Medusa

As part of my ongoing exploration into drag and make-up artistry, I like to add a little pizzazz to my fancy dress ensembles. As I have endeavoured to achieve every year, I should add. Although the creativity displayed lately by many amazing Instagram accounts has inspired me to be ever more ambitious with my chosen themes. Among my current favourites are @artbeautychaos from Bournemouth, and @ben.seagren from Colorado, both of whom go above and beyond the normal realms of make-up.

For this year's Halloween look, I'm fusing horror with gilded glamour, as I re-imagine the mythical Medusa with a gaze that turns enemies to gold. I must confess I'm not adept at constructing fully-fledged costumes, therefore I focus more so on face, face, face! This particular look is inspired by my growing obsession with gold make-up, and an especially snazzy pair of Twisted Tailor snake-print trousers. If Versace made monsters for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I'd like to think this wouldn't be far from the final cut.

Visit my Instagram for a full list of products used in my Medusa look

Bournemouth University Summer Ball 2013: Part II

Louise O'Mahony, Brighton Fashion Week

Katarzyna Konieczka, Brighton Fashion Week

Tracey Cochrane, Brighton Fashion Week

Jylle Navarro, Brighton Fashion Week

Bournemouth University Summer Ball 2013

The Summer Ball is coming...

Tickets go on sale today for Bournemouth University's Summer Ball - a one-day music festival, in which 7,000 students get drunk in the sunshine and frolic about in some of the best homemade costumes you will ever see. Because this is my final year of university, you'd think I would put down the camera on this occasion and join in with the festivities. As if. I'm a workaholic, remember?

What I find the funniest about the whole Summer Ball experience are the stares from the residents of Bournemouth town, who can't quite fathom why there are young men and women dressed up for Halloween in June. There ought to be signs in the weeks preceding, warning the general populace of the impending oddities.

(If you are a student at Bournemouth University or the neighbouring Arts University Bournemouth, you can grab your early-bird ticket - plus up to three guest tickets - from the Poole House atrium, or online at www.subu.org.uk/events.)

Victorian family, Boscombe Vintage Market

Edith and mother Jessica were dressed up in keeping with Boscombe Vintage Market's recent Victorian theme. Edith wears a steampunk costume, while Jessica - who I have photographed at the market before - has sourced her outfit from charity shops.

Masquerade

With thanks to Nicki of Bournemouth Vintage, I was invited to the Masked Evening Salon at the Russell-Cotes Museum, where the lines between fashion and costume were blurred in Steampunk and Venetian masquerade.

Naturally, I wore my vintage military jacket with a gold mask. My attire, like most of the outfits and costumes at the gallery, seemed appropriate for the beautiful venue. For a few moments, it felt as if I had been transported back in time.

IKKONIK VINTAGE JACKET / TOPMAN BELT / PRIMARK TROUSERS / TOPMAN SHOES

Convention of the Dead

Earlier this week, an independent film production announced they were in desperate need of zombie extras. Hence last night, I was cast for a short scene in a hotel, and following twenty minutes in the make-up artist's chair, I joined the ranks of the living dead...

It really is crazy what a touch of make-up can achieve, although I am not sure "corpse" will become the new beauty trend any time soon. Under the spotlight, our zombified visages became ghostly and frightening. Our fresh wounds glistened, our bruises were dark and our stares were hungry.

The zombification was for comedy-horror 'Convention of the Dead', set at a science fiction convention in a Bournemouth hotel. Filming will continue for the remainder of this month, while the final movie will be released in early 2013.

You can find more zombie portraits on my Halloween Filckr page and also on Facebook. In the meantime, keep an eye out for more spooky-themed blog posts this month.

Camp Bestival

Rick is a morris dancer, however describes himself to be "darker" than the more
commonly-sighted white dancers - "We don't dance around with handkerchiefs."
His battered top hat is decorated with sea gull feathers he found on a beach, plus a
variety of pins he has collected, including his father's bowling badges. His overall
style is perfected by his mane of hair, and gingery moustache and beard.

Bournemouth University Summer Ball 2012

Unlike last year's shindig, I was made an official photographer for Summer Ball 2012. Here are my favourite fancy dress costumes and moments from the day...

Brighton Fashion Week ~ Celia Arias

Charged with theatrical glamour, 'Brighton Frocks' is the first catwalk for Brighton Fashion Week, showcasing the very best in costume and alternative fashions. The vanguard collection for this year's show came from Celia Arias - freelance stylist, costume designer and visual artist. Her beautifully surreal designs left me amazed.
(Learn more at: www.celiaarias.com)

Star Wars Day ~ Dorset Troopers feature

May the 4th be with you! Today is Star Wars Day, and to commemorate, I have had published a feature on the Star Wars themed voluntary group, Dorset Troopers, who
I photographed and interviewed at Pokesdown's Valentines Fayre back in February.

Dorset Troopers at Pokesdown Valentines Fayre.

The published version of my feature can be found in the Daily Echo newspaper, in which it has been sub-edited half to death, and includes a byline of "Troy Kent". How the names Troy and Joseph look or even sound alike is beyond me. I was pleasantly amused by my coursemate's response on Twitter (@OscarTollast): "If I was a sub-editor with a sense of humour, I'd at least change your first name to 'Clark'."

The original and full version, however, can be found beneath the below image, plus a page layout in the design of Telegraph Magazine, which I created as part of my final 2nd-year university assignment. This feature includes quotes from Dorset Troopers, PDSA pet chairity, and Julia's House children's hospice.

New journalistic alias, perhaps? Misspelt byline in the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

Oliver Twist, Boscombe

Geoff and Joanna are performers in the Milton Musical Society's upcoming production 
of 'Oliver!', which the pair were promoting in costume. The musical will be held at the
Regent Centre, Christchurch, from Wednesday 18th until Saturday 21st of this month.

Occupy/Anonymous, Bournemouth University

Since its feature in 'V for Vendetta' (2006), the Guy Fawkes mask has become more 
than simply a costume prop. Instead, it is a frequent symbol in political protests, in 
particular the 'Occupy' movement, who have presently set up camp at Bournemouth 
University. Thus rather than snapping stylish students on Friday, I photographed 
Occupy member 'Levi', whose full identity remains a mystery beyond his first name. 
The masks, I suppose, add a touch of glory to the idea of revolution, encouraged
greatly by 'V for Vendetta', but has there become too much of a stigma?

Journalism coursemate Charlotte Foot interviewing Levi for The Bournemouth Rock.

Dorset Troopers, Pokesdown: Part III

"If we can make one child happy each day, that's good enough for us."

(Official website: http://dorsettroopers.weebly.com/)