Just as the sun streamed down on parade grounds all over the world it also shone on this photo shoot. There was a chance to be unguarded off parade and stand to attention for fill-in flash. The shutter clicked harmlessly as poses altered and images were created. The Coldstream Guards motto is “Nulli Secundus” and they are proud to proclaim themselves 'Second to None'. On parade the guards take position on the extreme left so they stand second to none. Here the subject stands in front of the camera and a silver birch tree and so is in front of both at the same time and behind nothing. The portrait setting is in front of all, but it is not intended to be second to none. The buttons on the tunic all show an equal arm cross, as a part of the Garter Star with the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense." Some believe that the founding of the Order of the Garter has roots in English folklore and even witchcraft. There are several ways to translate the motto some indicate "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it", but a more direct translation reads "Let he who thinks ill there be shamed." Sometimes it is rendered as "Evil be to him who evil thinks." Hopefully no evil thoughts have been created here. The finished images were set in to square frames featuring a tight crop of face, cuff and buttons. Some photographic witchcraft was applied and a stiff collar helped set the correct tone.
These photographs feature a tunic from the battalion but apart from the uniform there is no other link to Coldstream Guards.
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