As I looked out the window on an early Sunday morning, drinking a cup of cold tea, I engaged in a conversation with myself.
My logical left brain piped up: "It's raining outside..."
But my creative right brain wasn't fazed: "So what? Harley is on her way."
Left brain persisted: "But we're going to get wet!"
The right brain was ready with a solution: "No worries, I've got my coat on."
Just as the left brain was about to protest again, the right brain was already out the door, beckoning: "Are you coming?"
Left brain hesitated for a moment, but eventually relented: "Okay..."
It's a scenario that I find myself in quite often, and this time was no exception. Despite the light drizzle, I decided to proceed with my planned photoshoot with Harley Phoenix.
I had previously worked with Harley in a studio and this time, I had arranged for a quick outdoor photoshoot around Wimbledon Common. As the name suggests, it was a familiar location for me, with its vast open plains and endless rows of trees that offered plenty of opportunities for getting lost in.
We met at Wimbledon Station and boarded the friendly 93 bus that dropped us off at the entrance closest to the Windmill. Since it was still drizzling a bit, we decided to warm up with a cup of tea and hot chocolate before setting off. I couldn't help but feel like the weather had it out for me - it seemed like no matter how much I wished for sunshine, the rain persisted.
Nevertheless, we ventured down to what I believed to be a small stream that led to a nearby lake, a few hundred yards away. As I took a sip of my hot chocolate, I couldn't help but notice that it tasted oddly similar to rainwater. I made a mental note to bring my own thermos of hot beverages the next time we ventured out into the unpredictable weather.
The thought of bringing my own thermos also sparked an idea for merchandise. I wondered if others might appreciate a branded thermos that could keep their drinks warm and cosy, even on the rainiest of days. The possibilities were endless, and I made a mental note to explore this idea further but only for myself… who would want a thermos with my name on it??
After our brief tea break, we made our way down to the lake, carefully sliding along the damp path. We continued walking up the bank until we found a relatively dry patch, sheltered by the canopy of trees above us. I had with me the Sony α7IV and the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 lens. The Sony 85mm f1.8 would be used later and to be honest, I really should have got that out sooner.
Before starting the shoot, we checked to see if the fallen branches were dry enough for Harley to sit on. Satisfied with our findings, I began to take photos, experimenting with different angles and poses. As I reviewed the shots, I noticed that the blue galaxy umbrella that Harley was holding created a striking contrast against the natural tones of the forest. I decided to focus on this contrast and captured a series of shots that highlighted the unique combination of the umbrella and the surrounding environment. I applied a faded vignette effect to the images and added a subtle blur to the surrounding areas. These edits helped to draw the viewer's attention towards Harley and created a more intimate and atmospheric feel to the images.
Throughout the shoot, we made use of the trees that surrounded us. They were abundant in the area, It reminded me of the old saying, "Can't see the forest for the trees." Really? you must be doing it wrong then!
As we explored the area, the trees would add depth and texture to the images, creating a sense of connection between the subject and the natural world around her.
I noticed two trees that were perfectly aligned to create a natural frame for Harley to stand between. It was a stroke of luck, as I hadn't planned on using them in this way. Of course, I didn't uproot the trees and move them to where I wanted them - they were just there, waiting to be incorporated into our shots.
As we moved further into the forest, we stumbled upon a glade that was home to an unexpected group of forest animals: ducks. It was a surprise to see them wandering around the forest floor, as they're not typically associated with woodland environments. Perhaps they were tourists from nearby Richmond Park, exploring the area and enjoying a change of scenery. They didn’t seem interested in posing for shots so I had to continue with Harley.
Throughout the shoot, there was a recurring theme of Harley leaning against trees. While it made for some great shots, I couldn't help but feel that the trees didn't actually need her support. After all, a tree can hold its own weight without the help of a couple of humans pressing their boots against its trunk. You can tell I have edited the image on the right, the season did not quickly shift from Sping to Autumn in the space of a few seconds!
As you can see, trees played a significant role in this shoot, serving as both props and backdrops for our photos. These shots are titled “Harley standing away from a tree”, “Harley siting on a fallen tree” and “Harley paying no attention to a tree as by now were we tired of trees”. Harley managed to stand out, thanks to the stunning burgundy top and skirt she had chosen for the shoot.
Before we move on to the penultimate shot, I want to give a special mention to three standout shots from the shoot. The first has been edited to give it a more early autumn vibe, despite the cold and drizzly spring day we were actually experiencing. The colours of the leaves in the background have been warmed up and given an orange hue, which adds to the overall feel of the shot.
The second honourable mention goes to a few shots where Harley is wearing a hood. The contrast of the blue hood against her blonde hair and the deep burgundy of her outfit makes these shots some of my favourites from the day. There's something about the way the hood frames her face and draws attention to her eyes that really works for me.
Finally, a close runner-up for me is the third shot in this series. The soft, diffused light filtering through the trees also adds a dreamy, ethereal quality to the shot that I find really beautiful. Of course, we can also see the ‘stunt crow’ in the background of this shot. I do not know if Crows have pronouns so I will just refer to the Crow as ‘Crow’. Crow had been following us for a bit since we left the Sacred Glade of the Walking Ducks and had settled on the top of a stack of branches. Harley moved closer and closer and I managed to quickly take this shot before Crow got bored of us and flew away. Perhaps Crow had another appointment further along the forest.
So we found this branch… Harley had an idea to sit on it. I was standing behind her just in case she fell back as she jumped but it was a little too high for Harley to manage. Putting my camera bag down on the soggy floor I moved to one side of the branch, took hold and pushed down enough for Harley to get on. I noticed this branch was a bit spongy so I had visions of launching Harley into the sky, possibly to land at the webbed feet of some laughing ducks, so I slowly let go and Harley was balanced enough to continue.
After completing a few more shots and ensuring Harley was safely back on the ground, I concluded the shoot. Typically, my photo sessions last for two hours, but this one ended up lasting three. We hopped on another big, friendly bus that took us back to Wimbledon, where I treated Harley to a fast food meal. you know me, classy!
There were a few key takeaways from this shoot. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to take a duck home with me (although I must admit, I didn't really expect to). I also learned the importance of checking the weather forecast for future shoots, as the sky only cleared up towards the end of the three-hour session. Additionally, it would have been helpful to bring a large waterproof sheet that could easily be folded up and carried in my camera bag. The ground was quite soggy after the rain, and my makeshift "bag for life" didn't quite cut it.
I want to extend my thanks to Harley for braving the soggy Sunday weather and for collaborating with me on this shoot. The resulting shots are fantastic, and I look forward to editing and sending more until her phone runs out of storage!