Girls, Guns and Roses… with Roscos Photography

Go Ahead... Make My Day

Apologies for not keeping up with my blog for some weeks.  Things have been hectic on the personal front, not to mention two photoshoots last week and a day of exhibiting photographs at the annual KamaSutra erotic exhibition in Utrecht last weekend. 

And now to catch up on my blog.  Another awesome photographer with whom I worked in Dublin was Ross from Roscos Photography.  He was also introduced to me by my friend Clover.  Initially I sent a message to him on Fetlife back in August but as I hardly use the site, I forgot about it, and just on the day of my departure to Dublin I only noticed he had replied when I happened to log back on.  Luckily he gave me his proper email address so I was able to ask if he was still available, whilst apologising profusely.  And he was!  I was most relieved and chuffed and quickly threw in a pair of thigh high boots, a collar and a pair of black American Apparel shorts in my suitcase.

Combat Time

A few days into Dublin, Ross picked me up at the hotel lobby where I was staying.  This was on Tuesday 11 September 2012.  Previous to our meeting, he had sent me a picture of himself so I’d recognise him. I would say he looked like a typical “artist,” and as I imagined, he was such a genuine, pleasant and laid-back person with no pretension.  We took a tram for a few stops to his place, a trendy area in Dublin.  It was a quick but productive one-hour or so shoot but both of us knew what we wanted from the images as he showed me his work.  Like Hector, Ross photographs at burlesque events but also shoots alternative images which are quite dramatic. 

And to hell with cars and chicks… guns and girls rock!  The first set involved posing with weapons.  And we’re talking about real and heavy duty ones!  Clad in a black bra, shorts and a pair of thigh high boots, one sub-set involved me hoisting a huge machine gun complete with combat vest and an ammunition belt over my shoulder.  And they were really heavy!  I often wonder how soldiers fight carrying all that.  Then another involved me clutching two pistols in each hand looking mean.  Trying to avoid a glamour model "Bikini Bandits" look, the images were intended for a more a moody and even edgy twist to it, yet very sexy. Had I not have to go out for dinner that evening, we would have made it even more powerful by soiling my face with mud and body splashed in fake blood!   Maybe next time…

Captivity

The second set involved light bondage.  I donned on my metallic metal collar and leash.  As Ross had a few hooks nailed on one of his doors, he hung a pair of heavy-duty chains in which I stood between in nude and was to pull down from each side, looking oppressed.  So the previous set was of me looking scary and in this one, I was to look scared!  Perhaps the story could be that I was that tough soldier that got captured as P.O.W., then stripped and leashed?

Ross has a policy of not showing his models the photos he takes on the camera viewfinder. He further informed me that he does minimal editing on his images such as making some photos black and white.  In other words, what you shoot is what you get!   So I was rather curious to see how the images all turned out.  A few days later, he sent them to me by email and I must say I was pleasantly surprised!  I am well pleased.

Thank you, Ross, for your time and especially for agreeing to shoot at the last minute.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with you and as suggested next time we do some location ones outdoors.  Look forward to it!

To find out more about Ross, please check out his Facebook page!

My First Shoot in Ireland: Hector Heathwood

Chained Up

I am most certainly enjoying all this jet-setting around Europe as a model!  A week after my trip to Sweden I took off for a 4-day break to Ireland where I happened to shoot with two wonderful photographers kindly introduced to me by an Irish model and photographer friend in England called Clover.  One of them was Hector Heathwood whom I contacted after having looked at his impressive portfolio.  After a short email to him, he replied promptly which was unexpected but even more unexpected was that he was keen to work with me as well!  He seemed a very pleasant gentleman with a great sense of humour, and I’m proud to announce that I’ve scored some brownie points with him as he praised my spelling and grammar on the first e-mail I had sent him.  Well you know what they say about first impressions!

I couldn’t wait to work with Hector.  The photoshoot was scheduled for 10 September 2012.  Much of his work is focused on burlesque which I figured would add some interesting vavavoom to my portfolio.  That said, he also does quite a few figure nudes focusing on effective lighting techniques to create state of the art images.  I also noticed some fetish-style work such as use of fishnet hosiery, spiky heels and chains which he captures so creatively.  Then I found out later that he is a lecturer at a local college in Dublin teaching photography.  Now that figures!

White Night

Hector’s studio was located at the college where he works.  A short 10 minutes walk from the hotel, he greeted me and he was just as I expected.  Laid back and friendly yet methodical and professional.  After a chatting a bit over a cup of coffee and biscuits, we got cracking.  We started with nudes.   And now, that’s a smart idea!  One would think to start with clothed or lingerie to “warm up”, then as we get comfortable gradually go topless until completely nude.   However, clothes, especially tight-fitting lingerie like bras, basques and of course corsets leave marks on the skin!  And it takes hours for them to fade.  As I’m already comfortable with nudity from the start, I was happy to start with that. 

We captured some beautiful low-key nude images.  First Hector used one strong light on one side and gold reflectors on the other to create some warmth as I posed.   We then experimented with a white chiffon material wrapped around my body which complimented well with my tan.  And then I was adorned in a gorgeous bright jade green one lying down on the floor, followed by a vibrant violet one with which we focused on my back.   Then back to no material, I was made to lie down on the ground which was merely covered with a sheet.  Although I had to keep getting up and down as I was freezing each time I touched the ground, it was all well worth it!  Hector managed to create an illusion of extending my legs through shooting from clever angles.  I also loved how the low-key lighting emphasized the silouette of my curves as well as muscle definition.  Those sessions in the gym have certainly helped!

I soon got accustomed to lying down on the cold floor.  But now it was time for me to lay some chains on my naked body!  I was to wear nothing but a pair of very high PVC platform boots and very high PVC gloves which practically reached my armpits, whilst gripping and wrapping the chain around me.  Normally, Hector “warms” the chain up on the radiator but had apparently forgotten or overestimated the day’s temperature but oh well, it was still fun!  It is the end effect which counts and it certainly turned out well with the low key lighting.

Bending Back

The final set was a more lively one.  At the beginning of the shoot, we rummaged through the dressing room finding what sort of outfits would be interesting and “burlequey.”  I liked the red military peaked cap with the matching cute black Napoleonic bolero.  Hector suggested that the outfit went well with a pair of red velvet waist-high knickers for a quaint 1950s effect.  And he was right!  So here I was back to smiling again in front of the cameras with higher keyed lighting.  This time, though, it was not for the cheesy glamour model look but for a more refined pin-up girl appearance.  And I really loved the results!  Perhaps this is something I might like to explore along with my numerous basques, suspenders & stockings and corsets I own which are sitting in my drawers waiting to be worn.

We decided to call it the evening, as I had to meet friends for dinner.  It was such a fun shoot, and we didn’t realize time had gone by so quickly.  I know I will be back in Dublin soon and when I do, I will definitely look Hector up.  And for those happening to be there for the odd few days or so, I would recommend working with him.  Whilst friendly yet professional and with sound knowledge with lighting, he also produced the images within a few days which I was very pleased about.  The clothed and implied photos are available on Facebook. 

Thank you so much, Hector, for your time and the beautiful images we produced.  I look forward to working with you again soon!

Hello There!

To find out more about Hector Heathwood and his awesome work, check out his website: www.hectorheathwood.com