"Phoebe and the Farrier"

Some time ago now, months, maybe a year or more, I was having another look at a great book I have and one image in there struck me as being a great idea for a photograph. The book, by David Hockney, is called “Secret Knowledge”. It is a big glossy hardback in which David discusses how mirrors and lenses have been used through the ages by artists to ‘capture’ images for their painting. It is a fascinating read. The image in question was painted in 1645 by the French artist George de la Tour, a follower of the great Caravaggio and is titled “St Joseph the Carpenter“.

Now that one painting had grabbed me, I started looking at other artworks in the same manner, for inspiration in my own work. Wouldn’t it be great if somebody wanted a portrait doing in the style and, to a certain extent, the setting of a bygone age. I happened to discuss this with a good a friend of mine and he said he would love such a picture of his daughter and she would be thrilled. So we made plans, but due to other commitments and twists of fate, it has taken quite a long time for all of us to be available at the same time. We managed to get together on Saturday afternoon and shoot the image. Phoebe, my friend’s daughter, is very keen on her horse riding and hopes to have one of her own one day, so I decided to swap the carpenter for a farrier.

Many thanks to Berriewood Farm for allowing use of their building and horses. Also to John Preece of Uppington Smithy for modelling as the farrier, and to Phoebe’s mum for bringing her along.