Woolly Head

Louise Walker, 21, is studying BA (Hons) Commercial Photography in Bournemouth and when her latest project appeared on our screens we literally squealed with delight.

The inspiration for this photographic series came from looking at past icons and how they were captured on camera.

Researching the work of photographers Edward Steichen, Horst P. Horst, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Irving Penn, David Bailey and Bruce McBroom inspired Louise’s project when deciding on lighting used and the poses of the models.

Each photo represents an era from 1920 to 1970, with the handmade knitted hair pieces, make up and casting influenced by actresses and vintage beauty adverts starring icons such as; Marion Davis, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, Fay Wray, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Britt Ekland and Farrah Fawcett.

The series is a continuation of Louise’s work with craft.  After she started knitting last year Louise knew she wanted to use it within her future projects.

“ I think because knitting does have a stereotype to it people are interested to see it in a more contemporary way, in this case – with the use of digital photography and Photoshop”

The hair pieces were made based on images found from individual eras, and as Louise generally knits without a pattern, she would make them as it felt right, then on the day of the photo shoot itself styled them on to the models heads. One took about five straight days of knitting!

[Impressive, no?!!]

“The vintage element lies mainly in the concept of the work, all the references I use for it and the amazing makeup artists I worked with, who understood what I wanted to create. The contemporary postproduction and colour palette contrasts the use of knitting, linking the past and present together.”

 
You can see more of Louise’s photography and creative range of knitting work on her website www.louisewalkerphotography.com.

This series will be featured in a Graduate Show 5 - 6 July at the Candid Arts Trust Gallery, 3 Torrens Street, Islington, London. Find out more information at www.fthirtyeight.co.uk