Sultry Summer

So third year of uni is kicking in and it's stress mania! One of our first projects is competitions, one of which we had to find and choose ourselves. It was so hard to find one out there that inspired me and had an appropriate deadline. But, at last I came across the Company magazine's, Company Academy competition. Although the deadline left me just under two weeks to produce a concept, source everything, photograph and edit, I'm always up for a challenge and so went ahead anyway.

This may not be real life magazine worthy, and I will admit it's not one of my best pieces of work (photography and concept wise), but with the amount of time I had to do everything I will settle with the outcome. I want to thank Jemma Johnstone, my beauts model, as well as the boyf Richard who stood for the whole shoot holding palm leaves infront of the lights, and of course my mother who not only did the make-up, but also made us lunch and provided the school hall for me to shoot in. What our friends and family for hey!

Firework Night!

I am currently singing Katy Perry's Firework in my head whilst writing this post. After Uni grinding our gears as usual yesterday, me and Bethy hit the beach for the firework display, after being glued to Kepping Up with The Kardashians all day (i know). The display may have only lasted 13 minutes, (to be precise) but it was pretty good for a freebie on our doorstep! Due to literally living on the beach, we took with us a mug of hot chocolate each, as well as blanket and popcorn. We were wrapped up to the nines, with cameras in hand. 

Who doesn't love firework night!

Beth's OOTD

Coat - Topshop / Necklace - River Island / Top - H&M / Skirt - H&M / Boots - River Island

So, after yet another unsurprisingly stressful day at Uni, what better way to unwind than hit the beach, get some fresh air and sun, and of course take some Outfit Of The Day photos for the blog. Blogging this year has become a source of taking some time to myself, and to take my mind off the worries that is third year at Northbrook. I am really enjoying getting back into something, that is like a mini hobby/project in itself, no matter how few people actually view it. Ah the joys of talking to yourself!

It is noticeably getting colder down here by the sea, but another perfect excuse for Beth to whack out the amazing powder pink coat she purchased, as well as her new boots and new faux-leather skirt. The wind was slightly blowing, and the sun shining low in the sky giving great lighting and atmosphere for these shots. Again, I used no editing what so ever on these photos so I'm really proud. Especially as I now use my manual setting rather than the automatic one on my camera, meaning I have to set up all aspects, the aperture, shutter speed and so on to get the right look. As I say, "You Go Girl!"

Images taken and owned by me, Hannah Byrne

Studio Time - Section two

Dress - H&M / Necklace - H&M / Shoes - New Look

Skirt - H&M / Top - Zara / Boots - H&M / Ring - The Brighton Lanes

Coat - H&M / Headband - M&S / Shoes - Zara / Leggings - H&M

So here's the photo's of me taken by Beth last Friday in the studio. I have to admit I am more comfortable behind the camera rather than in front of it, due to not being a natural mover, as well as having one-eye-smaller-than-the-other syndrome. However, it was fun and great to get some shots of my recent purchases. 

I will admit I was going to return the red skirt as I started to question how often I would wear it. But after this shoot, it's a keeper! As you can see from this post, H&M is one of my favourite high street shops, along with the amazing Zara. As I was writing where all my clothes are from I realised my obsession, but it is one of those shops you can rely on to have what you need. At the Student Lock-in last Wednesday, apart from Millies Cookies (best cookies EVER), H&M was the only other store I took advantages of the discount. I was tempted in River Island, (although it was manic and they ended up not having the boots I wanted in my size), as well as Zara of course (but they had no discount!), but H&M was my only lover that night, and I'm sure if I had spent longer in there, my bags would have been fuller!

Photographs and editing by Beth Dowdell

Studio Time

Coat - Topshop / Leggings - Miss Selfridge / Top - H&M / Hat - H&M / Shoes - Valentino Red 

/ Ring - Vivienne Westwood / Lipstick - Kate Moss

 Coat - H&M / Shoes - Christian Louboutin / Top - H&M / Lipstick - Kate Moss (matte)

So, last Wednesday was Student Lockin night in Brighton, i.e. discounts off a number of stores, so students come and spend all your loans. Therefore with new stuff to flaunt, Bethany and I decided to book an afternoon in the white studio at Uni and take some Oufit Of The Day pictures for one another, whilst getting to grips with lighting and our cameras a little more.

Although, I have been in the studio before, as well as having my own mini lighting set at home, it was great to have a play around without anyone dictating to us the rights and wrongs. We had a great couple of hours and at the end an incident that left us nearly literally weeing ourselves with laughter. Ah good times. I hardly edited these images after the shoot, therefore I feel pretty proud of how the lighting and everything turned out. I am eager to get back in the studio though as I wanna get a bit more creative and maybe come up with my own concept and creation, getting more involved with styling and creative direction myself.

I LOVE Beth's new coat buys from Wednesday. THANK GOD she finally found herself a pink coat as she has been wanting one for ages now! It's great photographing Beth as she's not only photogenic, but she moves and poses making it an easy job for me to get some great shots. My OOTD images from our time in the studio which Beth took of me are on their way too. See Beth's blog here.

Photography: Every Girl Has To Have That One Dress.

Dress - H&M / Jewellery - H&M

It is really cool to be living with someone creative too, we've not even lived in The Cottage for a week and a couple of photo shoots have been taking place. I am really into my photography, from reading images to taking them. However, I have a lot to learn. And to learn, one must practice. We've got off to a good start, let's just hope it will continue! Here's too a year of practicing!

Following on from my last post of me wearing my H&M Paris Show Collection dress, here's Beth in hers! I'm quite jealous of this gorgeous buy, it was an amazing piece to photograph.

Photography & Editing by me / Model - Beth Dowdell

Photography: Bethy

Coat, H&M / Necklace, Primark / Top - Topshop / Sunglasses - Christian Lacroix

So now me and Bethy are housemates, we are officially the perfect photography, outfit of the day, creative partners. We have both solemnly swore to keep each other not only sane during this hard last year of tedious and hectic uni life, but also to motivate each other to get out there and do stuff. This starts with our promise of acting as each others personal photographers.

I love photography and taking photographs, however, I know there is a lot I need to learn about the whole process, (i.e. getting my head around aperture) as well as getting to know my camera more. So here I present you my first collaboration of mine and Beth's. 

Photography and Editing - Me / Model - Beth Dowdell

New Abode

Moved back down to Worthing this Saturday just gone, and although I managed to fill to full cars of my stuff (yes, there's still more at home!) it was the easiest uni move I've had! I'm living basically on the seafront, so although there's a salty smell as you open the front door, the views and convenience being so near town is amazing. Plus, The Cottage, as it is actually called is so sweet. I am living with fellow friend and Fashion Promotion Student Bethy! I am hoping we will be encouraging each other to work work work, as we'll need motivation in our third and final year. However, we are both currently sitting here, work in front of us, yet I'm blogging and Beth's on her phone. Maybe we'll improve. . . Hopefully!

Anyway, the sun was a shining down on heavens waiting room today, so I popped out (literally outside our front door) and took some photies of the scenery. I love the rainbow that formed due to the sunlight and water fountain!!

Village At War

As I said in my previous post, on Saturday I visited the Stoke Bruerne, Village at War weekend. Once a year the village dedicates a weekend to looking back into the Second World War era. From people dressing up in the full attire, to air-raid shelter demonstrations, music, war reenactments. fashion shows, and cars... It was quite a fun few hours out, and ended up being something that can go into my uni research file. Bonus!