Flower Power
2 Personal Photography Projects
Like a well rounded wardrobe ranging from casual throw-ons to meticulous coordinates, having a variety of ongoing personal photography projects to draw inspiration from and work on suits Keith’s curiosity, creativity and collaborative drive, as well as his pedestrian New York City lifestyle that includes daily walks with Kuma, our black Lab.
Two of Keith’s personal projects are highlighted here: one collaborative and one still life.
The Redhead Project
It’s the collaborative, iterative process that makes Keith’s personal work on The Redhead Project so much fun and fresh for him—12 years and counting.
Molly has arranged flowers since she was a little girl, and loves to give them as gifts. She likes a whimsical arrangement with lots of different textures. Her usual approach at the green market starts by asking herself questions: What’s fresh? What’s fanciful? How can I mix a few and create something special?
She deconstructed a little bouquet of white flowers with floral shears as Keith captured her in her element. The three of us brainstormed ahead of time the styling considerations, such as color for pop, floral tools and accessories she uses: apron, twine, string, ribbon, and burlap. She’d grabbed sunflowers, too.
Thanks to the power of preparation — including a brainstorming session after Molly came up with this and four other concepts that tell her story— we had plenty of props to work with. And Molly’s close friends Genny and Jonny lent their creative eyes and hands to the styling.
Keith suggested tying the burlap—which Molly sometimes uses to tie bouquets—over her eyes to suggest that she loves and can arrange flowers with such ease she could do it blindfolded.
It turns out this “mask” was also fitting, as Molly considers flowers her superpower.
Molly’s four other photoshoot concepts:
Fun fact: Molly, who is Irish and Scandinavian, was born on St. Patrick’s Day (she’s the only redhead in the project to hold this distinction!)
The Redhead Project went viral after being featured by CNN Interactive and in The Guardian (featuring, among others, Molly’s portrait with the collar!)
For more information on the project, please visit redheadproject.net.
Are you a redhead who can relate to Molly’s flower power? Or other traits? Are you interested in telling your unique story through The Redhead Project?
Reach out to participate in studio in New York City or remotely wherever you are in the world.
The Final Bow
Inspiration is everywhere, in places so commonplace it can be easily overlooked. But that’s where Keith found the idea for this project: on our windowsill perched these wilting flowers.
Comically top-heavy with theatrical, moppish wigs, the beautiful, wispy dancers on the windowsill arched and swayed, preparing to take their final bows for Keith’s iPhone.
This personal series led to two commissions: an article in Cosmopolitan Magazine and a book cover.
View more of Keith’s work at keithbarraclough.com.
And if you are not a redhead but are interested in working with Keith to tell your story through personality portraits, by all means reach out to keith@keithbarraclough.com!
Thanks for reading, and see you here soon.
Kate
Love The Final Bow series. Beautiful.