Bobbin

 Given the pandemic, I had been wary of shooting in confined spaces-studios or otherwise. Therefore, I cautiously took a drive to Rayleigh and spent an hour with Bobbin.  

Bobbin is a part-time model who has run this career in parallel to another in social care. She is warm, very self-aware and double jointed. Three attributes that certainly contribute to the creative process.  

Though not from a traditional “dance” background tone and definition developed through swimming were also very evident. Social distancing was very straightforward and easily maintained with a 50mm prime lens-in this instance, my full-frame E-mount. Being a studio setup, these were synced at F16 and 1/125.  

The A7, A600 and A6300 bodies are my studio defaults since remote triggers have proved anything but harmonious, with the older, Alpha series. Sheer and lingerie were our main themes with a quick bit of portraiture and headshots to break the ice. An hour of my time and very wisely spent. 

Ana

Ana is a new model who was encouraged by Krystal J https://stenningphotographic.blogspot.com/2018/07/delight-in-decay-some-shoots-with.html to approach me, in the context of booking a portfolio building session. Like many aspiring models, she is building a portfolio in parallel with another career and while being furloughed, due to Covid19. I typically stipulate that models must be at least 21 years old but will “take a view” depending upon the commission’s nature and the model’s maturity.

  

Recommendation in this instance certainly fast-tracked matters. Nonetheless, I still needed to evaluate her and devise a mutually agreed shoot proposal. Pre-shoot communication was suitably good, and she had a clear (though not inflexible) idea of the images she wanted to create. 

I suggested a mix of portraiture and classic fashion-with a view to some being converted to deep monochrome.  These were taken with My A6300 and 50mm 1.8 lens.  

She arrived promptly, well-prepared, and ready to work. Three hours and several locations later, we concluded our first session. Her confidence is growing, and I’d be happy to work with her again, down the line.  

Sonya

    

Sonya is a qualified diver, who had recently discovered modeling. She’s also a part-qualified accountant and runs a successful bookkeeping business. Due to some very bad experiences, I have all but stopped working with novice models. However, there are exceptions and I am happy to make them, where I see genuine commitment, ability and professionalism.  

I’m pleased to report Sonya has all these attributes, in spades. The brief was a street lingerie theme, which had amazing potential but needed careful planning and the ability to change, pose and shoot quickly.  

We needed to start early, in order to avoid drawing unnecessary attention, inducing discomfort from passers-by. We met at 730 and commenced within 15minutes. The tide was out, which inspired us to start on the beach using some boats as a backdrop.  

I spotted what I believed was a decommissioned gunship. It was indeed a gunship, but less abandoned that I thought and by the time we’d reached it, we were also calves deep in very gloopy, tenacious mud. Not the most auspicious start, although it broke the ice and we achieved some technically pleasing results.   

Having reconvened to our vehicles for some refreshments and cleanup, we resumed shooting along Old Leigh’s cobbled streets, Sonya had already dressed in her desired lingerie from the privacy of her car, while I fed parking meters and rummaged in the KA’s boot for a suitable change of footwear. A sheer gown preserved her modesty while mitigating some of the morning chill.  

Thankfully, we had the streets, largely to ourselves. It was busier than we’d anticipated but any passing people/vehicle traffic was very respectful, meaning we could meet her exciting and potentially challenging brief with minimal fuss.  

She moved seamlessly between poses and showed an ability rivaling that of some established models I have enjoyed working with. By 945 we were finished and went our separate ways. These were shot exclusively with my Sony A6300 and 50mm 1.8 lens. 

I am relieved she is delighted with the results and would welcome the opportunity to work with her on future commissions   

Natalia: Bowled Over By The Lady from Moldova

Given the global pandemic and subsequent lockdown, social/model photography was on the back burner for a good ten weeks, or so. However, with the rules relaxed, approaches/proposals have slowly increased.  

Natalia is originally from Moldova and from a dance background, which was immediately obvious. We discussed a mix of lingerie/topless and art nude. She knew of some suitable locations (studios were still closed at this point and given the risks presented by pandemic, socially distancing is more easily managed outdoors).  

Multi-lingual, Natalia’s professionalism was immediately apparent from her pre-shoot communications, so I wasn’t surprised to find her arriving on time and impeccably prepared. Most experienced models can do their own make-up to a decent standard, but I was particularly surprised by her speed and precision in this respect.  

Given her dance background, I wasn’t remotely surprised by her technical ability, poise and understanding of her own body’s most flattering angles. Warm, emotionally intelligent, she was also extremely receptive to direction.  

Much as I suspected, in keeping with its neighbours, Moldova is socially conservative, so modeling (aside from high profile fashion/editorial work) is viewed with suspicion. Given the nature of this shoot, we were particularly discrete and remained unnoticed by passers-by.  

I’ve always fiercely adhered to distancing when working with models, so it will come as little surprise that I alternated between my Sony A7 with 50mm 1.8 lens and Sony Alpha with 85mm 2.8.  

Portraits From The Street

Street photography is reputedly more controversial than it once was. Discretion and the ability to read your environment are crucial but otherwise, it can be a very rewarding experience. Seaside towns have long since lost their shine. Once proud guest houses have been bought and converted into flats and bedsits.  

Lower rents have long seen Metropolitan local authorities displace ex-offenders, the economically inactive and other vulnerable adults, since housing benefits/similar costs were commensurately cheaper. There’s also something very comforting, nostalgic about the seaside.  

Then there are those who fall through the cracks. I frequently hear the mantra that if you have the skills relevant to the economy, then you will be fine. In reality, small changes in circumstance can have dramatic and unforeseen consequences. It doesn’t matter how well educated, or skilled you are. The “perfect storm” can render any of us homeless. I’ve done advice/similar work in hostels and in outreach settings. I also came precariously close to becoming a statistic. 

Southend on Sea and its peripheries are familiar territory for me. In keeping with many other towns, street homelessness has become very obvious. Loss of employment, end of a relationship, leaving care, the military are all common routes. Alcohol/similar substance misuse is another, but they are also a means of numbing the cold, fear and isolation associated with it.   

Feeding someone’s habit is not helping them, so money is a non-starter. However, I often carry snacks and will buy food/ teas/coffee, etc. There’s no secret to this. If you treat others as you’d want/expect to be treated yourself, then you’re not going to go far wrong.  

Reading people and your immediate environment is crucial. If I sense someone wishes to talk, I will engage. The woman pictured wasn’t homeless but approached me while I was capturing some footage along the seafront. She wanted to talk, and I asked if I might take her photograph, in a candid, though flattering fashion.  

She happily obliged and after a few minutes, we went our separate ways. I headed to a Turkish restaurant/café for some food and diesel strength coffee. I headed back towards Westcliff, whereupon I met this man, bedding down in a shop doorway.  

I offered him some food, which he gladly took, then seeing my camera, asked if I would take his photo. I took a few frames, wished him well and moved on before my presence drew unwelcome attention. A few minutes later, I met this extrovert busker, who was very happy to be photographed.  

Finally, there was Kenny. He initially asked for money, which I graciously declined before we began a conversation. A generalisation perhaps but he was seeking a hand up, not a hand-out. His own journey to the streets mirrored the chain of events I referred to earlier.  

I asked if I could take his photograph, explaining that I wasn’t looking to create “poverty porn”. He too readily agreed and we talked for another few minutes. By this point, natural light was fading. We wished each other well and I headed at a smart pace along the London Rd. There by the grace of God...