Behind the shoot: ‘We can capture so much beauty with our own hands and eyes’

While most of us were concentrating on staying warm during the recent cold spell, some very talented and creative souls were out braving the freezing elements, all for the sake of their art.

Model Shannen Woods, from Midleton, along with Cork-based photographer Andrey Boratynskiy, from Ukraine, both experienced hikers, set off on a two-hour trek up the majestic mountain of Carrauntoohil in the knowledge that snow would soon be falling.

Their mission was to capture some dramatic photographs and showcase clothes designed by West Cork-based Alice Halliday.

This was not the first time that Shannen had worked as a model for Alice, who has designed clothes for some well-known musicians, including Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, as well as numerous Irish musicians such as Biird, Anna Mullarkey, Laytha, Aine O’Gorman and Victoria Keating.

“Shannen and I had built a connection through working on a collaborative photoshoot in October featuring my bridal couture with photographer, Elisa Babkina, so we were already in regular contact through Instagram,” said Alice.

“She contacted me less than a week before this shoot, outlining that she and photographer Andrey had been planning to climb Carrauntoohil for some time to get some dramatic shots. She asked me if I had a suitable dress, ideally long, flowing and bright in colour.

“I had an ‘ah-ha’ moment and sent her photos of this red outfit, which was still only half made, but the vision was so exciting and inspiring that I got to work right away! I somehow managed to get the look completed in two days and posted it to Shannen in Cork!

“It arrived the next day, and everything came together in perfect timing.”

The white snow-covered landscape could not have been a more perfect location to highlight the glorious crimson colour of the clothes from Alice’s most recent collection, named ‘Shakti’, which means power, creative energy and life force.

Alice’s flair as a designer, coupled with the talent of both model and photographer, certainly bore testament to the collaborative achievements of all three.

Preparing for the shoot was less about fashion and more about practicalities.

The chosen route was one taken many times before, and the duo ensured they were properly attired for the conditions.

“Andrey and I left at 6am, driving towards the mountain,” recalls Shannen. “As we got closer, we could see the snow resting on the mountain beneath the dark sky.

“I was wearing all my hiking gear, carrying Alice’s clothes in a bag, a flame halter top, Phoenix skirt and the Shakti shrug, and off we set hiking.

“Just as dawn began to break and the first light started to come through, the snow started to hit.

“We knew that this was our moment.

“I quickly changed out of my hiking gear and into Alice’s outfit, and Andrey went to work with the camera.”

As well as being a model, Shannen is also a yoga teacher and runs retreats in Cork city.

The breathing techniques which she has mastered through her yoga practice helped her enormously to endure the cold air of the mountain.

“Breath is a tool we can all carry with us, and slow breathing sends a calming message to the nervous system,” she said.

The whole shoot took 11 minutes, and Shannen felt exhilarated working in collaboration with Andrey, whom she praised for his calm presence and intuitive approach, which enabled the vision to be realised of what she and Alice wanted to achieve.

“The shoot became an act of presence - working with the elements rather than against them. That’s ‘Shakti’ to me. Creative energy in flow - powerful, intuitive and alive,” she said.

“I wanted my clothing to embrace this creative life-force energy through sheer free-flowing fabrics, soft sculptural silhouettes and delicate detailing, as well as creating statement pieces designed to empower,” said designer Alice.

“I love the idea of using red because it feels so alive and powerful, like blood pumping through our veins.”

When they had captured the photographs they wanted, Shannen and Andrey warmed themselves with tea from the flask which they brought with them, and then it was back to Cork city to develop the photographs.

Alice was absolutely thrilled when she saw the pictures which they had captured.

“I was blown away when I saw them; they are incredible, breathtakingly beautiful,” she said.

“I felt deeply moved, emotional and full of gratitude. Shannen is such a goddess and a superstar, braving the elements in the freezing cold, wearing the thinnest fabrics, and Andrey is so talented with such an amazing eye for composition and detail. I love how these images are both so powerful and so graceful.”

The beauty of the natural world has always been the wellspring for Alice’s inspiration, and many of her collections have been showcased against the backdrop of Mother Nature.

She incorporates vintage materials into her bespoke couture and has always been a champion of sustainability. She cleverly repurposes fabrics into beautiful creations, such as a wedding veil made from a lace tablecloth, adding a pearl earring which might have once belonged to the bride’s grandmother. Each piece is unique and personal.

Her work has been featured in the New York Times’ ‘A different version of Make do and Mend’, focusing on her forward thinking in sustainable fashion.

“I work solely with reclaimed and vintage materials, mostly scarves, shawls, tablecloths and doilies.

“This collection, ‘Shakti’, is focusing on mainly red, blue and black fabrics, with some lighter neutral elements. The outfit worn by Shannen is made from lengths of light-reflective red organza, which was a gift from photography stylist Ann Marie O’ Leary. The fabrics were left over from some of her styling projects, so she kindly passed them on to me.”

Although Alice has shot some of her collections indoors, natural backdrops are her preferred choice.

“Growing up in the beautiful countryside of West Cork has meant my surroundings have always been such a huge influence on my creativity.

“I feel that it’s only right to have my work photographed against the raw and rugged Irish landscape. You can’t beat natural light and a breeze blowing to really capture the ethereal elements of my designs.

“Nature is my forever inspiration!

“I am now looking at human nature as well as the natural world and how we are linked to nature through cycles and seasons.

“I was actually reading a book , Wild Power, while Shannen and Andrey were shooting on the mountain, and it felt so fitting.

“It’s all about the menstrual cycle and tuning into how we can radically change our lives by syncing with our natural rhythms.

“The whole collection is inspired by this concept, and I really wanted the garments to embody this wild feminine energy.

“My aim is for the wearer of my clothing to feel empowered, more confident, in touch with their body, their true self. “

These days, as more and more images are generated by AI, it is worth reflecting that there are many creative artists such as Shannen and Andrey who give their time and effort to the creation of beautiful work, and they should be nurtured and celebrated.

Alice feels that this is a concern.

“Some people actually thought that the images from this photoshoot were AI, which is both interesting and slightly worrying,” said Alice.

“I’m really not keen on the use of AI especially to alter photography, art and fashion, but it’s so commonly used these days that it’s often hard to decipher what’s real and what’s not!

“I think it’s vitally important to keep pushing the boundaries in what we can create in real life, and to show the world what is possible.

“We can create and capture so much beauty with our own hands and eyes; this should be highly honoured and valued.

“We mustn’t lose sight of how much passion, time and skill artists and creatives put into their work.”

• See https://www.alicehalliday.com/