time pieces
Deborah Selwood has earned her Associateship with a panel of Fashion & Beauty shots often given a distinctive period feel – seductive Hollywood-style lighting, 20th century costume, hair and makeup to match.
D
eborah Selwood’s AMPA portfolio had a split personality, with some
striking dance and themed stage make-up alongside a set of very glamorous costume fashion studies. Her Gecko Photogra- phy studio situated between the cities of Nottingham and Derby specialises in fashion, model portfolios, performers and artistes, and her business is thriving, with exciting plans for expansion well underway. It’s one aspect of the varied Associateship panel we’ve cho- sen to show here, as they make a great set and many use mid- 20th century props and interiors which are beginning to look like antiques.
They are also very much in tune with current fashion and should not be mistaken for a photographic exercise; this style sells, and sells to a visually aware affluent young market. Deborah’s roots in photog- raphy took hold from the other side of the camera, however. “I started modeling when I was 19, having been spotted, and worked with a number of fash- ion and commercial photogra- phers. “After starting a family, having lived and worked in the industry since my teens, I looked to taking some courses in photography in Nottingham. Just simple evening classes”. Having been introduced to
the MPA through the region as a guest at one of the print competitions, the standard and breadth of work made an impression. After two courses, and joining the MPA – “Saw the MPA stand at Focus on Imaging and joined on the spot – the work was breathtaking, amazing!” – she opted to follow courses available to members instead, looking for a deeper understanding of the business
MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY 32 and creative process.
Naturally some early experi- ences with darkroom processing and black and white film gave a good grounding, but then Deborah’s passion has always been fuelled by film. Citing classics such as The Third Man, these images are not a reaction to trends, but a fulfilment of a life long passion for the visual. The technical aspects of creating and controlling such shots are one area where Deborah’s passion has been fed and nurtured by the MPA. From mentors Julie Oswin (who took her though to LMPA) and Desi Fontaine, to the many courses attended during her career, these images are created with a professional flair.
She uses Elinchrom Ranger and Quadra location-friendly studio flash kits, Profoto beauty dishes… the investment in get- ting a precise feel is not just in equipment, but in the knowl- edge of how to apply it. The end result – as seen in these images – is bang up to date. Gecko Studios is now investing in a much larger property to meet the demands of commercial clients, hair and beauty publications, makeup artists and models as well as providing the creative environ- ment to allow Deborah’s vision to be developed. The MPA and the region’s role in her career is not under- stated, either. In the short time we had for an interview, Debo- rah’s gratitude to everyone from Head Office and locally within the Association came over repeatedly. Photography may be sustained through business and logic, but it’s born of emotion and personality; providing those foundations allows the photog- rapher’s creativity to shine. – Richard Kilpatrick
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