Ok so I already posted a blog about Ivory Flame’s visit however that was a story, so I decided to blog about the shoot and thrust upon you all some different images that were not in the story.

I already had the idea of the Sea Priestess before Ivory Flame arrived but I had various endings in mind. So anyway off we went to the beach, it was a stormy day and on the chilly side but not quite cold enough for a jacket even though the wind was cool. We parked the car and ambled through the forest to the shoreline to check out the viability of nude work and where best to shoot. We looked, we saw and we headed back to the car for the gear….and that’s when it happened!!… I was molested by a stupid dog which mauled my jumper and grabbed hold of my arm, fortunately it was a large young dog and it was trying to play, however I was on the point of retaliation when it ran off…. one jersey ruined. And not a word of apology from the owner, seriously badly trained…had I been a small child I could have been traumatized.

Isn’t it weird the things that happen on shoots?..or is it just me?! Anyway we got the gear and headed of to the shoreline and Ivory Flame worked her magic on the images.

Next we headed over to the sand dunes to get a little relief from the wind.

By this time a nasty looking rain cloud sneaked over so we headed back to the car for coffee and snacks…..see I try to look after models when they work with me, ok sometimes they get cold and wet but….I bring quality snacks. Once the rain went off the sun came out so we did a few shots in the trees.

Then we headed back out as Audrey and Vron turned up for their 4 hours slot, afterwards we went back out into the sea. Sadly by this time the weather turned horrible, it rained and went cold, so speed was the order of the day. But just before that there is a mental image of the girls huddled round a brolly while I dragged a heavy log across the sand, I must admit they looked soggy and miserable. But!!…….skin is waterproof!…mostly….lol. So Ivory Flame and I braved the sea for the final shots for the story….yes dear blog readers, I had stripped to underwear and got into the water too, it was the only way to get the right angle. The final shots were all done in less than 10 minutes, we were back out and dried off as best we could in the rain.

It was a long drag back to the car, especially for Vron as she had lugged around a huge suitcase of props….I felt sorry for her and helped lug it back, I somehow feel she wont be using that again on a shoot. Back home in time for roast lamb, red wine and chocolate pudding! just what you need when you been cold and wet!

Ivory Flame did a fantastic job at the character of Rhiannon, I deliberately didn’t tell her all the story, I just said that she needed to sacrifice herself to the sea. She was so good I was forced to give her some Scottish tablet … ~shock horror scandal~

For all the time I worked with Chrissie I only really worked with her in the studio once, as I was working on a panel of studio nudes this time I couldn’t really have a panel without a Chrissie in it! At home I found some fleece like material, its used for keeping bugs off the strawberries in the summer, its very light and see thru…So I knicked it when Allison wasn’t looking!

Chrissie also brought some props, an old suitcase and a small footstool, a miniature ottoman, plenty of stuff to work with. And so we did….

Next up…Shapes!

I’m sure customs officers would be surprised to find the contents of this suitcase!

Improper use of a footstool….but I doubt anyone’s gonna complain.

The fleece used as a veil across the studio….

So glad I persuaded Chrissie into the studio….totally stunning and creative, a master of improvising with props…ok a mistress of improv. I’m looking forward to the next studio shoot with her, a class performer and astounding model!

May in Scotland was warm, warm enough for Chrissie to want to go to the beach, and so it was that we organized a shoot on Facebook only for our friends Kirsty Brown and Jillian Crabb to hijack the shoot and come along. They were more than welcome though and added to the general insanity of the day (even more than usual). We found a spot amoungst the dunes where we could hide from the breeze and any onlookers, the beach at Tentsmuir is right in front of a forest and often there are dead logs and branches, well we found some and used them.

Shortly after this the girls found a branch stuck in the sand, obviously well buried but they were determined to dig it out…….I was equally determined to watch them, they were on a mission!…alas it was too deeply buried but it was a good laugh trying to dig it out. Anyways it was way past time for Chrissie to get wet in the surf….

I know, I said!…Lets find another log and bring to the waters edge!  It was a struggle but we got there, fortunately we didn’t have to dig it out the sand first…we’d still be there now!.

After a while we headed back into the forest….erm, I took them a short cut that went a bit wild and thorny, however we got there eventually. An area of the forest had been cleared and there was on big tree stump surrounded by scrub…..just made for a model to pose on I thought.

A great day was had by all, loads of laughs and fun, Kirsty and Jillian can come along anytime as far as I’m concerned. Chrissie was fab as usual, always a star and never fails to impress. Happy Summer days 🙂

I think my first ever studio nude session was with Joceline a few years ago now, a one hour slot at the studios in Elgin. At that time the studio had the lights all set and ready to go, all I had to do is explain the idea and point n click. Nowadays I’m much more confident with lights and lighting nudes. So it was with great delight that I managed to book Joceline for a 4 hour studio shoot at Studio RoRo. Now Joceline is famous for her height, body flexibility and for fetish modelling, and quite rightly so as she excels in these areas, however when I met her again it struck me that I had forgotten how pretty her face is. Anyways we started off right away with a nice cuppa and a chat about what we were aiming for today, and once she warmed up with stretching we were up and running with art nude shapes.

Then onto the chair challenge….wait, a cuppa tea first….~slurp~ … ok now the chair!

Then things get a little soft and fluffy in a high key kinda way….after another cuppa.

Then I decided to expand on a couple of ideas I had used in the past, feeling there was still some room to explore on a couple of props and scenes.

It was nearing the end of the shoot by now and I still wanted to do something more with chain but had simply run out of ideas. Joceline then ad lib’d and free styled using the chain and came up with some lovely poses.

What a stunning model and a lovely person too, everyone needs a Joceline in their portfolio. If you see that she’s coming to your area book her up quick, you wont regret it. She’s very professional and delivers images effortlessly.

Over the last several times that I’ve used Studio RoRo I’ve asked some models to improvise using a simple chair. It’s an old style chair with nothing unusual about it but it’s become a bit of a challenge to get a model to do something different with it. Nothing outrageous, it can be simple or dynamic. Anyway here is the star of this blog…The Chair!!

The Chair plus Fly Swotter

So getting on with it here is Lulu Lockhart, doing her thing with the chair

Next is Helen Stephens

Then Roswell Ivory

Darling Modelling

Joceline Brooke Hamilton

Emma Willis

Tillie

Tansy Blue

Rachelle Summers

Amber Bliss

And so there we have it, I think I’ll include the chair more often in the studio shoots just to get something different. Sadly I have, in the past, forgotten to ask some of the models to do the chair thing but hopefully next time I’ll remember. Also I have to make clear, the models came up with these ideas, their own creativity and improvisation at work…not mine.

In early May I organized another studio day for the members of St Andrews PS, this time we had a quick look about and found that Darling was taking a visit up here. A few emails later and everything was arranged, We had seven members each with one hours slots, and I think it was very productive all round. As usual I opted for the last slot that way I can close up and take the model back to the train station or hotel etc. Most of the members now had two or three shoots under their belt and were starting to get more creative, each coming up with a new idea. By the time my slot came around I had actually given all my ideas away but we came out with more than a few good shots. First up was the old chair challenge…

Then some simple nude shapes and floor work

Then some props to play with!

Then finally some portraits….something I should really do more of.

Fantastic hair for all sorts of looks, very versatile.

Darling did very well considering the amount of work she had to do that day, it was quite hard going at some points. A very professional model and good fun to work with. I’m hoping to see her work with lots of other photographers, I’m sure she would be an asset to have on anyone’s portfolio.

Back in February Roswell Ivory contacted me for a booking in May, I had always liked Roswell’s port and I was happy to take a 4 hour booking in the studio. Nicola joined me on the shoot, it’s always a pleasure working with Nicola…though don’t tell her I said so.

Anyways after a quick cuppa we got down to taking some images.

We dug out some material….as you do.

Roswell brought along an outfit she made herself…looked fab to me!

Another cuppa was had, along with snacks and munchies…..as you you do. This time we had a little break outside where the sun was out but the wind was a tad chilly, The studio was very warm now and the chill wind was a welcome relief now and then. Then out of nowhere Roswell said she had some vintage style lingerie she could use….oh how could we refuse.

Then to round the morning off we finished with some natural shots in a lovely green dress that suited Roswell’s hair to a tee.

And so ended a fab morning, Allison came round for a visit and headed off with Nicola to Balgove farm for coffee and cake. Unfortunately Roswell’s train times didn’t allow for coffee trips so I dropped her off at the station and headed to join the girls in a cake frenzy. Roswell is a fab model and very professional, full of personality and fun. She has a great figure and knows how to use her body to give an individual style to images, highly recommended to anyone.

Rhiannon the Sea Priestess would often dance at the waters edge to entreat fair weather for the fishermen of her local village, so that they would be guided home safely and escape the worst of the sea storms that would often assail the shoreline. She could be seen on her own in the mornings on the shoreline, twisting and turning in her magical dance, playing with the waves and casting enchantments to the wild sea.

However it came to pass that the fishermen were casting their nets more often and catching less fish, more work and less fish started the men to grumbling that the sea was displeased and more was needed to persuade the sea to give up its scaly treasures. Rhiannon knew that the cause was simple over fishing of the same watery regions and that given time the fish would return in abundance. The Elders of the village agreed with the fishermen, more was needed or the village would fail and its people would hunger. And on one stormy morning they came to see her dance on the surf, the grace and magic filled the salty air, the colours seemed to have an energy that surpassed normal vision.

But the Elders were on a mission, they had come to persuade Rhiannon to sacrifice herself to the sea, they believed that only the ultimate sacrifice would be enough to appease the watery depths. Rhiannon was stunned by their suggestion, not only was it pointless but who would keep the storms at bay, sailors would be cast adrift amidst the raging winds. However as Sea Priestess is was her duty to keep the villagers safe even if meant her own life but it was never told to her that she would at any time have to sacrifice herself. The Elders left her to contemplate her actions and fate.

However she had quickly decided, through the years of dancing along the shoreline she had communicated with the waves, felt at one with the water and felt at peace with the sea. She would miss the forest though, it lay next to the beach overlooking the water. She would miss dancing through the dappled glades, the soft grass underfoot and the touch of the rough bark on her skin. Although it was not her main love, the forest had always been a quiet place away from the turmoil and constant crashing of the waves.

The next morning she would give herself to the sea, not because of the villagers; their hopes and reasoning were flawed and pointless…but because she wanted to be one at last with the vast ocean. Giving up your life is a fearful affair and she reasoned that base instinct and survival may overcome her desires so she sought out a suitable log that would catch the current and drive her far into the sea where she would drown, and to the log she would tie herself with a golden chain.

And so it was on a cold morning with an approaching storm that Rhiannon dragged a heavy log across the beach to the waters edge, with fear and determination she lashed herself to the log at the edge of the surf. She turned to face the water and the coming storm, soon she will be lost to the sea.

Fear rose up and nearly overcame her but a fire within steeled her actions and Rhiannon plunged across the surf and into the salty sea. The log, catching the outgoing tide and current, carried her far out into the storm and there the sea took her life, violently and ruthlessly.

When the tide came in later that day Rhiannon’s body was washed upon the shore, still loosely shackled to the log.

But on the next tide the surf took the last remnants of Rhiannon away forever.

The fish never came, the fishermen floundered in the storms, the people went hungry, the village failed and was abandoned and the Elders never gave the Sea Priestess a second thought. Only the Forest remembered the magical dance at the shoreline and the quiet contemplation under its leafy canopy.

A lost life and a lost magic.

Created by John McNairn and Ivory Flame

In April 2014 Nicola and I fancied another joint shoot in the studio and it seemed timely as Helen Stephens was touring the area at the time. So I picked up Helen at Leuchars train station and whisked her off to RoRo Studios. We soon got down to doing the clickity flash thing :-

Starting with old faithful…..the chair!

Then a little bit of clothes and colour…how shocking!

Then because the weather was good we snuck outside into the gardens and used the studio owners old country house as a backdrop, all moody and gothic like :-

Then back inside for a quick change of hair style and more pretty images :-

At the moment the B&W version of this is hanging on the wall…

So Helen Stephens….highly recommended, my ‘work with again’ list grows yet again.

A couple of days after the shoot Helen was still kicking about Dundee so we went out for coffee and a walk round Broughty Ferry beach. She’s a lovely woman with a great personality and totally professional..also bags of fun.

This was the first shoot of the year for Chrissie and I, due to many things going on including her wedding in just over 2 weeks time. As such I was given instructions not to break her before the wedding, a bride in a plaster cast never looks good in the wedding album. Anyways all kidding aside we went out on a very sunny day for March, we had spotted a location last year and we decided to check it out as there was a loch on the far side of a forest track. We were the only one there, it was a remote  forest and the tiny car park was empty. After a little walk we came to a promising area that had been cut down a few years ago and was just coming back up again.

A somewhat soggy and hazardous area under foot so we shuffled on in search of the loch, however after a fair slog we came to the conclusion that must have taken a wrong turn, or I had imagined it or something. We turned away from the path and follow a smaller track that petered out into the middle of the forest, so we headed into the trees and immediately found this murky pool with a sunlight shining through the trees.

We headed through the trees in the general direction of the main path, however many dead trees had blocked our way and a bit of clambering and climbing was required! Remember, do not break your model before the wedding!! On the way back we snagged some images amoungst the tree carnage of the winters blustery storms.

This was my first location shoot for 6 months and I have to say I made some bloody stupid schoolboy errors, it’s amazing how quickly my brain forgets to check things. As such I was way outperformed by the excellent talents of Chrissie Red…..as usual…but I’m not complaining 🙂

When I got home and checked the map for the loch I found it was just round the next bend, we were only 2 minutes from getting there before turning off. Another visit perhaps. Also I managed to keep Chrissie unbroken, not even a bruise!