Rosie Hardy is a 17 year old photographer from Buxton (near Manchester) in the UK. She has been working on a series of images that tell the stories of what goes on behind the scenes with the women of fairy tales. She was kind enough to answer a couple of questions about the series.

How long have you been creating photographs?

I’ve been at it everyday for the last 4 months - not very long, but I’ve been lurking through Flickr and looking at other photographers for years. It’s like passing your driving theory test before you start up the driving lessons to me. Good preparation
Do you have another profession - or are you solely an artist?

I’m a full time student and a part time waitress! However, photography comes before both of these!

What inspires you?

Tim Walker is a huge inspiration. His fantasy and imagination are incredible and I really aspire to be as good as him one day, with a mind like his. Bansky’s political and ethical messages through his artwork was an inspiration for my Fairytale series for sure! And artists on Flickr - >Benoit P, I.Anton, Vorfas, Chrissy White - just to name a few. And of course my boyfriend, Aaron Nace - he’s an incredible photographer.

How did you come up with the idea for the Fairytale series?

I was playing around with my hair extensions and thought it would be “cool” to clip them together, so they looked super long like Rapunzel’s. When I did the shoot, on an off chance I did a pose with my arm in the air, and when I looked through them it really stood out, and looked as though there may have been a story there. When I decided it was her escape, suddenly all these ideas started coming at me with other fairytales! I couldn’t resist doing a series.

There are a lot of facts and statistics included with each photograph - when coming up with the idea for another photograph does the statistic inspire you or a particular fairytale?

Usually, I try to think of an issue first. Abortion is one I would like to cover, and then I will try and think of a suitable fairytale character. However, its hard thinking of a representation that will not offend people or undermine the issue.

Is the model in each photograph you?

Haha, yes they are all me! The series is part of my 365 days self portrait project I started four months ago - all I was looking for when I joined flickr was a place to put the 365 project because I liked the layout of the sets. The 365 project was just a way for me to practice photography everyday - without having models available it can be hard, but I was available, and I don’t charge myself, plus I don’t have much of a social life it seems! The advantage of having yourself as a model is also that you can keep shooting until you get the shot you are looking for. Plus there is usually no one else about to see you looking kinda silly in fairytale costumes!

Do you have a photograph that is a favourite from the series?

My favourite so far has to be Its Hard Being Ugly, Sister - purely because it is so personal to me. I lost my hair through stress last year, so wearing a bald cap was a very strange and good experience. I also tend not to show alot of emotion in my shots, so to let rip and just embrace ugliness was fantastic.

Is the series still a work in progress? How will you know/how did you know when it’s complete?

When I can’t think of any more fairytales!!! I’m already struggling! I may move on to including Disney too, because it’s so much easier and less stressful knowing a little about what your next shot will be like. Given that I only have a day to think up the shot and idea, find a location and costume and then take the damn thing, I think it’ll be complete when I think of something better to do with my time. And money.

Check out Rosie’s fairy tale images on her Flickr to see some of the stories and inspirations behind the images. Or on the site she shares with her boyfriend - www.nacedesign.com.

Every Friday internet jogging features an artist, series or something special Chelsee finds while scouring the white, pink and blue treasure trove. We call this the Friday Flickr Feature.