Natural Fashion

Showing posts with label Cabaret Carla Coulson. Show all posts

No Chance of the computers crashing

I actually went to this Indian office to ask permission to take a photo of their dye factory. The whole time I waited for the permission to come through I was itching to take a photo of the office. I feel totally in love with the accounting system, the airconditioning and the glorious portraits on the wall. The guy looked at me like I was half mad when I asked but as kind as ever he said 'yes'. So if you are somewhere in a office in front of your computer at least finding that document is just a click away. Carla x

For the Snow Fans

You all left such gorgeous comments abou the snow I thought you might like to see some more.. Another one of Place des Vosges yesterday. Carla x

Christmas

As an Australian I will never cease to be knocked out by an European Christmas. Christmas cards with images of falling snow and winter were as close as we ever came to a white Christmas as we frolicked in the pool on Christmas day. Though my eyes love the aesthetic of an European Christmas my heart wishes to bask in the Australian sunshine with my loved ones. These images were from my last white Christmas at Mas de Berard with the Archer family. The top one is Vicki Archer's beautifully wrapped Christmas presents and the bottom one the decorations in Saint Remy De Provence both from French Essence. Carla x

The Ones That Got Away

So many photos end up the cutting room floor when making a book. There are many different reasons why an image doesn't make it. Sometimes it is simply they can't find a home or jar with the rest of the images. These four images were taking during the making of French Essence and they all hit the cutting room floor. I photographed them all on film (T64) and then cross processed them by developing the postive film in a negative developer instead of the usual positive or trannie developer. The result is always unpredictable but often makes for beautiful images. The contrast becomes dramatic and the colours are pushed to new levels. I have always been a fan of cross processing and love this effect for fashion. These guys didn't find a home because the colours jarred with the rest of the photography but I didnt' take it personally. After all you can't have them all. I famously sent 1000 images to my publisher when making Italian Joy and over 700 hit the cutting room floor. I just couldn't decide!! Carla x

Mariage à la Parisienne

Saturday was a special day for me, in a small ceremony at the Mairie in the 4th arrondissement I married the love of my life, Francesco! This is a pic taken by the talented Loc Boyle of us on the way to the ceremony in the Marais. It was a magical day with much happiness and love. Carla xx

Window Light

I took this portrait using the window light in my loungeroom. I added a little reflection on the left to open up the shadows. Taken on my Leica M8 and converted to black and white with DXO. Carla

Three Generations - Naples

Copyright Carla Coulson Italian Joy

I took this pic on my first trip to Naples back in 2001. Naples was 'love at first sight' for me and a photographer's dream come true. I stayed in a small pensione (Italian B & B) in the heart of Spaccanapoli and found these women on my first day. I later got to know them and took them a copy of the photo. They were always so kind to me on every trip to Naples filling my pockets full of oranges and apples. Years later I returned to find the old lady had died, her daughter was still so heartbroken she could hardly tell me the news. She was part of special generation of Italians that had seen so much, worked so hard and treasured the small things in life. I remember her with fondness. The pic was taken on my old Nikon FE with Ilford 400 black and white film.

Boulangerie - Le Marais

I live in the heart of Le Marais in Paris and love this arrondissement. Once upon a time it was the Jewish quarter of Paris but is now shared with the gay community which makes it the most happening quarter in Paris. I took this pic at one of the local bakeries and just as I framed the door a Jewish man passed by. Merci Monsieur... Hope you like it. Carla ps Taken on my Leica M6 with tri-x 400 black and white film.

French Essence

A sneak preview from French Essence, Vicki Archer's new book on Ambience and Beauty in Provence.

High Kicks and Cabaret

I shot this cabaret pic in my 'old faithful' style. For years I ran around with a Leica M6 and rolls of neopan 1600 fine grained black and white film. I loved the combination, I had taken so many photos this way under numerous light conditions. I knew it backwards. I figured you could get a photo in a black hole (well almost). This photo was taken backstage at the Lido de Paris under pretty dingy lighting. I overexposed half a stop to keep the skin light, the Leica and the showgirl did the rest.

Memoirs of a Showgirl - Almost on the Shelves!

Any of you who read this blog regularly know that I have a cabaret obsession. I think its the combo of the feathers, the bling, the beautiful girls, the lights and that showbiz sparkle all wrapped into one. Very Austen Powers! Everytime I get a call to do a cabaret picture my heart sings and the showgirl inside high kicks.

Memoirs of a Showgirl is on the printing press at the moment, the story of my darling buddy Shay Stafford and her years at the Moulin Rouge and Lido de Paris. I can't wait to read it.

This photo was taken in her last days in Paris and this is how we did it.

1. We used a million dollar state of the art light system that would make any photographers heart beat quickly.
2. Rummaged through the 'archives' to find a costume that screamed CABARET.
2. Asked the Lido's lighting genius Guillame to hit numerous buttons till the lovely Shay was back lit a stop or two higher than the soft front lighting.
3. Guilliame then hit another button that kicked the smoke machine into action, you can see whisps of the smoke trailing off in this pic near the top left hand light.
4. We turned on the chandeliers to add more bling.
5. Then the divine Shay added showgirl sparkle.

If you want to check out some more pics and video's of cabaret put on your diamante earrings and hit this link Memoirs of a Showgirl .