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The images above were with us on set as inspiration for both the model and us. They are by Jan Mansy www.janmansy.com/fashion.html. The ballerina model uses movement to make the fabric seem alive around her. The trails of fabric allow the viewer to feel the sweeping movement of the models limbs even in a still, 2D image.

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The heavier fabrics didn’t work, they couldn’t be lifted by the fan and they masked the body/face rather than interacting with it. We could make interesting shapes with the heavy fabric, but then the image just becomes about that shape.

We were looking for:

1. Interesting shapes within the fabric

2. An interaction between the fabric and the body

3. Movement in the fabric

4. Features of the body/face pushing through the fabric

5. Ethereal qualities, catching the fabric in mid air

The model brought a lot to the shoot, she has had some runway experience and as a result is very aware of her body. This meant she had confidence to run with our ideas, and would take the initiative to try her own ideas with the fabric as well. She is also over 6ft tall, which really adds an elegance to her poses and accentuates the lines produced by the fabric.

It was very different working with a model with that kind of experience, she was very creative, and most importantly she wasn’t concerned with looking ‘pretty’, it was all about trying to get what we were asking of her and thats really great to work with. Justina definitely added a new dimension to our collaboration, and we were happy to give her some of the control at the shoot, much more than we previously have with models.