Behind the Scenes
A Cotswolds Shoot at Broadway Tower
Every so often a location does half the work for you. Broadway Tower is one of those places — and I recently had the pleasure of shooting there as part of a creative day organised by Alastair Currill, working with model Ivy Costumes. Here's a look behind the scenes, and why this corner of the Cotswolds is such a spectacular spot for a shoot.
The location
Broadway Tower stands high on the Cotswold escarpment, the second-highest point in the region, with views said to reach as many as sixteen counties on a clear day. The tower itself — a striking hilltop folly — gives you a bold, almost cinematic backdrop, while the open ground around it means huge skies and beautiful, uninterrupted natural light. It's the kind of setting that turns a portrait into something epic.
Working the light and the landscape
Shooting somewhere this exposed is all about timing and adapting. The light shifts fast on an open hilltop, so we worked with it — using the tower for structure and drama, the open escarpment for those big, wind-swept, wide-open frames, and the changing sky as a backdrop that did plenty of the storytelling itself.
The value of an organised creative day
A well-run creative day like Alastair's is a brilliant way for photographers and models to collaborate, try ambitious ideas and shoot in locations that take a bit of organising to access. My thanks to Alastair for putting it together, and to Ivy for being fantastic to work with in front of the camera.
Fancy a dramatic location shoot of your own?
You don't need to be a model to shoot somewhere striking. Broadway Tower is just one of many gorgeous Cotswolds settings within easy reach of my Swindon base — I've rounded up more of my favourites in the best Cotswolds locations for a photoshoot. If a bold outdoor session appeals, let's plan one.
Shoot somewhere unforgettable
Tell me the look you're after and I'll suggest the perfect Cotswolds setting.
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