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ROSIE

Yesterday, I got a last minute opportunity to work with Rosie once again. However, things are now not the same. For those of you who like images of Rosie, prepare to question. I am sure some of you will love her new look, I am equally certain that some of you will hate it. You see, she is now blonde!

So I set off from home at around 7am, waking up before the sun and hitting the empty road with the prospect of a four hour journey to the midlands in front of me. I had not worked with Rosie since 6th August, 2014, and I was both excited and nervous about what we would come away with. As I drove through the Dorset countryside, the mist clung thick and grey to the trees, the grass verges and upon the surface of passing streams. The sun slowly began to burn its way through the haze and I wondered if I should stop and instead spend my morning taking beautiful images of a misty sunrise. The weather was perfect, idyllic; but I stuck to the road. A lot can change in a year and when you have worked with someone so many times before, you run the risk of becoming lazy with your imagery and never being able to capture the moments you once did. But I was determined to capture something different, something that was a little unlike what we had managed to secure before. Little did I know that when I arrived, I would be greeted by someone I barely recognised.

As I parked the car in the driveway, I was greeted, as always, by the pair of huge dogs that flanked my car on either side and through soppy eyes, dared me to get out of my car. I wondered if Panther and Bear would recognise me and I decided to be brave and get out of my car, walking straight up to the Rottweiler and making my peace. I think it took him a moment, but he definitely remembered me and both him and the chocolate coloured labrador escorted me to the back door. And there stood Rosie, everything about her the same as last time but with hair the colour of golden sands. This one change, this one difference causing everything about her to appear different. Like I said in my title, which I stole from Apple, "The Only Thing That Has Changed Is Everything."

You see she looks so different, and in some ways better. She looks more summery, softer and with a glow that I hadn't seen in her before. Before, she looked classical, almost serious, with a timeless appearance that fitted perfectly with crisp and contrasty images. Now, with a mere change to the colour of her hair, she is more ethereal, more delicate and with a dainty and gentle appearance. In some ways, she looks younger, more free. I never once considered taking images of her outdoors, under a melting sun, I didn't think it would suit her. But now, nothing suits her more.

And then came Carl, Rosie's fiancé. It was good to see him again and receive another of those python-like handshakes. Constantly coming up with ideas for us both, showing a passion for something he is not directly involved in. In fact, he shows an interest in everything he meets and I really like that about him. He is a gentle soul, with a rock like appearance and he is equally as calming as he is terrifying. He didn't stay long, but I am sure I will see him again soon; I hope so at least.

So the shoot began and between sets, we managed to get some "unofficial" images that I could share on here and other places. It started slowly and to be honest, I was unsure of just how to photograph this new Rosie. I know her so well, but how she used to be. I knew how to photograph that Rosie as well as I could, but this mark II version left me momentarily stumped. I wanted the images to be her, but not completely her. I have to admit, my first ten or so images of the 600 I took were not that good at all. But slowly I adapted, got used to her new appearance and began to make it work. Blond hair softens everything, makes the image appear less serious and it has to be lit differently. There is a warmth to all of the image that simply wasn't there before and her entire aura has the impression of tenderness. Whereas before, Rosie dominated every image that she was a part of, she now blends perfectly into whatever scene she is being enveloped by. She is no longer the most obvious presence in the photograph and this makes her all the more powerful.