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Oh Merlin, was a great shame you couldn’t have been with us this time. I don’t mean to make you jealous, but where else other then a R.E. location shoot do you ever get the chance to spend a week with the gorgeous Kate, Ariel & Paige, plus have Sammie, Amy & Sabrina all popping in too! Then tying them up constantly day and night and being served a never ending supply of coffee and cakes! God it was a lot of fun! It feels very odd returning to normal life again now, having spent the most amazing and surreal week with you all. Thank you Hywel for the opportunity, it’s very much appreciated.
Well done everyone for all your hard work!
Yay, the sample pics look great! Lot’s of happy memories there 🙂 The night shot with Ariel and the smoke is awesome!
Really looking forward to seeing the sets go up in due course.
Steve 😀
Oh gosh, sorry CD (and everyone else), that continuity error is entirely my fault! Doh! 😳 I hadn’t spotted it at all. I think when your editing videos like this, especially longer ones, you end up watching them through repeatedly so many times during the day as your cutting and overlaying each clip together, your brain can miss important bits like this. I guess a good solution is to complete the edit, then clear you mind of it for a couple of days. Then go back to watch it fresh all the way through to try and spot any errors.
But I’m glad you still enjoyed it! It was a lot of fun filming it 😀
Steve 😳
Hi Amy!
Welcome to the forum 🙂
Just been reading through your blog. That accident sounds awful. I hope your ok now though and wish you well.
YAY! I’m glad Hywel & Ariel have lots of plans for you! Would be great to see more of you on R.E. 🙂
Cheers
SteveDearest Ariel,
Yes indeed you are completely lovely in every possible way, there is no denying it. But that alone does not entitle you to automatic exemption from punishment. Just think of all the naughty things you could get up too if it did!
I also note, as Kate quite rightly said, you should at the very least apologise to Sophia. I see no such apology in your reply and clearly this is not forthcoming.
So in addition, Lurker’s idea of you being tied up in your least favourite bondage gear with a big red nose is quite apt! 🙂
Or even some tickling could be included to compensate poor Kate for the disparaging faces you made at her in the video. I’m sure Hywel will decide what is right when he returns.
Steve 🙂
Oh I see, so after Hywel has provided you with a lovely new home and studio, this is how you repay him is it.
Well, someone’s in a naughty mood aren’t they Miss Anderssen…..While the cats away, the slave mouse will play…..
Giving Sophia a big nose, hiding bondage gear and spending money on cake making machines! That won’t exactly go un-noticed will it!
In fact the mere suggestion of giving Sophia a big nose warrants punishment in itself. I’m actually in the middle of editing a video of Sophia right now, (in which she strips naked, hmm, yum) and she looks fabulous!
So, I think when Hywel returns, punishment must be imposed. Here’ my suggestion-
You will be stripped naked, collared, chained and gagged.
You will receive 20 strokes for hiding the bondage gear you don’t like and a further 20 strokes for suggesting a cake machine
Next, whilst you’re still chained, I think candle wax dripped over you will help cleanse your mind of these naughty thoughts.
Finally, I think Sophia should decide what your last punishment will be.Would anybode else like to add to this?
Maybe Hywel should have left you collared and chained to the wall whilst he was away.
Steve
P.S. you really don’t need a cake machine! I’ve tasted your home baking and it’s to die for! 🙂
Oh crikey, this is tough….Really tough….
It certainly takes a little while to download the full size Hasselblad pictures, and they are lovely! But I am on a slow speed broadband…. Boo…
At first glance, they do look very much alike. In fact, very surprisingly similar in all honestly, but I am viewing them on a standard flat screen monitor, not HD. For me, the only way I can tell any difference is in the detail. I wouldn’t know what else to look for.
So on close inspection, (even with my un-trained eye) things begin to look different. The Hasselblad images are definitely crisper – no question at all. But you have to look carefully at the fine detail to demonstrate this.
For example, in the two images above of Ariel on the bed, look at the rope around her legs. The bottom image does show more detail in the actual fibre twist on the rope compared to the top image, which almost looks blurred out. Once you begin to train your eye on that kind of detail, the overall image is much crisper and does look better. If it weren’t for things like that, I would seriously struggle to tell any difference at all.
I do agree that future proofing is very important and needs to be considered carefully. I’m sure lots of members have HD screens already, and the rest of us who do not, will probably have them by default when purchasing the next PC in due course.
Plus the 5D Mk2 may be ok now with a 50mm f1.4, but the generation beyond that starts to rings alarm bells against the lens performance, and the thought of spending thousands of pounds on an L-series lens comes into the equation.
So I think the bottom line is this dose come down to future proofing. All things considered, it may be hard to find justification for such an expensive purchase right now, if were to continue looking at images on a standard screens. But in time when HD is far more prominent, coupled with the 5D Mk2 pushing the boundaries on an f1.4, 50mm lens, the Hasselblad is in fine contention.
My only caveat at the moment would be to suggest trying out a 5D Mk2’s performance. Even if it’s just to satisfy curiosity before really making your mind up.
But I’m very glad (and jealous) you had the chance to road test a Hasselblad. 🙂
Steve
Hey, don’t feel bad, it’s a perfectly legitimate question, and a good observation 🙂
Actually, one limitation Paige definitely doesn’t have is her ability to always find lots of really great poses when she’s tied up. She used to do gymnastics so is incredibly flexible and never fails to surprise us at the positions she can get herself into!
Steve 🙂
Hi,
Paige is definitely a wonderful model and a beautiful girl, there’s certainly no denying that!
Every model has her own personal limits as to what she is prepared to shoot and how comfortable she is with bondage. Therefore limits are fully respected at all times and it would be wrong to ask a model to do something beyond that.
Paige doesn’t like wearing gags, so we would never ask her too. But I think she more then makes up for it, as her sets are incredibly sexy!
Cheers
SteveI agree!! (and welcome to the forum belly_lover)
She is a lovely girl and a great model to work with. I’ve recently done a couple of photo shoots with her so there’s plenty more sets of hers to come in the future on R.E.
Steve 🙂
Ah, CD….
There’s nothing quite like seeing you’re finished work go up on the site as a proper daily update! It’s a brilliant set, so well done you for trying something different!
Hope the R.E. smugness lasts for a long time ‘cos it’s a great feeling isn’t it! 😉
Steve 🙂
Erm, opps, sorry Sophia if I missed that one 😳 … But you do look really cute! 🙂 Not sure who shot that, it wasn’t me.
Lot’s more happy memories there from Sweden and I still don’t know quite what it is, but there’s something very special about seeing Ariel in then snow. Looking forward to that!
Great selection Hywel!
Steve
Hey, that was a great experience shooting video as opposed to stills! I think I LOVE video! It’s so different in many ways but definitely a little more tricky. Plus of course it was wonderful to see the models struggling in bondage as apposed to posing for still shoots – yum. 🙂
It was superb fun, so thank you Hywel for the opportunity. Just hope you’re happy with the footage we shot.
Plus I was very impressed with all the models acting abilities and felt deeply inspired by Ariel’s directing too. In fact, I drove home feeling very elated about the whole weekend. Can’t wait till 2009!
Glad you have broadband again Hywel and hope your both settling in well.
Steve
Ah !! LOL…..You are in a cheeky mood Ms Temptress!
Yeah, I’m the one on the left who needs to loose a few pounds and Merlin’s the one on the right with the dodgy eyebrows 🙂 (just kidding Merlin).
Steve 🙂
YAY, clearly another very successful tutorial!! Well done everyone and I have no doubt you all had a fantastic day!
I really like the contrast lighting in the first set and very glad to see you made use of that large ball gag for Ariel 🙂 Love the clothing choice too! Very nicely shot.
Ribbons CD !?!?!?!?…. I’ll come back to that in a sec 🙂
Beautiful blue dress in the 3rd set and a blue pair of handcuffs too!! Looks like Ariel’s really enjoying having her elbows tied together. Yum.
Hey, what a great looking suspension! And you got to make use of the bamboo pole Ariel!! 🙂 I’m really impressed with the simplicity of the rig too. Lovely poses and great pictures.
Right, back to those ribbons… Now I will admit, if someone said you were going to produce a set using ribbons as the bondage, I would be somewhat sceptical. But I have to say CD, with your idea you’ve made this look really good! Very elegant style, love the little touches like the matching ribbons in Ariel’s hair, and a very pretty tie with great photography. I guess poor Hywel suffered rigging this one but Ariel certainly looks like she’s loving it!
Great work by all!
Steve
I had started to write down my own comments to reply too this post, but I’ve just read through Kate’s and Merlin’s comments and feel their detailed replies combined with Hywel’s thoughts really cover exactly how I feel too.
Yes of course everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and not every set will suit everyone’s personal taste. But the key point here is to use constructive criticisms and not rude offensive comments.
I was in the forest when this set was shot and like Marlin described, the terrain was tricky to negotiate. Coupled with the fact were shooting bondage material and everyone’s safety is of prime concern, I think Svampen and Pling produced a wonderful set that’s completely in keeping with Retrained Elegance’s high quality and style.
As a photographer, I think Svampen has an excellent eye for taking images from unusual angles that produce beautiful pictures which are extremely eye catching. Having seen a lot of his work from Sweden, I wish I had his natural ability to spot those angles as it does give him a very enviable style to his photography.
Steve
Lol – I’d say that definitely counts Merlin! It’s a shame you couldn’t make it but we can always arrange another shoot with her in the New Year. I did tell her all about you though! 😀
Oh, sorry… Wont be able to make this one 🙁 Would have been lovely to chat to everyone again, but I’m out celebrating my wife’s Birthday with her family. I think my in-laws may find it a little odd sitting in their front room on the laptop chatting about bondage…. That would take some explaining….
Hope you all have fun though! 🙂
SteveLOL Kate, I agree you do have impeccable taste! It’s a lovely dress 🙂
Well done everyone! Hope you guys had a lot of fun seeing how the RE sets are produced. Love the second shot too! What a superb expression Ariel 🙂 Great photography all round and a nice rope tie aswell.
Steve
Hywel, I think it’s great you have put this together. Especially the point about every tie not being suitable for every person.
Respecting limits is paramount as that means everyone has fun! Starting off with the simple ties is certainly best. Even now, after having shot many suspensions for R.E., there’s no way I would ever contemplate rigging one!
Yikes! Hope you weren’t hurt too badly Soph, that’s awful if you had a bad experience.
Steve
Yee Ha! It’s great to see your suspension Sammie 🙂 You do look fab. That was quite a complicated rig so well done Hywel!
Arr, your most welcome Kate. I think its wonderful you can hold a reverse prayer and you look gorgeous too. You have to luv that ringflash! Hywel, have you ever used it in the studio for any sets?
Yum, Ariel in the snow and Elle in the swimming pool! What contrast but equally stunning in their own way.
Can’t wait to see the vid of Ariel and Paige too 😛
October is looking really good!
Steve 🙂
I agree!! I really liked it too.
I was hoping Ariel would end up as girlflesh after giving Sammie and Elle such a hard time! 🙂
Steve
I just LOVE the picture of Samantha Olivia-Paige chained to the bed (8th up from the bottom). She looks amazing! I’m not even sure why I like it so much. I guess it’s just a combination of a beautiful girl in chains with a wonderful look in her eye and a lovely golden glow. Just perfect 🙂
Steve
If anyone has an interest in photography, and can make it to the studio, then this is something you definitely do not want to miss out on!!!
Not only do you get to meet Hywel and the gorgeous Ariel, but also to see Ariel tied up and take photos of her in the Restrained Elegance style is surely too much of an opportunity to pass by!
Hywel’s expert knowledge and guidance gives you a great insight on how to take stunning images. You’ll be amazed at the results you’ll get.
Could not recommend these courses highly enough! 😀
Steve
Welcome back everyone! These sample pics and frame grabs look awesome! Very much looking forward to seeing the finished videos when they’re available.
Glad to see you all had such a great time, even if it did get a little hot! Looks like you stayed at such a lovely place and all the ladies look absolutely gorgeous.
Well done everyone! 😀
Steve
I have to admit, I don’t have a foot fetish at all. But like lurker, I definitely sit in the category of “if the model isn’t barefoot, she isn’t in bondage, she’s just… tied up”
So personally for me, I prefer the ladies to be in bare feet as I think it looks more submissive then wearing shoes / boots etc.
However, that was until Sweden! As Kate said, the house lent itself so well to 50’s style fashion and stockings. So if the sets are shot in the right context / backdrop, then I’m a definite stockings fan!
There are two examples that immediately spring to mind that converted me. It was Ariel at the top of the stairs in a beautiful white / blue stockings & suspenders set where she is subsequently tied to the banister post and Sophia wearing a gorgeous black/white striped lingerie and stockings set tied to a chair (sample pic can be seen of Sophia in the “Sweden” thread on the forum where Hywel posted a few shots from the trip. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see Sophia tied to the chair).
Those two really did it for me so now I’m a stockings convert if shot in the right context! For everything else, it has to be bare feet. 😀
Steve
P.S, Welcome to R.E. and the forum Christine! Hope you enjoy what you see.
Ah, phew, thank goodness for that. I’m very pleased to see your getting your edge back Kate. You had me all worried then for a minute as Ariel was really getting the sympathy vote. Shocking!
Steve 🙂
I’ve used a mixture of all 3 formats in the past, and never had a problem with any of them. Using iPod/MPEG4 works perfectly for me and I only download the full size files.
So removing RealMedia altogether makes sense to save on disk space.
Cheers
SteveYAY – a tickling video would be cool.
I was inside the house when Hywel started tickling poor Ariel’s feet in the hogtie position. I didn’t know this was happening at the time, but her screams and laughter were so loud I actually ran outside just to check she was ok because I thought something was wrong! But then of course I saw what was going on and decided not to go to her rescue after all. Sorry Ariel, couldn’t help myself but watching… 😛
So having seen that, I think this could be a rather dramatic video! Well remembered Auberon! 😀
Steve
It’s kind of impossible to explain just how great this experience was and how surreal it is taking part in an R.E. location trip. Can’t thank you enough Hywel for inviting me along to help shoot this! 😀
Spending the week in Sweden living and shooting bondage sets with all the models and photographers is unforgettable. It was a LOT of fun and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. If I think back on the week, I get wonderful images in my mind of the models walking around in the house getting ready for each set, then tying them up outdoors on the beach or in a field, scouting out locations finding places to shoot, being totally blown away by how beautiful the girls looked and how everyone worked so well together to produce this material and loving Ariel’s enthusiasm about making up story lines for each set and generally just hanging out with the team eating and drinking in the evenings reviewing the days work. But especially how weird it is to be in daylight at 2:00am that far North! 😀
Ariel, Sophia, Kobe, Pling and Kate look divine in those sample pics. Looking forward to seeing some of the finished sets over the coming months.
Well done everybody and thank you all for a week never to forget and I hope there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. 😛
Steve
Yeah, totally agree. I love Amy’s video too. It’s always nice to see new models in video shoots. I thought she did a great job, so well done Amy! Hope you’re able to do more video in the future.
Wow, the year has flown past!! LOL Kate, I remember you all teasing Hywel about having to suffer BB in France. You have my sympathy Hywel, I can’t stand BB either!
Cheers
Steve
