Woman, 36, who lost mother to brain cancer creates breathtaking fantasy land photo series in her memory
- Kirsty Mitchell’s Wonderland series has been three years in the making
- All costumes, wigs and sets were constructed on a shoestring budget
- Some images took up to five months to create
- She would often wait an entire year to find the perfect natural setting for her shots
She retreated behind the lens of her camera and created Wonderland, an ethereal fantasy world. The photographic series began as a small summer project but grew into an inspirational creative journey.
‘Real life became a difficult place to deal with, and I found myself retreating further into an alternative existence through the portal of my camera,’ said the artist.
Kirsty, 36, who has a background in fashion and costume design, collaborated with hair and make-up artist Elbie Van Eeden.
Both were in full time jobs so they spent evenings and weekends creating props, wigs, and sets on a shoestring budget and shot in the woodlands surrounding Kirsty’s home in Surrey.
Kirsty developed a deep bond and respect for the locations in which she was working and strove, through her pictures, to ‘remind others of their forgotten magic and beauty’.
She became fascinated with pockets of wild flowers such as the bluebells that would appear for only a few brief weeks of the year. In some cases, she would wait a full 12 months so she could shoot costumes matched to the vivid colours of nature.
All the characters came to me in my dreams,’ she explained, but she delighted in the chance to step into the scenes for real: ‘after all, it’s not often you get to stand beside an eight foot princess in the rain, or witness the dawn with a dancing circus girl on stilts!’
The resulting images looked so hyper-real that it was assumed that they were created in Photoshop. Many people believed the photographs were shot all around the world, when in reality they were taken in locations within short drives of her Surrey home.
So Kirsty began to write diary accounts and blog behind-the-scenes shots about the creation of each photograph. ‘My aim was to portray time passing, an unsaid journey through four seasons, incorporating every colour in the rainbow.
As things progressed, her costumes became more elaborate with the props and new characters often taking up to five months to create. ‘The project blossomed into our own private playground,’ she said.
Her three year labour of love is now almost complete and there are plans for an exhibition and accompanying book: ‘I just know that the day I see my mother’s name printed on the inside cover of the Wonderland book, it will feel like I have finally fulfilled my promise to myself and her precious memory.’
It’s 1.33am here in Singapore and I am totally exhausted from rushing my deadlines at work that I havent blogged for 2 days now, but I am so inspired and touched by what I see I had to share them here. Such beautiful artwork and so much love put into it. I wonder if its possible for someone like me with no fashion background to create something this wonderful?? I have such great admiration and love for these talented creative people. I really hope one day I will have the opportunity and honored to meet these talented artists/designers; to talk and listen to their inspirations and to learn from them. Not that I can ever compare but I did a little photography work in memory of my baby too and I understand the feeling and inspiration one does get in creating that photo series in her memory.
12 Comments
HAha it’s 1:22 in London. You’re doing better than me.. I’m just vegging out and trying to catch up on what’s been happening in my inbox! I still am not getting your updates it seems but I have no idea whether there’s some support contact thing on WordPress…after recommending WordPress to one of my friends who uses Tumblr, I’m a bit concerned now! I hope they fix this soon. It’s not fun missing out. I’ll let you know if I find anything – please let me know if you have any solutions!
u are an late owl too! hahahaaaa i’ve contacted wordpress and am waiting for their reply. i will get back to you once i hear from them! =] xoxo
These are wonderfully fascinating! Wow! Kristy’s story and her work is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
hi abuchon, welcome to my blog. yes, her work is soooo very inspiring and touching. i feel so much just by looking at them. thanks for dropping by, hope to see you around. =]
Gorgeous photos
i couldnt agree more and so very inspiring!
Great post and really beautifulllll photos !
Every picture seems to come alive… Way too beautiful.
Kristy’s photos are INSANE. So inspiring, I can’t believe how well her fantasies translate into photography! Thanks for sharing x
hi, elliagars1… yes, they are INSANE!! i couldnt agree more on how well she manage to capture and translate her memories and love for her mother and the fantasies into pictures.
Wow, absolutely breathtaking! Some beautiful images there. I live in the UK and know the Surrey countyside can be really picturesque at times but these photos are stunning! I wish I could take photos like that! A real wonderland. 🙂
hey Claire, it still gives me the goosebumps whenever i read the post again. its crazy! i wish too that i am able to take pictures like this. all the hardwork and time spent on creating that perfect picture. amazing is an understatement. =]