Following a Friday night battle with commuters to get from East to West, Saturday on Crosby Beach dawned blessed with the kind of low winter light unique to this time of year that, when it happens, is breathtakingly beautiful. 

Standing looking out to sea with Gormley’s evocative statues for company, the view only got better when a giant suitcase was wheeled out of a van and a stream of chiffon, feathers and a lone resin swan unleashed.  Time for a workshop with Rosie Hardy, conceptual photographer and all round lovely lady.

As a wildlife photographer, shooting models is always a completely different experience (this time last year, I was lying in the dirt doing my best to ignore the particularly pungent smell of seal afterbirth whilst photographing during pupping season), but one nevertheless that remains great fun – particularly when the concept is so striking. Chelsea, fantastically cheerful in a tiny tutu on a windswept beach, posed patiently in icy water for us all and managed to make everything and anything unbelievably graceful.

So here are some of the results: