modus operandi = a particular method of doing something or in these difficult times it is a new way to find how to do things. No longer do we have the social gatherings and meetings of friends and family - instead we have to resort to Zoom, FaceTime etc. In this way we can all stay connected and that is important for our health and well being.

Being a photographer is being a creative and as such and as so many other creatives we can find it frustrating if we cannot fulfil our creative needs. So in these Lockdown times we can find it hard to keep our creativity stimulated. We have still life, the garden, self-portraits or when we are on our allocated exercise, and in these we can find some outlet.

I, however, having been trying something new, and being having a go at virtual shoots using FaceTime Live. The quality may not be as good as you would get with a DSLR but there is a sort of rawness to them.

I have found that doing these keeps my creativity satiated and the images can act as a reference point for future shoots. Working with a model I have worked with for years helps as there is already that rapport and an understanding of how we work. Together you can be creative and create some amazing images.

Starting indoors we made use of natural light and converting them to mono created some stunning images with a raw beauty to them.

model: Laura Helliker — model: Laura Caitlin

The next time we moved into the garden. Slightly more tricky as I am directing the model, the person holding the phone and checking out the location all from my computer. The light was tricky as well, but working together it can be done and again using a new modus operandi we created images with that sublime realness and rawness.

It is about finding a new modus operandi - a new way of doing things and for the time being the only way.

Things will change, we know that - the when we don’t know and even then there may be a new normality.

In the meantime………..

'modus operandi.....'

'baby steps....'

Normal times: strange times.......