spellbound - part two

For the second series of photographs I wanted to create a film noir feel. 

I dialled down the exposure to use the shadows cast on the white back-drop to good effect.  Again, I left in the imperfections at the edges of the shots and applied a silver tone filter to enhance the mood.

spellbound - part one

 

I had a great time on Monday at the Midlands Art Centre photographing a burlesque model. 

My goal was to create two distinct series of images. The first, shown here, was deliberately disorientating - an attempt to capture mysterious movements and moments in time.

The effect was achieved by a combination of over-exposure and use of the in-camera multi-image function. I added a silver-tone treatment in post-production to give the pictures a filmic feel in keeping with the mood of the series.

Finally, a number of the images contained vestiges of the white backdrop against which the model was shot. Rather than cropping them out or using a retouching tool I made a conscious decision to leave the imperfections as they were, again to create a filmic feel.

the celebration of the lizard

The Wallflower Express is back at Cherry Reds and I've been given the call to do the photography. It's the second time I've been invited to shoot their burlesque show and it's great to meet everyone again.

Burlesque artists come in all shapes and sizes. Their fluid bending of all the established rules is a joy to behold as they seek to subvert, challenge and celebrate.  It is a small and joyful community finding empowerment in their art. Long may they continue.

 

 

by order of the peaky blinders - no. 1

The sun is blazing, it's an uncommonly hot Indian summer afternoon, yet everywhere you look you can spot dapper gents clad in thick woolen coats, snappy suits and flat-caps. Their ladies are not to be outdone. They sport elegant gloves, flapper dresses, pearl sets and long cigarette holders.

Welcome then to the Official Peaky Blinders Festival, a two-day event held in the heart of Digbeth, the cultural centre of Birmingham.