My new experiment - a hybrid #harshbeautifulheadshot of the brilliant Charlotte Mooney @charlottemooneystoryteller - co-artistic-director of Ockham’s Razor @ockhamsrazoruk. One of the most inspiring circus arts companies in the UK, currently devising a new interpretation of Tess of the d’Urbervilles - can’t wait to see it. Charlotte is a regular director and teacher at the National Centre for Circus Arts @nationalcircus.

www.ockhamsrazor.co.uk

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

My new experiment - a hybrid #harshbeautifulheadshot of the brilliant Alex Harvey - co-artistic-director of @ockhamsrazoruk (and partner of @charlottemooneystoryteller in my adjoining post). One of the most inventive circus arts companies in the UK, currently devising a new interpretation of Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

I’ve had a few utterly inspiring trapeze classes with Alex over the years at the National Centre for Circus Arts @nationalcircus.

www.ockhamsrazor.co.uk represented by @turtlekeyarts

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

I normally only share one definitive version of a portrait, but I’m really drawn to these alternative colour #harshbeautifulheadshots of the brilliant Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey - co-artistic-directors of @ockhamsrazoruk. One of the most inventive circus arts companies in the UK, closely involved with the National Centre for Circus Arts @nationalcircus where I’ve attend classes for over 20 years.

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www.ockhamsrazor.co.uk represented by @turtlekeyarts

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

I normally only share one definitive version of a portrait, but I’m really drawn to these alternative colour #harshbeautifulheadshots of the brilliant Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey - co-artistic-directors of @ockhamsrazoruk. One of the most inventive circus arts companies in the UK, closely involved with the National Centre for Circus Arts @nationalcircus where I’ve attend classes for over 20 years.

.

www.ockhamsrazor.co.uk represented by @turtlekeyarts

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

Brilliant #harshbeautiful portrait shoot with delightful artist and architect Karl Renner. I really hope this captures his quizzical, cheeky, thoughtful, quirky expression!! Thanks so much to Paul Prentiss for making this happen.

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

My 2014 #harshbeautiful portrait of outrageously talented Costume Designer Bobby Soutar - Emmy nominated for assistant costume designer on the Netflix series Wednesday.

Almost 10 years after this portrait was taken, Bobby has just returned to sit for his Psychedelic Portrait (posted alongside)

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

A very different formal #whiteoutportrait of my friend John Cox - international opera director - trying to capture his steely resolve, deep thoughtfulness, and phenomenal directing talents.

From the same affectionate shoot as the previous post, full of fond memories across the decades that we’ve known each other, ever since Robin Forster and I met John and his late husband John Hayes back in the early 90s.

I’ve always been blown away by John’s ability to direct the chorus so effectively to bring crowd scenes to life. (And yes, to direct big stars too obviously!!)

Extraordinary to think his productions of The Magic Flute and The Rake’s Progress (with sets by David Hockney) were first performed 50 years ago and continue to be staged today.

This image was achieved with:

4 medium sized beauty dishes - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 positioned behind the sitter to bleach out sections of the backdrop

Wireless trigger on camera.

Utterly brilliant #harshbeautiful portrait shoot and heartfelt conversation with tattoo artist Dexter Kay. Check out his beautiful ink work on IG: @dexterkay.

This was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

My two favourite things about #harshbeautiful portrait shoots are the heartfelt conversations with sitters while I’m snapping away, and the moment of joy when I hand over the final edited portrait a few weeks later. Thanks so much to artist and architect Karl Renner for the brilliant shoot, and to Paul Prentiss for making this happen.

Hope you like the contrast of candid shot of sitter and his formal portrait. The original desaturated portrait was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

My #harshbeautiful portrait of smoldering Louis Toliver Jr - Texas-based writer, model and activist - on a recent visit to London. IG @ltjishere . It’s great to revisit the harshbeautiful series!

Lighting achieved in studio with mild tweaks in post production.

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.

Saying again that my two favourite things about #harshbeautiful portrait shoots are the heartfelt conversations with sitters while I’m snapping away, and the moment of joy when I hand over the final edited portrait a few weeks later. Thanks again to Emma Dixon - ultra-brainy barrister specialising in public law, human rights, and environmental law for the brilliant shoot.

@emmadixon_eu

The original harshbeautiful portrait was achieved with:

3 medium sized beauty dishes gridded - 1 above camera and 1 oblique each side.

1 very large beauty dish gridded - positioned high behind the sitter to catch their silhouette.

Wireless trigger on camera.