Friday 18 July 2014

1950s Hats After Nightfall...

After the natural light outside faded, we were still excited and keen to take more photos, and had a gorgeous vintage telephone and a mirror to play with, so we kept going.

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

We managed to do a lot better in this artificial light than we expected. The detail of the hats, especially the all black one, don't show up too well, but the overall effect was wonderful.

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

As a lover of the slightly-creepy, I was very inspired by these images. Although I don't care for all-out horror, especially gory things, I love things that are subtly unnerving and shiver-inducing. I read old ghost stories and classic murder mysteries, and I'm slowly working my way through Hitchcock movies.

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

As we took photos, stories started to unfold. Each photo inspires me with multiple ideas. Is this a grieving widow adjusting her veil, or a sorcerous witch about to raise her eyes and weave a curse?

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

They feel like stills from a thriller movie. Does she still have time to call for help at this point, or has she left it too late?

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

Taking these mirror shots was fun and fascinating. I had a go at taking photos in this shoot, and the camera would sometimes focus on the reflection, and sometimes on the real person. Most of these successful shots were taken by Mel, with me styling and directing from the sidelines.

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

I love everything about this shot. The wing-like shadows from the mirror, the perfectly frozen moment in time and the intense look on her face. I'm pretty sure her reflection means her harm.

Red velvet fifties hat with veil

We also got the red velvet hat into the action. I love how beautifully the front and back detail can be seen at once in this shot, and the tight grip of the gloves on the phone.

Fifties hats

While editing these (I use picmonkey) I couldn't resist playing with effects, including some from their various Halloween themes.

Fifties hats

Is Dee shocked at discovering that Mel has been listening to her conversation, or has she just heard something that will upset their plans and is silently conveying this?

Fifties hats

I'm pretty sure this is a poster for a movie about two sisters, but I don't know if they are in it together, or if it is about the evil sister plotting against the other.

Black velvet fifties hat with veil

Here is the black hat in the daylight, where you can see the detail better. It is covered in ruffled black velvet, with a full-face black honeycomb veil and a dangling chain and pendant on the left side, which drops lower and further forward than the other side.

We enjoyed this so much that we are planning to do a thriller/film noir/Hitchcock inspired shoot again. I've started a Pinterest board for photoshoot ideas if you are interested. I'd love to hear any ideas for spooky photos that you might have.
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9 comments

  1. very pretty I love the details

    retro rover

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  2. Great photos, so much atmosphere in them. Such lovely hats.

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    1. Thank you! The photos were a lot of fun to work on.

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  3. That's a really fun shoot, I love both the idea behind it and the final product. That black hat is seriously gorgeous, as is the shot of you staring straight ahead (so intense!) with the "good girl" on the phone behind you. Very creepy.

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    1. It was a fun shoot! I'm glad you like the hat and the photos (although that's not me - I'm not in this shoot!)

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    2. Oops, my mistake! Excellent work nonetheless.

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  4. Evocative, creative shoot. There is a great film noir vibe swirling like leaves in an autumn breeze through these lovely photos - and it bolster's the black hats' mysterious allure all the more. Wonderful work on this shoot, ladies!

    ♥ Jessica

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    Replies
    1. I'm lucky to have great people to work with and everything fell into place like it was meant to be for this one.

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