets through to deep ambers and fluttering golds. Unfortunately every free day I had it seemed to be dull, as I would have loved to get out and take some of my own pictures. Next year I will make sure for it to happen! I did have a great autumnal shoot down in the New Forest, where sunlight glowing behind the ferns and mist seeping through the trees, with wild horses silently appearing out nowhere made it so atmospheric. Hopefully see some of those pictures soon!

I also enjoyed another fantastic shoot with Ciaran Whyte & Lorraine Gillingham in Dublin in November. It was lovely to catch up with them and I also got to meet the beautiful Raphaella whose work I have been admiring so much this year. Our location was a gorgeous Georgian mansion with tall ceilings, great staircases, huge windows and lots of wonderful natural daylight. You can read more on the technical side of things on Ciaran's blog - The Wonder of Light

We were also joined by the cutest little critter - a tiny kitten belonging to the house owner, who followed, played with and climbed over us all day! Swwoon!

'I'm pretttyyy'

'Strrreeeettch... excuse me do you mind I'm getting ready for my performance'

'mmm...I know my shadow came this way'

'Zzzzz.... she better be taking a picture of this, I look well cute when I sleep'

And a professional duo pic - with thanks to Ciaran ;-)

Ghosts

Beautiful nudes by Eric Kellerman...

Glamour Girl

Here's a few more shots by Peter Whitfield at MAD Studios in Chesham, this time a bit saucy and GLAMOURY! :-O I don't usually do many glamour looks, the genre doesn't appeal to me much and I just can't really do it that well. However I like to keep trying to expand my posing skills and had a little go with these, as I love this kind of bright, eyecatching lighting. I probably still need to work on my glamour expressions *pout pout* (not that I'm on a quest to be the Nuts star!), but I got the pissed off glare down I think :-P

My Local Studio

I've been working quite a bit at White Space Studios (formerly know as Mad Studios, based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, which is only 40 mins from where I live now in Aylesbury. They have 2 very spacious rooms there, with colorama/material backdrops, textured wood and wallpaper backgounds as well as tall ceilings and the option to work with natural light in the white room, making it a very creative and versatile place to shoot.

There is great range of equipment including square and rectangular softboxes, octobox, strip box, beauty dish including diffuser and grid, snoot, reflectors, umbrellas, boom stand, ringflash, video lights, large bounce/dampening boards and loads of props and accesssories including chairs, sofas, tables, materials, clothes and jewellery.

My next Studio Day there is Sunday 16th January. Timeslots are just £50 an hour for model and studio. Please email me asap to book a place ~ holly@ivoryflame.co.uk

Or if anyone would like to set up a shoot for another date, just get in touch!.Evenings are also possible, discounts are available and I'll be happy to chat over ideas and styles.

Here are a few nudes I shot with the studio owner Peter, showing some of the lighting effects available in the space...

Figure Study

Some wonderful paintings sent to me by Birmingham based artist Sylvia Kessedjian whom I worked with alongside another photographer & painter earlier this year. Thank you!

Nude with Pears

Here are the first of many results from my last shoot with the wonderful Eric Kellerman, in Holland back in September. We saw these pears in the supermarket and both thought they just looked lovely and sensual so had to incorporate them into a shot.