Some projects begin long before the photoshoot day itself. They begin as a strange little idea in your head. Something that appears quietly at first, then stays there for weeks or months, waiting for the right moment to become real. This idea had been living in my mind for a long time: I wanted to combine things I had never seen together before.
Latex – Sensual, Feminine, Almost Like a Second Skin
A piece of medieval metal armor.
A long sword.
High heels.
And all of that in the middle of a blooming peony field. Maybe it sounds like a controversial combination. Maybe even a little unexpected. But for me, I wanted to tell a story about a woman who is powerful, but still feminine and sensual. A woman who fights for her dreams, but does not lose her feminine power. Someone who can carry a sword and still bloom like a flower. Someone who understands that nowadays you sometimes have to be sensitive and strong at the same time. Of course, everyone can find their own meaning in this story.
That is what I love about art. One image can speak differently to every person who sees it.
A Day in a Peony Field
The day itself started with a three-hour one-way drive. For many people, that sounds exhausting, so almost nobody joined my project. But when you have a crazy idea in your head, and you know you are finally going to bring it to life, even the road becomes part of the excitement. It feels like the buildup to something special. And when we arrived, the peonies were blooming perfectly. The soft pink colors, the structure of the flowers, the latex, the metal, the sword, somehow, all these different elements suddenly belonged to one world.
Because I love dreamy details, I also wanted to add candles and smoke to give the scene even more story and atmosphere. It was the end of May, and this year the peonies bloomed a little later than last year. That made the timing feel even more precious. We were there exactly when the field was at its most beautiful.
I am endlessly thankful to the farmers for allowing us to create in such a beautiful place, and especially to the farmer Sjuul, who allowed us to be in this field. Without trust and kindness from people like that, projects like this simply would not be possible.
After the shoot, we still had three hours to travel back home. We were tired, of course. But sometimes tiredness feels different when your heart is full. This was one of those days. A long road, a wild idea, a blooming field, and a story about strength, sensuality, and fighting for your dreams.
For me, it was completely worth it.
Photo: Taya Dulaeva
