Elle Jones model in the style of Norma Jean Baker shoot

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During our last visit to see my parents I managed to watch a film on Netflix called 'Blondie.' I had previously heard some music from it and had downloaded it, so was curious to see the movie. It is a bio pic of the life of Norma Jean Baker (aka Marilyn Monroe). While not the greatest film I had ever seen it was not that bad either. This is despite the film getting a critical panning and a Golden Turkey award for its troubles. It did however contain some very sexually graphic and disturbing scenes that were both pertracted and uncomfortable to watch. Especially that is when your Mum is in the same room watching it with you !!! But it did show Norma Jean Baker as a very troubled and lonely woman bereft of a father figure in her life and early death. Very human with all our complications and far from the sex symbol and icon she has become today. So in the end it is quite a moving film in many ways. Norma Jean certainly did not deserve the abuse and treatment she got at the hands of the men in her life, Hollywood or the press. Sad.

Anyway, film critique aside, it did get me thinking of doing a shoot along the lines of some of her most iconic looks and pictures. And to this end I needed a model to pull this off … Enter fashion model Elle Jones.

Elle Jones and I had been contacting each other regarding doing something together in the studio for a long time. Since way before COVID came along, so I thought she would be perfect for the job. And she was. While not a blond like Marilyn, these images are not so much a carbon copy but rather a 'In the style of ….' look. Elle was brilliant and slayed the job completely. Shadrine at Kavour Beauty provided the hair and makeup and Phil Lynam provided the studio and lighting. Amy was as always my assistant. So I would like to give a big thank you to all there and for making these Elle Jones in the style of Norma Jean Baker pictures worth a second glance

February Flower Update

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Here are some flower pictures Amy and I created this month after visiting The Brambles Florist a few days before. We got to shoot a tulip flower this month which is a sign to me that spring is around the corner and with it a good variety of beautiful flowers to come. Thanks as always to our friends in the Brambles Florist, and Flowers To Yours, Chris and the ladies. Thanks also to Amy for her help.

That's it for this month. I hope you enjoyed it and come back again soon.

X

January Updates and welcome back for the New Year 2023.

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Welcome back to Lujon Rael Portfolio, I do hope you had a great Christmas and New Year?

Amy and I spent some quality time with my Mum and Dad down at their place in Northamptonshire, so it was just nice to have a scene change and to see them both again.

Aside from that it has been fairly quiet this month. Mainly on account that its too bloody cold and everyone is skint after the Christmas binge. There has not even been a trip up to see all my friends (?) at Clinic 8 for a change, although I am now getting appointments to see me a few times this coming February. Oh what fun we shall have, I Can’t wait !! Better things to look forward to this coming February is another shoot with Aasiya Azeemali who we last snapped in November. This will be a head and shoulders beauty shots of Aasiya wearing a few different hijabs and makeup provided by Shadrine from Kavour Beauty.As well as this,a second shoot later in the month with new model to me Elle Jones will take place. The theme of this shoot is a nod to the late Norma Jean Baker in style. Both shoots will be held at The Boardroom Studio in Derby.

It only leaves me to say I hope you enjoy this months offerings

x

Commercial Update

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This January I got out and about to photograph some bouquets of flowers for Valentines day on location at Brambles Florist. It was great fun. If a bit cold, but nice to get out for a change. Thanks then to Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist for their help and cups of tea on the job.

Still Life Update

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Just a little something new taken back at the very end of December in my desktop light tent. A very high key still life in blue. There was only one of it so not a huge amount of stuff to show here this month, but I am pleased with the outcome.

Monalisa First Shoot of 2023 'Fashion 30

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There was not supposed to be a photo shoot this January as I needed a rest, but I got itchy fingers. No that does not mean I went out shoplifting, rather I called up my old fried Monalisa Moyo to see if she was up to an impromptu shoot at my house. And she was thankfully.

These pictures were taken in my sparse bathroom which is safe to say is not the parlay Ritz, but with some powdered milk in the bath water and on a cold day outside, we got the task done in one take. Thanks then to lovely fashion model, my friend, Monalisa Moyo for her time.


Project – 'Noir et Blanc' Update

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In a town called Rushden, there is a great shopping complex called 'Rushden Lakes.' I love going there as there is this shop called magazine heaven or something like that and its the only one in the whole of the UK. Its packed to the gunnels with magazines of all types. I normally buy a few fashion pieces (of which there is a lot the choose from) for future shoot inspiration. Needless to say, it great there. They also have a little cafe on the first floor that serves up teas and coffees as well as food. The cafe has an ambiance and charm all of its own that I tried to capture here in this section, from the counter to the lighting and tea pots.

So another thanks to my parents for introducing us to the shop. X


Project – 'Lujon Fressonique' Update

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I had intended to do some more of these styled images at the December shoot with model Mercybongo, but never got around to it. So its back on the flowers again for this time and a new cream background, rather than the old sandpaper I photographed it against in previous sessions.


Project - Abstract' Update

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On the abstract theme again, I snapped some things around my parents house like their kitchen blinds and clothes bin because of there patterns and abstractness. Since that time I have not done any more, but I shall remedy that I hope this February. So more to come I hope.

Project – 'Landscapes' Update

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While being away this last new year time I managed to go out and get some landscape pictures done with the help of my father. I do not get a lot of opportunities to do this, due to medical reasons so it was nice to indulge. Northamptonshire is not the most dramatic of landscapes (unlike Derbyshire), in fact its nearly as flat as a witches tit, but you can still get some interesting views and I hope I have captured a few here?

Thank you Dad for the day out. Loved it x

January Flowers Update

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We have started the year off with a great showing of new flowers from our friends Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. A lot of white going on this month and viewers may think my eye sight has completely gone when they see blurred pictures. But this is not the case.

I have simply smeared a UV filter on the front of the lens with Vaseline to give it that dreamy effect. Picasso had his 'Blue Period,' so I can have my 'Blurred Period.'

Thanks again then to Chris and the ladies at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours and a mention also to my wife Amy for all her help.

See you all next month.

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December Update Christmas and my continuing adventures at Clinic 8

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Welcome back to the final blog update of 2022, and how the year has gone fast.

As of writing this blog, Christmas day (or Mariah Carey Day as I like to call it) is past and building up again for the a rival of the new year. I already have some shoots booked in for doing in February when things start to come alive again, as well as some appointments in Clinic 8 … a place where all your dreams do come true and of which I am a frequent flyer! At the start of the month I visited my favourite clinic to have laser done on my left eyeball. I have had it before and it is a drawn out procedure of some Doctor zapping you with his laser gun. This session I was stuck with a young Doctor who thought he was Roy Rogers or Quick on the draw Mcgraw He zapped my into oblivion, shooting from the hip. Now its safe to say I do not like laser any more than I like being at Clinic 8 in general. Laser is up there with root canal, colonoscopy, cervical smears (so I am reliably informed!) and the odious pleasure of having a small camera rammed down your knob! As perceive as it may sound, I actually prefer injections into my eyeballs as I am used to it and it is over very quickly. Unlike laser which is thirty or more minutes of agony and torture.I hate it and recoiled in pain when he would not stop zapping me after I told him it hurt, only then and after I gave him a string of experlatives did he finish inflicting pain on me. Saying that he guessed I did not like the procedure, top marks to that man for working that one out all by himself! So for the new year, my new years resolution will be a simple one …. NO MORE LASER !!! It should not be a hard one to keep.

Collected here on the website and blog are some much better things I have done this month, including getting to work with the lovely Mercybongo model She was a real treat and we got some great stuff to finish the year off with. I will be back in the studio come February 1st, for a second shoot I have planned with model Aasiya Azeemali. So roll on February.

Thanks then to Phil Lynam at the Boardroom Studio for his help. To Shadrine at Kavour Beauty for all her makeup work. To Chris and the ladies at Flowers To Yours and the Brambles Florist. A special thanks to my long suffering wife Amy, and to you all seasons greetings

.Enjoy the blog.


Commercial Update

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Instagram is a great resource for watching people create images and I am taken by how many are helpful enough to show you how to do product photography. Its just a pity that the majority of Instagram is 'bots' trying to defraud you out of money with Bitcoins, or asking you to look at semi nude photos of women and all the other bullshit.

I hope you enjoy the New commercial stuff.

Digital Art Update

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Just a few digital art special I made from six of the images featuring Mercybongo at our recent shoot. They are a mixture of flowers and model, I do mean to get back to doing a bit more digital art as I had been doing when Covid came along, but its getting inspired to do it. Maybe in the new year?

Mercybongo First Shoot (but not the last!)

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I finished of the year in the studio with a truly great model who is reasonably local to me and happy to have weird ideas run past her for shoots. Mercybongo is a lovely African lady who put herself to out of the way the day before the shoot and have her hair specially braided at Shadrines Beauty Salon This help enormously as on the day Shadrine could weave small pieces of rope into her hair.

Mercy was a pleasure to work with and we already have plans lined up for more shoots in the new year so I can not wait. The big rope was supplied by Phil Lynam at the excellent Boardroom Studio, so a big shout to him. As well as a thank you to both Mercy and at Kavour Beauty.


*NEW* Project – 'Abstract'

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Here is another new project I have started and its one that litreages me. I have already touched on it a bit in other projects, but here is its own folder. Abstract or Abstractism is something I am drawn to because I like symmetric patterns it can throw up. Featured here are some random stuff to start with like a radiator, some silk cloth and a weird designed building in town, now sadly vacant.