Anna Karenina (Анна Каренина) is the lead character in the novel of the same name by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and is the tragic story of a married aristocrat/socialite. The central plot is her life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky and is based in the late 19th century Russian high-society. The costume and mask in the shots below were created in 2013 for the annual Venice carnival by Manuelo Reichert and were brought to the UK specifically for this shoot at the Vyne which was organised by Mike Jones.
The Vyne is a 16th-century country house outside Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England and was built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain. The photos shown were taken using just the natural light from the windows with the ISO cranked up to 800-1600. I have kept the images ‘low key’ as I wanted to try and emulate the relatively low lighting levels of the period.
Links:
Manuelo Reichert: http://www.incanto-del-mondo.com
Mike Jones: http://www.thepixelpainter.co.uk
The Vyne: http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/manor%20houses/the_vyne.htm

Anna Karenina Panel