I once read an interview with Tim Burton in which he said that, before becoming a film director, he barely spoke. His film Edward Scissorhands was a direct reflection of that – centred around a character who has lots of feelings to express but no way to express them. Just as Scissorhands ends up using his razor sharp appendages to create soft and beautiful shapes, Burton uses dark and twisted visuals to tell stories that are often about broken or misunderstood beings. For Burton, every monster has its own point of view. We just need to be able to see it.
Inspired by Burton – and also in part from another great film auteur, Alfred Hitchcock – photographer Katriena Emmanuel brings us this series of images. The Tim Burton-like visual are unmistakable. Indebted to a mix of films including Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride and Sleepy Hollow, our dark heroine changes with each scene. Like Burton’s characters who are seen as monsters, she no doubt has her own story to tell – though for now it’s up to the viewer to imagine what that is.
Each outfit in the shoot – including the fantastical milinary pieces – is a bespoke creation by Australian designer Rebecca Cobbing. Cobbing created the sweeping gowns of black ruffles, fishtail stripes, and blood red trimmed in black velvet with Tim Burton in mind.
View the full shoot, starring model Caity Sanderson and with hair and makeup by Carolina Rojas at the gallery above.
For more of Katriena Emmanuel’s work head to emmanuelphotography.com.au.
