Vintage Visions on a Wintry Day

It had been a while since Krystal, and I’d caught up and we both fancied a change from the day to day. She posed a vintage theme of lingerie; dresses and we’d even toyed with the idea of derelict buildings as a backdrop. Ultimately, and for several reasons, we elected to shoot from her home. Good thing too, given the torrential rains.  

 

Thankfully, her home had a reasonable amount of natural light and I’d brought flashgun, soft box, portable lighting, low light prime lenses, and reflector. I shot several frames outside, from her summer house in the drizzle. Thankfully, I had the A6300 body which has some weather sealing- shot at F1.8 with a Viltrox prime lens.  The other option is sheltering beneath a smaller umbrella and shooting. However, depending on the shutter speed and other settings, it runs the risk of some camera shake, resulting in blur. 

  

Indoors, given the low cloud, I alternated between the 6300 mounted on a tripod and the A6000 with prime lens and Godox flashgun. Coffee, breaks, chat- general and business the two hours flew by. Doesn’t it always when fun’s involved. I loaded up the car and headed back to post -process our chosen favourites.

 

Risk it for The Rust...Jaywick and Krystal J

It had been a few years since I’d been to Jaywick and a few months since I’d shot with Krystal. I received a “Coming out to play?” email and fancied catching up. She’d had a challenging period in her life and wanted to shoot in part, as a creative distraction, a means of working through things. A philosophy, or mindset that resonates with me.

Jaywick is often presented as one of the most deprived areas in the UK and it’s certainly been starved of investment over the years. However, while romanticising poverty and deprivation is misguided, a palpable sense of community permeated.  

We started in a field, worked our way through to Jaywick Sands and some of the side streets. No one interfered or gave any cause for concern. Much of this is about being somewhere with a purpose, owning your space, and thus communicating that you have a right to be there.

In my experience, it’s also about being respectful and interacting graciously with those around you, while not courting attention. Arguably strong sunlight was our biggest challenge. I shot these with the A6000 and 33mm 1.8 and the A6300 with Sigma 60mm 2.8 (set to f 3.2 for most of these). 

 

Guided by Godiva

No, Krystal did not disrobe, hop aboard this highly charismatic horse, and canter around Coventry (We were a good 125 miles away, for starters). However, they met at the close of our shoot and formed a very photogenic bond. I’ve worked with Krystal on many occasions, since 2018 and we have a shared fondness/fascination for derelict buildings/similar locations.  

She’d been in touch, wanting to shoot with a new dress and some accessories. I had been let down by another model (although ending a relationship with a coercive and controlling partner are suitably mitigating circumstances, in my book. All too common, too). Locations discussed and agreed, we wandered around, finding suitably backdrops collectively and at random.  

Some have suggested she is my muse. No, in short. We gel well professionally, but the muse construct is something that belongs in a very different era. Shooting aside, we do spend a decent amount of time discussing the business and indeed, experiences with certain parties.  

All captured using my trusty Sony A6000 body and Viltrox prime lenses.

Back to the Boatyard. Work, Rest & Play with Krystal J

 I received a “Coming out to play” invite from Krystal. She hadn’t a location in mind, so I suggested the Pin Mill Boat Graveyard. She was very excited by the slightly eerie vibe. We share a mutual fascination for derelict and abandoned places and this wavelength certainly helps cement the creative harmony. Krystal is an experienced model. She started with bridal and transitioned toward the “alternative” genre via custom motorcycle publications, including Back Street Heroes.  

I’d prepared for most eventualities- towels, bucket, solvent cleaner, snacks, change of clothes, waterproof hiking boots and first aid kit. However, we were able to shoot uninterrupted, save for the odd friendly greeting from dog walkers negotiating the wooded trail above. An elderly couple were also capturing the wrecks with their SLRs, so we kept a respectful distance.  

 

I was earlier than originally planned and traffic was light, so the tide was also in our favour. The final set was taken as the tide was racing in, but we had a good 90 minutes prior to that. All were shot using my Sony A6000 and A6300 bodies with Viltrox 23mm 1.4 and Viltrox 33mm 1.4 prime lenses.   

Enchanted Forests & Freezing Promenades

Despite the wind chill dragging the air temperature down to 2 degrees, Krystal approached me in the context of a forest shoot. I wasn’t expecting her to model a line of lingerie (!) but she posed effortlessly and without complaint. Though these conditions ran the cold gauntlet, they greatly reduced the probability of encountering (not to mention, offending) dog walkers and other passers-by.

We shot about 20 frames, in twenty minutes before deciding it was time to move on. I had intended to bring a large blanket with me, so Krystal could (a) Remain warm (b) Preserve her modesty, in the event of someone showing up.

However, she’d already brought a sizeable winter coat, leggings and dealer boots. Garments that could be quickly donned/dispensed with, as need arose.

We concluded the forest looked uniformly bland, given the time of year. Krystal took this opportunity, to change into her second outfit. I’d spotted some agricultural equipment, along an adjacent farm track, so we employed these, as our second backdrop.

I had also noticed a partially cannibalised Land Rover…Being as it was languishing on private property, I was not prepared to pitch up and start shooting. Professionalism aside, trespass is one of those things, which can take a darker turn.

Though signage may say “Trespassers will be prosecuted”; chances are, not for the crime of trespass, rather the more serious charge of criminal damage. I attempted to contact the landowner, but no-one was home, so we shot a few final frames, against these logs.

Three days later, KA with fresh MOT certificate, I was gifted some unexpectedly free time. Bracing coastal winds meant plucking my cowhide pilots’ jacket, gloves and thermal skull cap from hibernation. I headed out to Walton on the Naze and Revved up Tea Hut. Warm welcome, good ambience and a new range, of cold beating beanies and hoodies…If you were stuck for stocking fillers.  

Gena Rose & Graffiti

Gena approached me via a purpleport www.purpleport.com and expressed an interest in organising a shoot. Pre-shoot communications were excellent, and quickly established direction(s) she was looking to take her modelling.

She’d seen some recent shoots with Krystal and wanted to create something along similar lines. She had some locations in mind, including an abandoned police station. Despite genuine potential, further research and closer scrutiny demanded a rethink.

We eventually settled on Southend on Sea and combining beach, with more urban/alternative themes. Time, location and structure agreed, my second-shooter (Spare camera body for location work) decided to expire, without any warning. This was while doing some fetish themed work.

An expensive weekend, given my car had succumbed to a grumbling CV joint. One which had also formed a seemingly permanent union with the driveshaft. Meanting that too, needed replacing.

On Sunday, I switched to my CSC and 30mm prime lens. Great for street photography but not my first choice for photoshoots. Though attitudes are changing, models tend to be sceptical and perceive them as inferior to SLRs. Models, regardless of experience need to feel confident in a photographer’s abilities.

I was familiar with the area and had taken a drive down during the August bank holiday. Primarily to do some street photography, with a quick bit of location scouting for good measure.

Having met up, we weaved through the side streets, where it was theoretically quieter and warmed up with some headshots/portraits. In common with many town centres, street homelessness is widespread and very apparent.

Affording people dignity and respect goes a long way to averting potentially awkward/dangerous situations. However, hunger, substance misuse and poor mental health can prove a volatile mix.  

We attracted the attentions of passers-by but most people were extremely considerate. Nonetheless, although all publicity is good…We didn’t want an audience and after twenty minutes, headed to the beach.

With the tide long gone and unlikely to return for seven hours, we were forced to abandon our concept of her emerging from the water. Holiday season done, we made good use of an essentially empty beach. Gena stands 5’2 and I often shoot shorter models, while lying down, which suggests they are much taller.   

Ninety minutes in, reserves were flagging, which is not great for creativity. So, we found a suitably clean café’. Conversation flowed easily as we refuelled, relaxed and reviewed the .

Bill settled, we headed out to Westcliff-roughly a mile away, stopping at various points to shoot. This beautifully restored VW fired our imaginations, particularly Gena’s (She’d studied car mechanics).

Wanting to avoid introspection and potential confrontation, we sauntered along the side streets and to some distressed warehouse doors. The dilapidated remains of a car dealership were our last backdrop of the day but won’t be our last collaboration...