Nicola Harris

film / digital / retouching / photo journal

Wild Spirit: Festival of Friends 2023

Fujifilm X-T3 | 35mm

Oh, Baby! Productions: Baddie November 2023

Nikon D750

La Dolce Vita: Girl On Your Mind

Canon EOS 300v | Portra 800 | 35mm

I'd only ever heard of The Winchester Hotel before my friend Alex called me up about his latest fashion film La Dolce Vita.

"I've got something cooking," he told me, buzzing. He was fresh off The White Lotus binge train, as we all were, and looking to draw inspiration from the show's unforgettable duo Mia and Lucia of the show's 2nd season.

Arriving at the hotel and glimpsing through the foyer into the expansive courtyard, I could see his vision in an instant. The checkered marble, bougainvillea vines reaching up to the blue sky, the palm trees soaring in the breeze over the swimming pool; It was all there, lavish seaside perfection.

With linen, marble and silk compositions, high-thread count sheets and bubbling fountain sounds texturing the air, I fell in love with luxury that day; I think we all did. Steady as she goes, the shoot sailed along like the sea breeze brushing in through the windows of our suite.

Models Lila and Steph wore bespoke items made by boutique fashion brand Girl On Your Mind.

Oh, Baby! Productions: The Art of Duplicity

Canon EOS R

The address to the 'Secret Speakeasy Bar' was sent to me not one hour before our planned shoot - a thrilling start to a work day indeed.

After giving the doorman the secret password through the grate, I was let into a densely packed space, filled from floor to ceiling with antiques, furniture and professional women in various states of undress. Each was busy applying makeup, hinging their outfits together with clasps and unpacking textured props and costumes adorned with feathers, sequins and velveteen luxuriosity.

"It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!" is a sentiment shared by host Baby Ray at the start of each show, as a gentle warning to the audience to kindly return any items of negligee that happen to be flung in their direction.

As we went to work, with producers Baby Ray and Pillow Talk guiding me with a clear creative vision, we found a beautiful balance of composition and colour for each artist, highlighting their personalities and flair for the dramatic.

The experience left me with a newfound love for the Art of Burlesque, and those who keep its alluring flame alive in the Mother City.

Geoffrey Muller on Chapman's Peak Drive

Nikon D810

Around 4:30 pm, my neighbour Geoffrey took me for a Sunday ride in his 1987 Porsche 911 along Chapman's Peak Drive.

Geoff is a full-stack developer, with a long-standing passion for cars. Specifically vintage ones that go fast. Leisurely as the winding road, he described his early ventures into motor racing and the "petrol-head" scene.

"There's something special about driving an old car on an old road," he remarked. I agreed. He took every corner with authority and ease. "A hint of danger sprinkled in is always fun!" he added steering the car this way and that along the narrow single-lane, zooming past the wall of sedimentary rock flanking our left with inches to spare. To our right, the sheer drop to the ocean was pure blue shimmering magic.

Around half-way, we pulled off onto a small view-point parking spot. With Golden Hour upon us, I took my chance to capture some moments of Geoff bathed in the glorious warmth of the sun, as weekend cruisers passed us by, slowing to take in the view around the bends.

Wendy Fleurot at Sea Point Promenade