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.
this was pretty amazing. thank you!
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replied: (on September 2nd, 2008 5:48 pm)
No problem!
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Sometimes I can’t believe Rosie’s idea… Her shots are fantastic!
Thank you internetjogging for the interview.. and lot’s of thanx to Rosie for her impressive photos!
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replied: (on September 2nd, 2008 5:48 pm)
Thank you from Internet Jogging!
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This comments thing is kinda crazy!
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I stumbled on Rosie at the very beginning and something kept me coming back while she grew into this extraordinary photographer. I can never comment because I am not a flickr member, but I love flickr.I’m sure there are many more like me who love images but for one reason or another, can’t take regular photographs. And I’m guessing that they all are fans of Rosie and Aaron’s. They both are very inspiring as are many of the flickr members. I love you ARF, I love you Flickr!!!
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They have a hole team of photographers and graphic designers working for then. This is just a marketing campaign like lonelygirl15 on You Tube.
The worst is that people believe in this “fairy tale”.
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replied: (on November 17th, 2008 12:29 am)
Oh? How did you discover such?
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replied: (on November 17th, 2008 10:50 pm)
Yes, care to share how you came to this conclusion?
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I know Rosie personally…and she is no fake.
Her work is fantastic!!
love ya Ro !! xoxo
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Well Rosie Hardy is fake.
She is fake like lonelygirl15 (and people really believed in her story on You Tube).
It is not Rosie that takes the photos.
You will discover the real story soon
Just wait and see !
Jade H. - I bet that you are Rosie Hardy with a fake identity
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Go petal your trash talk some where else. It would not make a bit of difference if it were true, It is great work. I love rosie and aaron and everything they share with us. You michael and bradley are probably liars and fakers yourselves and that is why you can’t imagine anything but what you live. Go crawl back under the webrock from whence you came.
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They are not creative at all !
They copy other people’s work and don’t give them credit.
Take a look here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33045548@N03/
They should be ashamed of themselves.
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replied: (on January 19th, 2009 10:47 am)
Where do you think inspiration comes from? Have you ever done anything artistic in your life? I have, and more often than not, I get my inspiration from browsing other works of art. I collect books, just for that purpose. A 17 year old photographer who has been browsing Flickr for several years, Of course they have used other peoples ideas. AND they have given credit to others many, many times, including naming 8 people in this article!! Did you even bother to read it, or anything that they have written? Dude, maybe you should Try this READING thing. And while your at it spend some time browsing Flickr yourself. A LOT of ideas are passed back and forth. Sometimes credit is given, and sometimes not. When I spend hours looking through the pictures, I don’t remember the name of each photographer. Flickr is a very unusual site. Everyone is respectful and supportive. The site was built around the idea of SHARING!! There are plenty of other sites ready and eager to accept your suspicion and criticism. Go to one of them. You will not find, or be supported with hate at Flickr or with Flickr fans. I think you found that out when you made your “I’m not here to offend anyone”, but I’m going to try anyway Flickr account. You said you joined Flickr so you could compare artists that inspire you?, yet the only thing that has inspired you so far was a lame comparison of 5 photos of Aaron;s and Rosie’s. I don’t have a Flickr account, but I have about 30 Flickr members bookmarked. You’re 18 and I realize you could be doing a lot worse things with your time. Just a word of advice, when you hate on others, that hate grows and festers inside you. Focus on the positive things in life, and you will attract positive things to you. Have you heard of karma?
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i’ve known rosie for ages and she is real, even though we havent always got on
i came online today and saw how popular she’d gotten on the web and was absolutely amazed haha, its mental.
saw her and aaron in buxton the first time he came up as well and saw them taking photos.
believe me, most of these are shot in a little town called buxton and we’d know if there was teams of photographers.
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Hello Laura,
I know Rosie is real.
I work for the company behind her project (but i cannot tell you the name of the company or i will be fired).
I do part of the retouching of Rosie’s photos.
We try to make that it look real and it works ! People believe their story is true
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replied: (on February 18th, 2009 3:03 pm)
I’m pretty sure if you really worked for them you wouldn’t be allowed to say you did in the first place, let alone not being allowed to mention the actual company. Go find another place to troll.
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replied: (on March 3rd, 2009 2:59 pm)
I think your sense of humour needs a bit of “retouching”
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I’m glad to see some posts from people who know Rosie. I don’t think anyone who spends any time at all on Flickr would doubt that. Their life is well documented with family photos and a lot of posting. I think one of the reasons Aaron and Rosie have become so popular is because they take the time to communicate. Many members will add a caption to their photo, but they don’t respond to any of the comments or questions. Most of us come to these and other sites looking for a connection of one kind or another.
Imagine…….
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Of course they take the time to communicate:-)
They Get Paid To Do it.
It is their FULL TIME JOB.
Please google lonelygirl15 and you will understand…
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replied: (on January 31st, 2009 8:28 pm)
I’ve seen lonelygirl, I’ve seen her on greek. Have you? I think she’s great too! Yes they get paid, just like many of the photographers on Flickr. Aaron has been going to school to learn this craft and he teaches online, for money (oh the horrors). They both Sell their pictures, AND THEY ADVERTISE IT! Of course they use the computer to help earn a living, almost everybody with a brain does. What is wrong with you people? oh, I bet I know, I bet the ones who are casting stones here are between the ages of 12 and 20. After all it is this age group who “knows everything”.
STOP, children, think before you speak (or write). WHY, do you want to bring others down? It is so much more fulfilling to support and build up your brothers and your sisters. Try it, for 1 week, when you want to say something negative about another human being, do the opposite. Find something nice to say instead. SEE, if it makes you feel different. We need Peace in our world. Start with yourself.
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PS just wanted to say again, what I said at the beginning of this. I DON’T CARE, if they are a real couple. I enjoy their posts and pictures. I watch TV for entertainment also. It doesn’t mean I have to believe everything I see is real. I cry at the end of sad movies too. I really think you who are trying to OUT Rosie, don’t understand. It’s not about being right. It’s about connecting with others, It’s about entertainment. It’s about creating positive thinking, and a happy life. I used to be like you. It has taken me many years to get to this place and it’s a good place to be.
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I would really like to know who is the professional photographer behind Rosie’s pictures.
He is really good and must have a lot of experience.
Anyone knows the name of the photographer ?
PS : I like their fake story.
It’s like a soap opera. Very entertaining
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Rosie’s photos (even the first one’s) are too perfect, for an amateur photographer.
I have a friend who is a professional retoucher (since Photoshop’s First version) and i showed her Rosie’s photos. She told me that Rosie could NOT DO THE WORK WITHOUT THE HELP OF A PROFESSIONAL.
Miss Aniela who is a Flickr member since the begining doesn’t have the time to take one photo a day and she spend days retouching an image !
And Miss Aniela has more experience in Photography and Retouching than Rosie who has been taking photos for less than a year !
When Rosie began uploading her first photos (and the fairy tale series) she was a FULL TIME STUDENT and a PART TIME WAITRESS.
So where did she found the time to take the photos and do the retouching everyday ?
Doesn’t she eat, sleeps, study ?
Is she a robot maybe ?
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1. no original ideas
2. good photoshop work
3. excellent marketing strategy
Guys wake up.
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I found a great blog called “Rosie Hardy Plagiarism”
http://rosiehardyplagiarism.tumblr.com/
That proves that Rosie Hardy blatantly copies other photographers ideas from her DeviantART favourites : http://rosiehardy.deviantart.com/favourites/
The worst part is that she sells the images, and claims her work as original.
She is a FRAUD !
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I think this you are all disgraceful and pathetic.
I go to school with Rosie. I’m not particually great friends with her. But I know some things for sure.
She is no fake. She fully edits her photos herself.
She took pictures of our ball and I actually watched her edit them.
Her relationship with Aaron is real. She is real. She is the sweetest down to earth girl.
Marketing stragegy?!
Are you serious? Why is it nowadays, as soon as somebody is talented and beautiful, people automatically assume they have other agendas, like a marketing stragegy?!
Is it really that unbelievable that she just sees photography as a hobbie and a passion?
And as for being a robot.. she is so devoted to her photography that she met with our Head Teacher to take off some pressure with her A-levels so she could devote more time to her passion.
Maybe some of you should grow up, & not be so jealous.
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To “Hello”. Why don’t you use your real name, if what you are saying is true ???
Can you prove that she takes the photographs herself ?
To try to defend Rosie Hardy is useless.
She has no credibility and nobody believes in what she says anymore.
She lIED.
She said that she didn’t saw the images that she copied and there are proves that she lied here :
http://rosiehardyplagiarism.tumblr.com/post/80580768/rosie-hardy-photography
Her career as a photographer is over.
Because people “google” the photographers name before hiring them. And her name is associated with lies and plagiarism now.
I’m sorry for her. But she is an adult and has to take responsibility for her actions.
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Ok so she made a mistake, were all human and we all make mistakes. Rosie Hardy made a mistake and I seem to think she has apologised for it. If she is as seirous about Photography as she makes out then I belive she can move on from this and hopfully be a better person because of it. I know the evidence is stacked against her at the moment but If she can proove she has originality there is no need for her to give up on Photography.
Keep going rosie, you aint finished yet!
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Don’t worry she/they will never stop.
She already uploaded a new image.
And people on Flickr don’t care if she is a liar and that she copies and sells other people’s work.
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So sad. People refuse to CARE that she’s doing this?? Yes, we all use inspiration; however, to blatantly copy an image, textures, etc, and pass them off as your own and MAKE PROFIT OFF OF THEM is ILLEGAL.
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I don’t think some people on here know the definition of “INSPIRATION”
Therefor I will give you the defintion: Ispiration: the process of being mentally stimulated to DO SOMETHING or fell something. As you can clearly see, unless your too narrow minded, Rosie was simply inspired to do those pictures. Have in mind she’s only 17 and she’s still learning. When you were 5 and in school you learned the alphabet by copying it, you learned to write by copying the teaches writing, you learned to count by copying numbers. So Rosie is learning the ways of photography by being an inspired and copying (in good way) the ideas of the other artists. There still her own if she was the model, and she used her equipment, and she pushed down the trigger of the camera. And if you want to critizes her lets see your creditials first, lets see your amazing photography. I personally think it’s pretty sad that you need a 14 year old to tell you the imaturity of your ways. So if you don’t like Rosie’s pictures so much why are you putting so much time and effort into her photography, and finding fault in it?
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You know I honest to God believed in Rosie when I first heard of her and Aaron on an MSN interview they had a few months ago…
But now I see that the two of them don’t care. I’ve emailed asking for lighting tips, aperture and shutter speed tips, and all sorts of other things! It really hurt me that neither of the two responded. I think it’s all a sham now and it really upsets me.
I’m trying to become a professional photographer and actually struggling with it all the while they’re making money off of being rude and not helping aspiring photographers.
You know what? I actually DID meet my boyfriend on the internet via http://www.flixster.com
He’s from Nottingham, England, and I live near Orlando, Florida, USA. So there’s a real story for you. We see each other every three or so months and he’ll be moving over here to get a job at Disney so we can live together. We’re having a lot of financial issues too! There’s no way that it would go that smoothly for them. So yes, Rosie? I hope America goes “tits up,” as stated on you’re Flickr.
Also, Aaron seems to be the only one of the two that drops the odd comment saying “I love you baby.”
Rosie is too centered around herself and this aloplecia bull crap is just so we can feel sorry for her and be inspired by her work!
What does she really look like anyway?
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If you love something very much, like photography, you’d be amazed how far you would go. It’s interesting reading the comments about how it’s ‘impossible’ for Rosie to edit and take the pictures all by herself. It’s like comparing someone who is an athlete. It’s like saying, it’s impossible for them to practice everyday, won’t they get tired? She obviously found the time to take and edit pictures, and what’s so wrong with that?
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People, you need to learn to read everything. Check the last and uppermost post on that plagiarism site…
“This was a marketing strategy to create more buzz around Rosie Hardy.”
Of course, this means you can’t really trust what they say - it might be another marketing ploy, but it does mean that she’s not plagiarizing things.
I’m giving it a 50/50 chance the Aaron above is the Aaron in Rosies life, continuing to work the marketing ploy that it was…
Also, boo hoo, they’re not helping you. You can’t go around expecting anyone and everyone to help you - the best way to learn photography is to go out and shoot. If you’ve sent them emails asking for a course, and they haven’t replied, then too bad for them, really - they’re the ones losing a customer, and there are plenty of free tutorials and courses out there. Wouldn’t surprise me if you can find the same sort of introductionary course for free at a local college, or local photo club, or something like that.
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