Nell Gifford & Perlo by Andrew Fox

Nell owned an ethical circus in Gloucestershire.

Andrew Fox took a series of more standard portraits of Nell standing by her horse, Perlo, in the stables and of her alone in her caravan. To finish off he wanted to show her riding Perlo. They found a small field and Nell did some circuits.

The light was pretty drab and the photographs uninspiring. Standard stuff of rider and horse – until the wind blew. I’d come in a little closer and lower on a wide-angle lens placing Nell and Perlo’s head against the sky.

In the sudden gust, the flowing hair and mane created a sense of movement. This was the only time I’ve phoned a commissioning picture editor and said “I’ve sent you one. You’ll see why”.

 Nell (Eleanor Rose) Gifford, circus founder, and ring mistress, born 24 January 1973; died 8 December 2019