Country Life Magazine;

frontispiece, country life magazine

Posted on in Editorial photography, Portrait photography

Frontispiece for Country Life Magazine

Country Life Magazine’s frontispiece, often referred to as the ‘Girls in pearl’, ‘babe of the week’ or ‘English rose’, is arguably one of the first pages people reach for when opening the magazine.   Originally this was a means of introducing young women into Society, portraying members of the aristocracy, but it has developed to celebrate engagements, achievements, new career choices, charity endeavours and so on.

It is the variety of styles, not just in the photography, but the clothing & composition that interests me so much the frontispiece.  One day you will find a beautifully lit close up portrait, another you’ll find a girl in green leaning out of a yellow digger, or as in this issue’s case, in gold standing in a round ball on a large lawn in Hampshire!    My preference lies with the more quirky shots and this is one of my recent favourites.

Thank you to the stunning Victoria Gibbs for making the shoot such fun, Avington Park for providing a spectacular location and Mach Management for their wonderful make up.

 

Trudie Styler

Posted on in Animal photography, Editorial photography, Portrait photography

Portrait of Trudie Styler and her Irish Wolfhounds, Wiltshire

This portrait of Trudie Styler for Country Life Magazine’s feature on Irish Wolfhounds, was taken at Trudie and Sting’s residence in Wiltshire on a filthy winter’s day in December.

Portrait photography in the rain is always a challenge.   Standing in a fast running river with water flowing in over the brim of my wellies, Lucy precariously holding my lighting in strong gusts of wind, 6 irish wolfounds on a bridge eyeing up potential fun in the water below, all whilst being overlooked by Sting – made it all the more exciting!    Trudie also had her hands full with these enormous hounds so I’m not sure who was more relieved when all the elements came together within a few minutes and we captured the shot without any of the wolfhounds joining Lucy and I for a splash!

 

 

 

Frontispiece Country Life Magazine

Posted on in Editorial photography, Portrait photography

Country Life Magazine Frontispiece

Another very enjoyable portrait commission from Country Life Magazine: photographing Cecily Offord at home in Devon for the frontispiece with my great friend and very talented make up artist Amanda Jackson Sytner.

Although the weather was rather dreary, the light was soft and there was little wind – so great conditions for portrait photography.    The only set back with soft lighting is that it’s flat and lacking in shadow which adds a depth and mood I love particularly in close up portraiture.    However, I found an ideal location under a pergola offering opportunity for creating soft shadows, a lovely wall with plants growing up in the background, and soft light flowing in from the front and right.   I positioned the chair towards the front on the right, where there was sufficient light behind to avoid her her being lost in the dark background, and angled it so as create some soft shadow on the left of Cecily (from the viewer’s perspective).

We then worked through a variety of poses on & around the chair, which resulted in a wonderful selection of stunning portraits.   The combination of a stunning model, make up, red velvet jacket and set up all worked in my favour.   The one Country Life chose is but one of my many favourites.

Kate Adie by Dorset photographer Millie Pilkington

Posted on in Editorial photography, News, Portrait photography

A portrait of Kate Adie for Country Life Magazine

What a privilege to return to photograph Kate Adie in her home town in Dorset, this time for a feature I was covering for Country Life Magazine, out this month.   At 71 she looks incredible – perhaps her secret is keeping busy.    Although her days of being a war correspondent may be over, she is certainly not one to sit still.  Indeed she still works as a freelance journalist and public speaker, she presents ‘From our own Correspondent’ on Radio 4, is ambassador for various charities, and has written 5 books – including her best selling autobiography, ‘The Kindness of Strangers’.

I think this photo captures the essence of this remarkable lady – intelligence, humour, integrity, determination, strength and charm.

 

Ice Maiden Sophie Montagne frontispiece Countrylife

Posted on in Editorial photography, Portrait photography

Portrait of Ice Maiden Sophie Montagne

Very honoured to have met and photographing this inspiring young lady –  Sophie Montagne.     As covered recently on the BBC news, Sophie is part of the first all female team attempting to cross Antartica later in November this year.   The team has just returned from 3 weeks training in the Norwegian Wilderness, where they have skied 463km and climbed over 6000m, pulling 50kg behind them (about 75% of their bodyweight).

In November, their 3 month journey will be cover 1,700km during which they will be battling temperatures of -50C with wind speeds over 60mph.    Some feat.   Follow them on twitter @exicemaiden.

 

Posted on in Editorial photography

Messums Wiltshire for Country Life Magazine

One of the things I love most about being a portrait photographer is the variety of my work, the people I meet, and the places I visit.   One day I’m photographing children, another adults, sculptures, interiors,weddings, etc.    One day I’m in Dorset, another Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire.   No day or commission is ever the same.

A recent portrait commission from Country Life Magazine took me to the new gallery, Messums, which has recently opened in the Medieval Tithe Barn located in Tisbury, Wiltshire.   Here I had the pleasure of photographing Lord Margadale, the owner of the Tithe barn and Johnny Messum the founder of the gallery.   I was also asked to capture the stunning interior & ceiling of the barn, and their inaugural exhibition of stone and bronze sculptures.

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