DAVID DOWNTON

AGES AGO I WENT TO THE V&A TO SEE THE GOLDEN AGE OF COUTURE EXHIBITION. WHILST I WAS THERE I PICKED UP THE POSTER FOR THE EXHIBITION BECAUSE I LOVED THE FASHION ILLUSTRATION ON IT. THE POSTER IS NOW ON MY BEDROOM WALL, AND I STILL REALLY LOVE THE IMAGE. IT IS BY THE FASHION ILLUSTRATOR DAVID DOWNTON WHO HAS WORKS WITH FAMOUS MODELS SUCH AS LILY COLE (SHOWN ABOVE) AND ALSO ERIN O'CONNOR. I REALLY LIKE HIS USE OF MEDIA AND COLOURS TO CREATE SUCH BEAUTIFUL IMAGES.

A CLASSIC!

WHO DOESN'T LOVE SHOES! IN PARTICULAR, WHO DOESN'T LOVE CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES! WELL ONE THINGS FOR SURE I DO. THEY ARE SUCH A CLASSIC FASHION STAPLE, I CAN'T WAIT TO OWN MY OWN PAIR ONE DAY. TOTALLY OVER PRICED YET TOTALLY FABULOUS!

NINE

YESTERDAY I WATCHED THE FILM NINE. IT TELLS THE STORY OF AN ITALIAN FILM DIRECTOR WHO IS STRUGGLING TO WRITE HIS NEW FILM AND THE WOMAN IN HIS LIFE. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET INTO IT BUT OVER ALL I QUITE LIKED IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO WATCH AGAIN NOW I HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT. ABOVE IS THE TRAILER. I REALLY LOVED THE MUSIC AND OUTFITS IN THIS FILM, SUCH EUROPEAN CHIC! I WOULD LOVE TO DO A PHOTOSHOOT AT SOME POINT INSPIRED BY THIS FILM.

I WISH!

I REALLY LOVE MIU MIU HANDBAGS. WANT ONE SO BAD! WHEN I ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY I WILL DEFO BE GETTING ONE. THESE IMAGES SHOW A FEW OF THE LATEST ONES THAT I REALLY LIKE...

MC MAGAZINE

THESE IMAGES ARE ALL TAKEN FROM MC MAGAZINE WHICH IS ANOTHER ONLINE PUBLICATION. SET IN MAGAZINE FORMAT WITH ELECTRONIC TURNING PAGES, THIS MAGAZINE IS BASICALLY PACKED WITH PHOTOSHOOT AFTER PHOTOSHOOT. ANYWAY WHO HAS A LOVE FOR BEAUTIFUL FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE... http://www.mcmag.co.uk/

FASHION156

ANOTHER ONLINE FASHION MAGAZINE I HAVE COME ACROSS RECENTLY IS FASHION158. THESE IMAGES ARE BOTH TAKEN FROM TWO OF THEIR STORIES. I REALLY LOVE THE AIRY, SLIGHTLY MAGICAL FEEL OF THEM. THIS WEBSITE HAS SOME GOOD STUFF ON IT, HOWEVER WHEN READING ONE OF THEIR BEAUTY ARTICLES I CAME ACROSS THE LINE... "LETS FACE IT; GLITTER'S FOR KID'S" I WAS QUITE SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED BY THIS STATEMENT. I LOVE GLITTER. I'M LIKE A MAGPIE, IF IT SPARKLES THEN 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES I LOVE IT. I THINK THIS IS INHERITED, AND IN THE WORDS OF MY GRANDMA "YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A BIT OF SPARKLE!" GLITTER AND SEQUINS MAKE WHAT COULD BE SO DULL THAT BIT SPECIAL, AND HOW CAN ANYONE SAY THAT THAT IS ONLY FOR KID'S?! TO CHECK OUT THIS MAGAZINE GO TO...http://www.fashion156.com/index.php?issue=25

ICONIQUE MAGAZINE

RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A LOT OF ONLINE FASHION PUBLICATIONS. THIS IMAGE IS TAKEN FROM ICONIQUE MAGAZINE. THE WEBSITE IS REALLY NICE WITH FASHION EDITORIALS FROM VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND STYLISTS AS WELL AS RUNWAY NEWS, A BEAUTY SECTION AND MORE. THE IMAGE SHOWN HERE IS TAKEN FROM THE STORY DAUPHINE BY ERIC WHITE. I REALLY LOVE CLOSE UP BEAUTY SHOTS LIKE THIS ONE. I THINK THE MAKE-UP AND HAIR AND THE GENERAL FEEL THAT THE COLOURS GIVE ARE REALLY NICE. I THINK THIS WEBSITE IS WORTH A QUICK BROWS... http://www.iconique.com/flash/

STILL LIFE IN THE SNOW**

THESE ARE SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS I PRODUCED FOR A RECENT STILL LIFE PROJECT. MY INSPIRATION CAME FROM THE AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR THE DOLCE & GABBANA COLLECTION WHICH HAD A 70s SKI RESORT THEME. WE HAD TO USE A JIGSAW PUZZLE WITHIN OUR IMAGES SOMEHOW. I DID PLAN TO MAKE THE PUZZLE I BOUGHT AND USE IT AS A BACKGROUND BUT 1000 DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE, GREEN AND WHITE PIECES PROVED WAY TOO HARD TO DO! I WANTED TO USE THE NATURAL ELEMENTS FOUND IN 70s JEWELLERY SUCH AS WOOD, ALONG SIDE NATURAL OBJECTS THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN A SKI ENVIRONMENT. I ALSO USED THE 70s CRAFT MOVEMENT FOR INSPIRATION AND MADE MY OWN POMPOMS. I THINK MY OVERALL IMAGES LOOK GOOD AND I FEEL HAPPY WITH HOW THEY TURNED OUT.

CHRISTIAN DIOR: A/W 2010

I REALLY LIKE THE CHRISTIAN DIOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2010 COLLECTION. THE FASHION SHOW TOOK PLACE IN PARIS AND IS FULL OF PRETTY FLOATY FABRICS AND COLOURS. THIS GIRLY INNOCENCE IS CONTRASTED WITH THE USE OF HARSH CONSTRUCTED LEATHERS IN DRAMATIC COLOURS SUCH AS BLACKS AND BROWNS. THE COLLECTION ALSO USES FEATHERS AND FUR WHICH ARE BOTH GOING TO BE BIG THIS AUTUMN/WINTER. ALL THINGS I LOVE WRAPPED UP TOGETHER UNDER THE NAME OF CHRISTIAN DIOR!

DOWN ON THE FARM...

TODAY OUR GROUP MET UP TO CHECK OUT ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE PHOTOSHOOT AND ALSO TO DECIDE ON WHICH ONES WE WOULD USE FOR THE FINAL LINE UP. AFTER A BIT OF DEBATE WE DECIDED ON THE PHOTOS ABOVE. I THINK THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD TOGETHER AND I ALSO LIKE OUR USE OF THE STILL LIFE IMAGES IN BETWEEN OUR FASHION IMAGES. I THINK WE HAVE DONE WELL AND ACHIEVED WHAT WE SET OUT TO...

THE DAY OF THE PHOTOSHOOT!

26.03.10 - WAS WOKEN UP AT AROUND 8 O'CLOCK TO A TEXT MESSAGE FROM HOLLY SAYING SHE COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MODEL. MANY TEXTS LATER, NO MODEL. PANIC AT THE THOUGHT THAT THE WHOLE DAY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CANCELLED. A TEXT OF HOPE ARRIVED, MIGHT HAVE A NEW MODEL. TEXT CONFIRMED. SERIOUS RELIEF! SKY LOOKING BLUE , FEELING OPTIMISTIC. AT ABOUT 10.15am HOLLY ARRIVES TO PICK ME UP, MAD RUSH TO GET STUFF TOGETHER. HEAD OFF IN THE CAR TO HOLLY'S HOUSE WHERE WE WILL BE MEETING THE MODEL. IN CAR GET A MESSAGE FROM KAYLEIGH, HAIR AND MAKE-UP STYLIST CAN'T MAKE IT. GREAT! CHECK SKY, SERIOUS BIG GREY CLOUDS. SHIT! ARRIVE AT HOLLY'S HOUSE, GO INSIDE TO WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF OUR SAVIOUR MODEL. RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGE FROM PHOTOGRAPHY GIRLS, THEY ARE WAITING IN THE CAR AT THE FARM. MODEL ARRIVES. MORE RUSHING AROUND, NEVER SEEN HAIR CURLED SO QUICKLY THANKS TO HOLLY AND HER HAIR STRAIGHTENERS. GET IN CAR AND HEAD OFF TO FARM. ON ARRIVAL MEET UP WITH KAYLEIGH AND AMY. HEAD ONTO THE FARMYARD AND FIND A BARN COMPLETE WITH OLD TRACTOR. PERFECT LOCATION, EVEN MORE PERFECT BECAUSE IT'S INSIDE AND IT'S NOW RAINING, HAPPY DAYS! FINISH OFF SORTING OUT HAIR AND MAKE-UP. SPEND MUCH TIME BACK COMBING HAIR WHILST HOLLY IS APPLYING THE SMOKY EYES. DECIDE ON FIRST OUTFIT. SKIRT AND TOP WITH BLACK SHOES AND TIGHTS COMPLETE WITH HEAD SCARF. MODEL CHANGES BEHIND STACK OF HAY. THINK WE'VE MADE THE FARMERS DAY! MEANWHILE KAYLEIGH AND AMY HAVE BEEN GETTING SNAP HAPPY AROUND THE FARM TAKING PICTURES OF POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND CUTE COWS. BEGIN SHOOTING FIRST LOCATION: THE TRACTOR. STAND BACK AND LET THE PHOTOGRAPHERS DO THEIR THING. SUGGEST VARIOUS POSSES. CLOTHING CHANGE. SKIRT WITH KNIT CARDIGAN. LOCATION: A METAL FENCE NEXT TO THE COW SHED. MORE PHOTOS. LOOKING GOOD! NEW LOCATION: FIELD. WANTED SOMETHING SCENIC. IT'S NOW NO LONGER RAINING THANK GOD! POSING. PICTURE TAKING. NEXT LOCATION: BACK INSIDE THE BARN. QUICK! RAIN RETURNING. HAY BAILS. PERFECTO! FLOWERS AND APPLES. CLOTHING CHANGE. LILAC DRESS. SO PRETTY. MORE PHOTO TAKING. MOMENT OF THOUGHT. COULD USE RAIN TO OUR ADVANTAGE. NEW LOCATION: OUTSIDE WITH AN UMBRELLA. NOW THE RAIN IS BEGINNING TO STOP. TYPICAL! MORE SHOTS WITH THE UMBRELLA AND FLOWERS. LOOKS REALLY CUTE. FINAL LOCATION: ON A TRAILER. WET, DIRTY AND GENERALLY GROSS. GET THE TOWELS! MORE PHOTOS. TIME TO CALL IT A WRAP! GATHER STUFF TOGETHER AND HEAD FOR THE CAR. HAIL STONES! HEAD HOME. HAIR IS OFFICIALLY A MESS BUT HAPPY WITH HOW THE PHOTOSHOOT WENT. SOME GOOD PICTURES FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR! :)

THE MODEL

I MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER POST HOW THE MODEL WE WERE PLANNING TO USED COULDN'T MAKE IT FOR THE DAY OF THE SHOOT. WE THEN FOUND ANOTHER GIRL WHO AGREED TO MODEL FOR US. UNFORTUNATELY ON THE DAY OF THE SHOOT SHE WASN'T PICKING UP HER PHONE. THIS MEANT A MAD PANIC TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CANCEL THE SHOOT. LUCKILY ONE OF HOLLY'S FRIENDS STEPPED IN A SAVED THE DAY MEANING THAT THE PHOTOSHOOT COULD GO AHEAD.

HAIR

THE HAIR WAS ALSO SUPPOSE TO BE DONE BY THE SAME WOMAN WHO DROPPED OUT ON THE DAY SO WE ALSO HAD TO DO THIS OURSELVES. WE WANTED SOMETHING PRETTY BUT NOT TOO OVER THE TOP. I THINK SOMETHING LIKE LOOSE WAVES SHOWN IN THESE IMAGES LOOKS NICE AND IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WENT FOR. IT LOOKS SLIGHTLY 1920s/30s YET MODERN AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THIS WORKED REALLY WELL ON OUR PHOTOSHOOT.

MAKE-UP

I REALLY LIKE THESE MAKEUP LOOKS. WE HAD BRIEFLY DISCUSSED WHAT OUR MAKE-UP WOULD BE LIKE FOR THE SHOOT HOWEVER WE HAD PLANNED TO HAVE A MAKE-UP ARTIST FOR THE ACTUAL DAY, THIS UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T HAPPEN AS THE WOMAN WHO WE HAD SAID SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT DROPPED OUT ON THE DAY SO WE HAD TO DO THE MAKE-UP OURSELVES. THE LOOK WE WENT FOR WAS QUITE SIMPLE, PINK LIPS WITH SMOKY EYES LIKE SHOWN IN THESE IMAGES. I THINK THIS LOOK WORKED WELL THOUGH WITH BOTH THE CLOTHING AND LOCATION.

CLOTHING

FINALLY I HAVE THE ALL THE PHOTOS OF THE CLOTHING. THESE ARE SOME OF THE CLOTHES THAT ME AND HOLLY CHOSE FOR THE SHOOT. WE WANTED TO KEEP IT FRESH AND FEMININE. THE COLOURS WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE LOCATION HOWEVER THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD NORMALLY WEAR ON A FARM.

GROUP MEETING 2

ON THURSDAY OUR GROUP MET UP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO DISCUSS THE PHOTOSHOOT AND THE PROGRESS WE HAD MADE WITH THE LOCATION, STYLING ETC. UNFORTUNATELY THE MODEL WE HAD PLANNED TO USE IS UNABLE TO MAKE IT FOR OUR PLANNED DAY FOR THE PHOTOSHOOT. LUCKILY WE MANAGED TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER MODEL THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR OUR SHOOT. THE FARM LOCATION FOR OUR SHOOT WAS CONFIRMED AS A DAIRY FARM JUST OUTSIDE PRESTON. ABOVE ARE SOME IMAGES OF IT.

ON TOP OF THIS HOLLY AND I SORTED OUT THE STYLING, WHICH HAS A 1930s FEEL WHICH I THINK WILL LOOK REALLY NICE AGAINST THE LOCATION (I WILL POST THE PICTURES OF THE CLOTHES WHEN I GET THEM). FINALLY WE DECIDED ON THE DATE AS FRIDAY THE 26th OF MARCH, SO FINGERS CROSSED THE WEATHER IS GOOD!!

RANKIN

I ALSO CAME ACROSS THESE IMAGES BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER RANKIN WHEN RESEARCHING. THE USE OF GLAMOROUS CLOTHING AGAINST THE DOWN TO EARTH NATURAL LOCATION IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT MY GROUP WANTS TO TRY AND ACHIEVE. ON TOP OF THIS WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE USE OF CLOSE UP AND FAR AWAY IMAGES WITHIN OUR OWN PHOTOSHOOT, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS SHOWN WITHIN THIS RANKIN STORY. I LIKE WHEN THIS IS DONE WITHIN A PHOTOSHOOT STORY BECAUSE I FEEL IT GIVES SOME VARIATION WHILST CONTINUING THE STORY AND LINKING THE IMAGES WELL.