As I mentioned in one on my previous blogs Tim Pile was heading up to Scotland, his plan was to work with Chrissie Red and Ivory Flame/Holly in various locations. So as it happened Holly came up first and Nicola and myself booked her for a studio session at Studio RoRo for a morning. By this time in September the weather was starting to cool and a studio session seemed like a good idea. After a quick makeup prep Holly produced this wonderful garment from her bag, it floated like smoke…so we got down to shooting it.

 

Then I went a little experimental….as you do!

Then I dragged out an old favourite prop of mine.

 

Then back to  experimenting with materials…this time with movement.

 

And then some art nude to finish of with.

 

After the studio I booked some extra time on my own with Holly for some location work and we headed off to Little Ballo, this location is very changeable throughout the seasons and at this time of the year we were getting to the deer rutting period. I was hoping to show Holly some wild deer but unfortunately a family with a party of dogs got there before us and the chances of seeing wild deer after that were nil. However we came to shoot…and shoot we did.

 

At this time of year its the last of the green grass before it turns to its Autumn colours. And the dead trees are still mossy….and some dead trees dry up and turn a silver colour.

So obviously we made the most of the setting and got some excellent images.

 

It was a tad chilly by now as the sun had gone and the air had cooled so we had dancing and singing sessions between shots, we dubbed ourselves the Boogie Trolls.

Oh and of course The Frog!!…well I’m not going to tell you the frog story, all I can say is that there was a frog and it did seem to like Holly a lot. And I’m not surprised, Holly was outstanding as always, it was a fab day….topped off with a huge curry afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

See the picture in the hall
Framed in magic on the wall
Ain’t it funny how it glows
What’s on the inside no one knows
What makes this picture so inviting
To those who stand outside it
Maybe it’s the dancers
Or maybe it’s the dance
the dancer dances

Thousands will fill the gallery
Pay their price to see a dream
They can make believe for free
Two hours’ worth of fantasy
Maybe they pretend the picture’s them
Or maybe they just love to sit and blend
Maybe it’s the dancer
Or maybe it’s the dance
the dancer dances

 

Tonight the picture has no frame
Colours unleash and float away
To each and every one of you
Tonight the spirit brings the news
You become a part of it all
Thousands turn to one in the hall
You become the dancer
And we become the dance
the dancer dances

Uriah Heep – The Dance

Featuring Rachel Summers

The very next morning after the studio day with Fredau I had a shoot with Jen Somerfield, I was feeling a little worse for wear…maybe the wine the night before wasn’t the best idea! I had no specific ideas to do so I fell back to my default shoot plan…2 hours studio and 2 hours on the beach. That usually works a treat and it did. The top image is my fav one of Jen.

 

 

 

 

Jen is a fantastic model and dancer, also good company when you’re feeling a bit rough..she keeps you going with chatter and outrageous stories.

 

I can’t really remember how this came about but I organized a studio day for St Andrews Photographic Society in August 2013. Myself and Nicola Sheperd had worked with Fredau before and we knew she was moving to Canada soon so I booked Fredau before it was too late. The studio day turned out to be a bit of workshop in the end as some of the members were new to shooting nudes or models even. However the 8 one hour slots were fully booked in less than 24 hours and the whole day turned out to be a success. I opted for the last slot and managed to get a few images.

 

 

Fredau was lovely as usual and has since moved to Canada where she now models, and I’m sure, enchants the Canadians. Long may she do so 🙂

 

Still Summer of 2013 and for our second shoot of July Chrissie and I did a little location hunting near Crieff, we had passed this place before but this time decided to park the car walk it and this what we found.

 

However we judged that this would look better in the winter, more stark and bitter looking, so went here instead, the road to Kenmore from Amulree. I admit to going off road and venturing on private roads…..sometimes needs must. We stopped here.

 

 

 

Actually the view is from an old house which is collapsing and currently being used as a cow shed…..the evidence being the amount of cow shit on the floor, it was very dark with contrasty light….didn’t smell too good either. We got good shots though.

 

 

Fab day out with glorious weather, Chrissie went a big stretch to brave the cow pooh!

I think we stopped at a chocolate shop on  the way home, funny how things work out 😉