“She wasn't looking for a knight, she was looking for a sword.“
— Atticus
The frozen mountains of Gwen’s homeland can be quite unforgiving… but so too can its people. From birth she was raised to be a noble warrior, as fierce as she was stunning.
As she came of age, however, she found herself fighting instead for her own autonomy—her adversaries the very same she’d once sworn to protect. Seeing no other option she was forced to flee her homeland, but vowed to return for her throne one day… with or without her people’s approval…
Character Inspirations
The stories of Gwenevere are inspired by strong women who, despite proving their competence, are still looked down upon by traditionalists. While Merida (Disney’s Brave) and Daenerys (Game of Thrones) make for fine examples, similar struggles can be seen all throughout human history.
Photography & Design
The faintly blue hues of the early morning light were a major focus for me during this shoot. After my work on Fayelynn I couldn’t help but develop a love for that perfect glow of natural sunlight… though its reflection off the white snow did pose a bit of a challenge at times.
Speaking of snow… while I wouldn’t normally wish for it, I couldn’t be happier with how some of the mid-flurry shots came out. Even if I had to rush to throw on my outfit, and the cold dampness kept me from shooting more than a few minutes… it was worth it. The dramatic tone it lent really helped tie everything together, you can really *feel* the chill of Gwen’s homeland as a result.
The Outfit
The bra, bracers, belt, and pauldron were all made by hand specifically for this shoot. With all the positive feedback I’d gotten from my first two shoots I couldn’t help but feel inspired—I even learned traditional sewing for the skirt! Honestly, my only complaint is that I couldn’t get my hair white enough in time and ended up using a wig…
I’ll admit, with how much skin was showing (and how easily I get cold) shooting outside had me worried at first… but with all those furs, it actually ended up being surprisingly warm! Heck, in the heat of battle it actually would have kept me quite comfortable—though I imagine even Gwen would still need an overcloak during travel. (Maybe next time ^.~)
