I have been asked on occasions when I intend photographing other genres other than models. I usually answer that I will when I feel I can’t improve any more, I get bored with the subject, or I run out of ideas. Fortunately I don’t think I am anywhere near to meeting any of those criteria, as I still get an amazing buzz from producing my images with fellow creatives.
I was extremely fortunate last year to come across the amazing parachute dresses/skirts of the talented Alice Andrews Designs, which gave an added dimension to my photography and lots of new ideas. They are upcycled from real military parachutes, and my dress has a datestamp of 1952, so is older than me :)
Being made of silk or rayon they are extremely light, and they vacuum pack down to quite a small size, which is handy when travelling by plane.
They are perfect for the wider viewpoint you often see in the images I produce with models, and also can have an optional dress for when the public are about, or just the skirt element when that suits the image better. Being made of silk they blow in even the slightest breeze, without any need of assistants to throw them about.
You’ve already seen one of the lovely Lulu Lockhart from this set on the Quiraing on Skye before, while that was my favourite image of 2017 it was actually an outtake as Lulu tried to control the wonderfully random dress. This one was one of the more posed images from the set.
While they don’t need much wind to blow and make great shapes, that does mean that in a gale they are extremely difficult to control, as the super Fawnya found out in this Scottish castle. It’s fair to say that Fawnya nearly took off a few times, and the skirt almost went flying out into the Scottish countryside!
And here’s a shot I really like from Iceland, at the Godafoss waterfall, again with the lovely Lulu, and yes that rainbow was really there – I am that lucky ;)
So many thanks to Alice for making these beautiful dresses which provide a great extension for my photography, and to Fawnya and Lulu for using them to produce such great images. Many more images to come with these striking outfits.
4 Comments
A stunning set as usual Tim
Cheers Chris, the dress does give me new avenues to explore :)
Wow, 1952. That dress must have been well cared for. I know the little critters like to eat them up.
Wonderful photos. I really enjoy the waterfall photo. I wonder if anyone told Ansel Adams to get out of the
forest. :)
Thank you for your comment Mr Pope. I presume it was a military parachute, but don’t know what happened to it between 1952 and the present day. Although I’m pleased that somebody took care of it so that it could have a second life as a dress. Ansel Adams was a master, and I think he would have been at the cutting edge of photography today if he was alive, and his imagery would be quite different than what he is know for. I was inspired by his wide open views and capturing the beauty of the landscape, I think he would approve :)