No, not the iconic film with
Marlon Brando. I’m referring to an evening quayside shoot with Aurora Ray, in
Ipswich. I responded to a casting call and we corresponded for a few weeks. Ideas, concepts and possible locations floated and pondered.
Ipswich is approximately an
hour or so’s drive from me, but a town I hadn’t visited for almost three
decades. Even then, I was only familiar with the Portman Road area, home to the football club and infamously, a red-light district.
Thankfully, Aurora had
excellent local knowledge, which complemented her creative vision.
Little
surprise that I leaped at the suggestion of Graffiti and disused quayside
buildings…Sunset this time of year, is around 18.45, so we arranged to meet an
hour beforehand.
Having successfully orbited
the town centre systems during rush hour, I was relieved to discover a car park
within easy reach of the quayside. We’d agreed to meet by the University,
opposite. Chances were, we’d be wrapped
up within an hour or so. However, I’ve an aversion to fines, so fed the meter a little more.
This early in the academic
year, you could feel a real sense of anticipation and a generally positive
atmosphere from the halls of residence. One that certainly resonated with me,
some 26 years since I arrived in London’s East End, fresh faced and decidedly
green.
There’s always one student who
stands out. In this instance, one losing command of his trousers, while exiting
his car. Shortly afterward, a text arrived-Aurora saying she was a few minutes
away. She materialised carrying a cluster of red helium balloons and extruding enthusiasm.
Camera bag, reflector and
energy-boosting bananas grasped, I locked the KA and Aurora led me along the
waterside, with its eclectic mix of bars and restaurants. Their neon signage
more intense, as the golden hour loomed. Our first location was a long disused
and very derelict factory.
Several stories high, ground
floor access points had been sealed and the usual warnings emblazomed across the boards. She switched from her light summer dress and I
fired a few tester shots. The alley, though clearly a
street drinker’s refuge, was also moderately trafficked and relatively well lit, which was ideal, in
every respect.
One man had my senses
screaming with alarm. I was concerned he might attempt to snatch one, or both
of our bags. Luckily, he quickly lost interest and shuffled through, without further
interaction.
Aurora has a classic model
figure and knew her body well, thus created and moved seamlessly between poses,
making the very most of available time and light. Checking the area for broken
glass and other sharps, she posed on the pallets, which accentuated her poise
and willowy figure.
The next street had these
corrugated shutters. I was pleasantly surprised by driver cooperation and
sensitivity. Many stopping and seemingly alarmed that they’d interrupted us.
Not something you’d experience in a major city, or provincial towns for that
matter.
A skate park fired our
imaginations, but we opted in favour of a towpath, which also had some very
striking and genuinely beautifully crafted murals. The sort so revered, they
are left unmolested, by taggers and local authority environmental teams alike.
15 minutes later and the golden hour was almost gone but by this point, we had
80 shots. A short but successful evening…
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