It started in December when my friend
Paule Monset called me to talk about a crazy proposal. Which is totally normal coming from her. She explains she met a photographer :
Mr Cana, and his partner with whom he started a collection of photos staging the four seasons, beginning with autumn. The next set would of course be
winter, into the snow, an enchanting scene based on
blue and white tones.
I take a look at their
Facebook fan page and discover gorgeous pictures, including a few I had already seen before without knowing the author.
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| "Fall Lady" by Mr Cana |
Paule tells me she thought about me for a synthetic dreads hair dress, and that they were all excited about the idea of adapting the character of Frozen with dreadlocks and unusual clothing and jewellery. The shooting would take place by the end of January, at Mont Ventoux (south of France).
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| Le Mont Ventoux |
The time limit seemed very short, but I was really motivated and couldn't wait to learn more about this partnership, and most of all : meet the whole team.
First appointment on Sunday at Paule's, with Mr Cana and his partner. The image gets clear : the model has to be tall and skinny, with blue eyes and pale skin. Paule will be in charge of making different dresses, and Mimi (Mr Cana's partner) will deal with the make up.
We agree on a blond wig, with some white and polar blue dreads. I also offer to make a set of jewels with aluminium and steel wire : the watchword is a cold and metallic aspect, with a tip of light blue according to the hair. The wig will have to be quite thick to create volume, because the dresses will be very long and look like "tubes".
Once the outfit is set, back to work. Fortunately given the period to make all of this, I had already done a blond wig a little while before. I just had to make about ten more dreads and install them on the wig, and adjust some blond dreads on front so that the fringe would look more natural, thinner. I also had to shorten some braids on top.
At first, making the blond wig already took me about twelve hours of work : making the dreads one by one, install them in a specific way (quite different than directly on hair), for a natural and homogeneous aspect. And all the little modifications to do still took me three more hours, but it didn't matter : I was really satisfied of the result, the wig was transformed, it was a completely different hairstyle.
And after having a look around a craft shop, I equip myself with aluminium wire of different gauges, metallic blue, silver and white, and some transparent beads of different shapes. I make different styles of necklaces and bracelets, which could go hand in hand with each other in order to create volume. Easy to set on and move if needed, depending on the rendering.
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| Before |
After
The week after, new appointment, at Paule's again, with Camille the model this time. Fitting starts and the project materializes. Paule gets her measures and will pick later different fabrics for the dresses. Then, she tries with wig and jewels : everything stick together. We have been announced that Sonia, the owner of a beautiful Saarloos wolfhound, will participate with her animal Enyeto. And then, it becomes even more magical.
After some pancakes to get over our emotions, the afternoon ends with the make up. If the weather is okay, the shooting will happen next Sunday, at Mont Ventoux. Not to forget : a tent, snow boots, woolly hat... Our day promises to be physical and tiring, but we were in a sunny mood !
Meanwhile, we decide to leave the day before, and to find a rental on the spot, in order to start preparing, try the whole outfit, and most of all : spend a good evening together !
Few days before we leave, we discover the dresses made by Paule, which perfectly correspond to the project. Such a work ! Especially when we realize the period she had to think of it AND make it !
Finally on Saturday night, we arrive on the spot. We are about ten and there is Enyeto : love at first sight !
A splendid animal, impressive but extremely sweet and patient. We also meet Nausicaa who studies cinema and who will film our adventure and make us a making of !
The very evening : fitting of the different dresses, last modifications, installation of the wig and jewels, and finally make up. And we all can't wait to see the final rendering on the spot with the photographer's eye !
The next day morning, after a rich breakfast to be prepared against the temperature, we load up the cars and here we go !
The model is dressed up, only the make up is missing : it will be done once we will have settled the tent.
The roads are sinuous and grow up to the summit. The view is beautiful, first a pine forest on both sides of the road, which become more and more snow covered. Such satisfaction to see the snow again ! Citizens and living in the south of France, my partner and I are not used to see so much !
Once everyone is parked, Mr Cana and Mimi go to explore and find the best place, about ten minutes far, on foot, into the snow, with a climbing part. Everybody start to carry the equipment (tent, electric generator, photo equipment) to the chosen spot, by doing several trips : let's just say we needed a couple of days to recover !
Enyeto had nothing to do with all of this, and had fun playing into the snow !
Then, we settle the camp, and have a quick brunch while the professionals prepare camera angles and set the scene.
Enyeto steals the show : walkers are amazed to see such an unusual pet !
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| Installation of the tent |
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| First shots |
At last, the time comes to start shooting. Every action must be quick, because Camille, in light clothes, can't stay outside for too long. Enyeto is invited to participate and acts very well as a model : it's not the first time he has his picture taken as a guest star !
Backstage
At last, the photos !
It was finally the fastest part. Mr Cana shows us some extracts on his camera, the result will be awesome, without doubt.
The wind picked up in the middle of the afternoon, everybody is numb by cold, and we must dismantle the camp and go back to the cars. Each of us uses his last strength in order to pack as quick as possible.
Anyway, we are finally in the warm of our respective cars, we all drive back home : Tarascon, Arles, Montpellier, and in our case Nîmes, about one and a half hour far from there. We were dying to sit on our couch with dry socks and a hot coffee !
It was hell of an adventure, the result is beyond my expectations, everyone was motivated, stuck together... Thanks to Mr Cana and Mimi for trusting me in this project, to Paule for introducing me to them and for her lovely dresses, to Camille for playing along in the cold, to Enyeto for his hugs...
Thanks everybody ♥
Waiting for the rest of the pictures and the making of ;)
The whole team :
Mimi Martin : Make up artist
Camille Basset : Model
Nausicaa : Making of video
Guillaume, Mickael et Gillian : Extra arms and happy mood !
Thanks to Sonia and Mr Cana for backstage pics, and Paule for the pictures of her dresses.
