LARA JADE PEROU Sam Jinks EMILY SOTO 1
CONTENTS Cover Photo / LARA JADE 2
Editorial / So Chic by Arkadiusz Jankowski
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Editorial / Seeing the Exotic in The everyday world by Ashish Chawla
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Featured Artist / Anton Bundenko
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Interview / The Talented PEROU
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Interview / Tal Peleg
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Editorial / Reflection by Clauss Castro
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Featured Artist / Realistic Oil Painting by Eric Zener
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Interview / The Feminine Focus of LARA JADE
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Editorial / Oriental Home by Ewa Sawicka Ewalds
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Featured Artist / Jenya Vyguzov
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Interview / EMILY SOTO
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Editorial / The duchess and the wolf by Jimmy Bollaerts
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Editorial / Blue Sunday by Liselotte Fleur
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Interview / NINA ATHANASIOU
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Interview / Sam Jinks
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Interview / Stine Mo
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Editorial / wow by Arkadiusz Jankowski
FLAWLESS TEAM Director Samson Ogunshe Director / Graphic Design Ricky Woodside Subeditor Mags McMonagle Contributing Writer Carlotta Buosi Junior sub editor Nasreen Osman 2
So Chic Photographer / Arkadiusz Jankowski Stylists / Aleksandra Cegielska / Dagmara Matyas Make Up / Magdalena Giszterowicz Model / Maria Konieczna / Gaga Models
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Ashish Chawla Seeing the Exotic in The everyday world 8
Ashish Chawla is a fashion photographer who began his career as fine art. After spending time experimenting in this area he finally decided his passion was photography. During his seventeen-year career, his work has included advertizing for, Nokia, Vodafone, Airtel, Honda, Hyundai and Barclays. While his Editorials include, Marie Clare, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Verve, BBC Top Gear. Fashion photography however, is according to Chawla, the one genre of commercial photography that brings him closest to fine art, and allows him the maximum amount of freedom. He has expressed that fashion photography for him allows the most scope for experimenting and styling. With the inspiration for his fashion shoots firmly rooted in cinema and fine art, Ashish Chawla, seems to pride himself on perfectly composed aesthetically beautiful images regardless of the subject matter. ‘Seeing the exotic in the ordinary world in which we live.’
Photographer / Ashish Chawla Designer & Stylist / Rajdeep Ranawat Accessories & Styling / Geetanjali Ranawat Make Up / Kaajee Rai Hair / Karan Rai
Photographer / Ashish Chawla Brand / Samyakk Stylist / Amber Tikari Make Up / Kaajee Rai Hair / Karan Rai
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Anton Bundenko is a collage artist, illustrator and photographer from Russia, who has in a very short time become an international name. This could be attributed not only to his incredible talent, but also to his use of social media, which he claims opened doors that may otherwise have remained shut. Anton uses mixed media to express his perception of the world around him. His collage work in particular is, according to him,’ representative of an overload of information and the huge amount of universal rubbish which is not visible in our every day, but which is there. This depth of meaning is not immediately visible in his fashion collages, but Bundenko considers fashion as being the source which gives him the space to use this particular medium. Perhaps it is his willingness and ability to absorb the world and embody it in his visual art, illustrations and projects that enables him to so clearly transform these thoughts into his work. A reflection of present day reality and subjective understanding of the present day world. Or, perhaps it is his belief that his work as a shot firer in the mountains of Russia, providing him with a strong foundation that enabled him to experience the many layers of society. It may simply, just be a result of his un-ending, ever evolving talent, that has led him into a collaboration with Zara, an Italian Label, and starting his own collection. Most probably however, it is all of these things, combined with his commitment not to limit himself as an artist. Striving always for sincerity in his work, Bundenko shows a willingness to use experimental types of printing and combinations such as serigraphy, acid printing and de coupage. This has not only gained him recognition with magazines, fashion brands or other artists but has also brought him to the attention of the Ostingallery in Antwerp. Having recently moved to Moscow, to pursue his art career full time, and with his desire to travel more while continuing to expand and evolve even more as an artist. It would seem that this is an exciting time for Anton Bundenko, and for those of us who wait in anticipation to see what he will do next.
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PEROU THE TALENTED
By Carlotta Buosi
PEROU is an international photographer and director who has photographed the famous and the infamous the world over. Some of those people include names like David Beckham, Marilyn Manson, Jay-Z and U2 to name a few. As if this wasn’t enough he has a client list exceeding 125 magazines which includes Esquire, Vivienne Westwood, Rolling Stone, Planet, Flaunt, XX, Filter and the list goes on. Commissioned by BBC3 to do project in Africa with sequel in Tokyo, which he will direct with a friend. We can wonder where he finds time for everything. We find out a little more about the talented Mr. Perou. Tell us something about yourself and how you became Perou. I am Perou and I was born in Sussex in the English countryside and I had a long and happy childhood. Nothing really happened in my past but it’s probably significant that I left school not knowing what I was going to do. I got into photography by accident. After attending college and taking some photography classes, I dropped out. I did go back later and finished my B-tech in design and photography and have been doing photography ever since.
Are things in your past that you feel have particularly influenced you? Did your environment influence you at all? I find it weird because as I said I had a long, happy childhood in the countryside, so I came to London completely naive. People of my age, who grew up in London, were running nightclubs and directing pop-videos, while I was a complete country boy. Now having spent eighteen years as a photographer in London, I feel that I’m a part of it, and it’s difficult for me to go back to the countryside. I have a house in Kent but I feel like I couldn’t live there, the countryside is where I was born. It isn’t where I am. I guess my interest in photography came from a lodger who used to live in our house
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when I was a kid, Jeremy the stoner. He used to smoke a lot of weed and wanted to be a press photographer. He used to process his film in our bathroom and I thought he was pretty cool.
When exactly did you realize you were going to be a photographer? Is there something you might have done had you not become one? Well, before I went to do photography I thought I was going to be a long distance driver. I really liked the 70s film Convoy, with Kris Kristofferson. I realized that driving big trucks around England was not going to be as cool as driving big trucks around the US as they did in the film. I also considered the career of a missionary at some point but I always say that I had a crisis of faith: I discovered women! I was seventeen when I stopped being a Christian. My morals still originate from Christianity although I no longer practice.
What about people getting upset about your photographs, what would you tell them? Well, obviously lots of people hate my photographs, some people like them but I have absolutely no care in the world what anybody else thinks about my photographs, they are not for anyone else but me so I don’t care.
On you’re website you mention four cities in particular: London, New York, Tokyo and Los Angeles. Which would be the one you feel more connected with? All four mean something to me. I refer to Japan as my spiritual home; I have a very deep connection with it, and its people. Some of my best friends live there. Los Angeles, I love, and when I am in New York, I feel alive and incredibly stimulated. As I have said before I feel like I am part of London. All four cities hold special meaning for me. I love staying in different places and seeing different things. I am really into food and I love eating foreign food in foreign places. I would rather die than go to a McDonald’s or Starbucks. I used to think it was very glamorous to travel around the world. Now I find the travel very tiring and annoying, but I do enjoy being in the place.
You’ve been described as a fetish photographer as you’ve been featured in the book Fetish: masters of erotic fantasy photography, but how would you describe your style? Well, when I started out most people used to think my work was fucked up and more progressively people have described my work to me as very clean but conceptual. It usually has some idea or story being depicted in the picture, hopefully. I think photography is a language and so if you’re not going to say something, you might as well not say anything.
Do you feel like your career has taken unexpected turns or do you find yourself exactly where you expected to be? In life I am a fatalist so I believe that our parts are pre-destined. Now, that’s not to say that you can sit on your arse and expect certain things to happen without any active participation and I believe we can choose which way we go but there will be certain key events in life that will happen and that are destined to happen. Also, I’ve never had and I never have a plan in my photography: I’m just kind of going with the flow, I go in the easy direction, all the sort of big things that I’ve done in my career happened to me without me looking for them.
You are quite eclectic as a photographer. For example, let’s talk about your personal projects, which are very different from fashion and from anything else you do... In many of these photographs you capture just one detail, how do you choose a certain thing to be photographed and why? I just photograph everything as I see it. That could be a road kill squashed fox or a photograph of Jay Z. I believe it’s important to photograph everything. In the past when people had family albums they were full of just the good things. When I was in college we were photographing death, divorce, illness, it was not such a narrow view of life. Looking back at photographs and seeing the way people and things looked it’s amazing but we forget to photograph every day mundane and shit. I think the more people who photograph mundane and shit the better.
What about your fashion photography, what is fashion for you? I’d say that fashionable people don’t follow fashion. They create fashion. The whole fashion thing it’s bizarre because it’s constructed. People that I think are fashionable are completely outside of fashion, they feel good about what they wear and they have their own style: you could be a homeless person and be much more fashionable than someone who has just bought the latest Gucci jacket. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing as long as you feel confident and comfortable. It’s more about the way you wear something rather than what you wear. Some of the most adventurous fashion people I know aren’t buying this season things. They are outside of fashion.
Which message, if any, do you aim to communicate with your images? That’s a very good question because I am trying to communicate messages all the time with my images. We are just organising something at the moment which will involve using photography as more of a direct action, to affect a small amount of change in deprived areas. We want to encourage the belief that change is possible. I can’t really elaborate on it to much but, as I said, I believe photography is a language that crosses international language barriers it’s very powerful and should be used to help people. Fashion photography exists with the purpose of selling clothes, I’m not interested in selling clothes anymore, I’m interested in trying to help the people that I can with my photography.
Is there any photographer you’d refer to as your inspiration or your mentor? I’ve got quite a large library of photographers but I don’t refer to them very much. I feel every thing I see, do or feel affects my work somehow. Every film or TV show I’ve seen, or song I have heard, or other photographers work. I am like a sponge for pictures. There are some photographers who are particularly significant to me though: Duane Michals, is one of my favourites, Helmut Newton, Anton Corbijn, Carlos Molina and lots more.
Talking about people you like to photograph, you’ve been taking pictures of some of the biggest international names such as, Marilyn Manson, Katie Perry, 1 Direction. Do you actually enjoy photographing them? Do you find any difference in their approach toward you from the one that a model would have? Well, a model is employed from me to do something that I want her/him to do. When I photograph and artist, they are coming with an ego and as a fellow artist, so we meet on another level. A model is used to achieve a certain thing or look. When I am photographing an artist, I am trying to catch a glimpse their personality or something about them that I am not interested in finding in a model.
Another very interesting part of your work is your personal diary, is this way to relate with your audience? How do you find time to be constant with something so time consuming? That’s very interesting because when I started my diary in 2000 there were no blogs, nobody kept their diary online and photographers used to email me saying: “Who do you think you are keeping your diary online?” and now every photographer has a diary online. On one hand it’s an obsession. On the other hand I believe that if you do something you should do it properly. If you keep a diary you make it daily, then you have to write every day. I have posted my diary every day for the past seven years. I have only missed one day. I was doing a TV show called Make Me a Supermodel. It isn’t that I didn’t take the picture that day, but it had been removed. An ex girlfriend of mine was naked in a hotel room in one of the pictures i took, but it had to be removed because my wife didn’t like it. On that day there are just words and that reminds me that I can’t do it again. I should also just say, the diary is not and has never been for other people. That’s why it’s called Perou’s Secret Diary. This diary is for my boys and me. I record silly things they say, I take photographs every time I’m with them. I record words they say. The diary is like a love letter to my children, something they can look back on when they’re older. They can look back at when they were born, read how Lucy and I felt about their birth, see what they were wearing, what we were wearing. Everything is documented, the cars, the houses, everything. I am happy other people read and enjoy it, but it’s not for them. It’s for my children.
What do you absolutely need to do your job, other than the camera? Eyes: no eyes, no focus. But in actual fact, my job is more about people’s skills than pressing a button. With digital cameras it is a lot easier to make correctly exposed, correctly focused images: you need less skills and that’s why there are so many people calling themselves photographers even if they haven’t had to learn the craft of taking photographs like me and my generation did because we learned on film. There’s not much technical ability required these days being a photographer, it has more to do with the way you set things up and talk to people.
What would be your biggest goal for the future? The project I was telling you about is what we are putting a lot of energy into at the moment. It’s going to be international and it’s going to use photography as a way to help people. We are setting up a gang, basically, there’s going to be a gang of people around the world using photography to empower themselves.
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Tal Peleg Interview by Nasreen Osman
Israeli makeup artist Tal Peleg, aka Scarlet Moon, uses eye shadow and eyeliner to do more than simply shade in her eyelids. Instead, the creative makeup genius turns eyelids into her own personal canvas for clever mini paintings. She takes the small patch of skin that surrounds the eye and transforms it into charming little scenes, utilizing just about every element of area including the eye itself. Peleg works around the curves of the eyelid and the sharp, angular shape of the eyebrows, cleverly framing and completing each tiny work of art. In one work, the artist even uses the eyebrow to represent the long brushed back hair of a princess kneeling down to kiss a frog. In another piece, she makes use of a green iris as a giant pea underneath numerous mattresses to represent The Princess and the Pea. How did you first get into the make-up industry? Has it always been a career dream? I started to using makeup when I was only a child. I loved to do makeup and “photo shoots” with my little sister as the model and I always liked art and painting. When I was in high-school, I participated in acting classes (I wished to be an actress at that time), and I did the make-up looks for the other actors in shows. I went to make-up school, and a few years later, I studied 4 years of visual communication. I had a hard time choosing my path thinking, ‘should I become makeup artist or designer?’ In my makeup looks I try to combine my love of art, design and makeup. I can’t say it’s been my career dream, because I love many things and it was hard for me to decide exactly what I want to do in my life.
What inspired you to use eyelids as a canvas for artwork? I see makeup as a form of art. Ordinary, wearable makeup is nice but I wanted to push the limits between art/illustration and makeup. I used to draw and paint since I can remember but I guess I was bored with the ordinary canvases and paper, so I decided to challenge myself and turn the eyelid into my canvas.
How long does it take, on average, to create a look? Between one hour to 4 hours, it depends on how complicated the design is.
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What would you say are the essential items for a budding make-up artist’s kit? Good foundations of course. I think the best way for beginners is to buy one kind of makeup, and then use MAC mixing medium to make it more sheer if needed. I think that eye shadow palettes are a good way to start - like the Urban Decay ‘Naked’ palettes, for example, they’re perfect for bridal makeup. Good mascara; my favorite right now is Clinique high-impact mascara. Sleek blushes are good for beginners; they are quite cheap and REALLY pigmented. A few concealers in popular shades (MAC Pro Longwear is my favorite), and some wearable lipsticks, so you can mix between the shades. Of course, there are a lot of other things, but Rome wasn’t built in one day! Take the time to develop your kit.
Who would you most like to work with and why? Alex Box is one of my favourite makeup artists; I would love to work with her, she is such an inspiration.
You have an eclectic design style ranging from movie-inspired looks to sushi and cat figures; how do you stay creatively inspired? Inspiration is everywhere. I can be inspired by so many things - fairytales, books, food, pretty flowers, or even things that I find interesting and challenging to turn into makeup, like Anne Frank, my grandmother’s dementia, or the manicdepressive disorder. Sometimes I get an idea out of nowhere, in the middle of the day, or before I fall asleep in which case I’ll write it down and even draw a quick sketch of it so I won’t forget. When it’s a complicated idea, I draw a more detailed sketch before I paint it onto my eye. Sometimes I just improvise. As long as there are pretty or inspiring things around me, I will stay creatively inspired.
Do you have particular favourite design? It’s hard for me to choose because I give my heart to each and every one of them, but I think that my favourite is the one that was inspired by the quote, from ‘The Little Prince’, “It is such a secret place, the land of tears.” It turned out very expressive, surreal and personal.
If we wanted to recreate one of your looks, what kinds of products would we need? Ordinary eye shadows, loose pigments, eyeliners and aqua-colors. Most of the time, I mix and play with textures, like mixing loose eye shadow with water or gel. A magnifying mirror is a very important tool. Really precise brushes are, of course, a must! I use makeup brushes for the looks, but I also buy many of my brushes at art supply stores. To make these miniature illustrations I need the thinnest of brushes, and makeup brands usually do not provide that.
‘Cinderella’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, and ‘Snow White’ are just some of the fairy tale inspired looks you’ve created. Why do these stories interest and inspire you? I love fairy tales! They remind me of my childhood, and there is something nostalgic yet mysterious about them.
Do you have a quote that you live by or a general principle? Carpe Diem – ‘seize the day’.
Find Tal Peleg at: facebook.com/TalPelegMakeUp Instagram: @tal_peleg
Ref lection Stylist / make-up and Photography / by Clauss Castro Model / Murillo Ritton @ Pharos models
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By Nasreen Osman Working out of his San Francisco studio, Eric Zener has become a well-known name in the artistic world. Many of his photorealist paintings are rich in colour, lively, and capture the essence of ordinary life or more specifically, life by the pool. Eric’s water-themed paintings usually consist of a lone subject underwater or sometimes lying idly by. The use of vibrant colours instantly captures the viewers attention, and draws the eye to the impeccable detail of his artwork - bubbles on the verge of popping, the sun casting light on lounged bodies, and the free movement of weigheddown clothes. Most strikingly, it is Eric’s ability to capture the serene yet dark nature of water that is most fascinating. The self-taught artist describes his style as Contemporary Renaissance and although his work looks photorealistic, the artist has previously described how, in person, they are full of imperfections, evidence of the human handî. Nonetheless, Zener achieves this high degree of realism by photographing models underwater and using the photos as reference. His technique is specific; he starts with an underpainting of greys and blues then paints from the farthest point in the background to the foreground.
Realistic Oil Painting by
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Eric’s captivation with water is, in part, due to his childhood. He was born in Astoria, Oregon and grew up by the coastal city of Encinitas near San Diego. In a previous interview, he describes how he grew up fearlessly surfing in San Diegoî, but while canoeing, he faced the dangers of water which led him to recognize the vulnerability of people. His work depicts the friend or foe personalities of water - in Unbound a woman is smiling happily under a clear blue pool, her crinkled eyes articulating the carefree emotion; Submission, in stark contrast, expresses a sense of danger as an unclear figure is surrounded by darkness, a barely visible hand reaches out towards the water’s surface for an escape. The contrasting styles make Zener’s work appeal to a wide range of audiences. Eric’s work has been exhibited in galleries all over the US and internationally. His work has also been featured extensively in notable Art magazines and other publications. Currently residing in Mill Valley with his 3 children, Eric enjoys a short commute to his studio in Sausalito.
The Feminine Focus of
Lara Jade New York is now home to fashion and editorial photographer Lara Jade. Originally from the UK, she currently divides her time between the US and Europe, with assignments for clients that include Sony Music, P&G, Harper Collins, Nanette Lepore, Littlewoods, Fantasie Lingerie and others. Her editorial clients include Huffington Post Style, Nylon México, Vogue Wedding Japan, 125 Magazine, Material Girl, and Aesthetica. Discovering her passion for photography at an early age, Lara set out to pursue this artistic path. Coupled with the decision to make her passion a paycheck, she set up her own business by the time she was seventeen. This afforded her the opportunity to travel the world, and show her work to an international audience. With workshop schedules and a reality television show under her belt, it seems the sky is the limit for Lara! Lara, you state in your biography that you started photography at an early age. Can you tell us a bit about that? I was fortunate enough to discover my interest in photography at the early age of fourteen. Coming from a suburban town in the West Midlands, England, I started to shoot conceptual photography and experimental self-portraiture to hone my skills. I discovered creative photography through online art communities and it inspired me to embark on a journey as a fashion photographer. I didn’t have any particular subject when I started photography; I taught myself Photoshop and became my own subject. I was nervous to use anyone else because I was still building my technical skills. After a year I finally built up the confidence to start shooting models, and I would raid charity stores or browse Etsy or eBay online to try and find ways of disguising myself, in my self-portraits, to become different characters. As well as helping me learn about photography, the self-portraits allowed me to explore insecurities growing up as a teenager - it’s difficult to explain but it helped me become more confident in myself.
You mentioned that you moved to London when you were seventeen and started your own photography business. Was that difficult? I’ll be honest – I found it really difficult! I was seventeen when I started my business and I soon found myself shooting for portrait clients, book publishers and music labels throughout the UK. However, I was eager to grow as an artist and extend my business internationally, so I moved to London to connect with creatives and to push my boundaries as a photographer. I used social media as the main source for attracting clients. Websites such as MySpace, Flickr and Deviant ART were my tools to get constructive criticism and give me the confidence to showcase my work. To market my work, social media was my focus – I spent most of my time creating an online presence. This led to connections with bands, actors, dancers and eventually, international houses.
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I get emails and messages on a regular basis from new/young photographers asking, “Should I quit my job and move to a big city?” I always say to them that it’s important to have a steady source of income to sustain yourself, and to build your portfolio, especially in the beginning. When I moved to London, I thought it was all going to happen straight away. The reality is that I was paying more than I could afford on living expenses. While I did receive interest from clients, the income couldn’t sustain me in the long run and after a year, I decided to move back to my parent’s house and create a new plan of action. I knew I loved photography and didn’t want to do anything else, so I started to focus on how I could make a living from it and ultimately how could I turn my passion into a paycheck.
I asked Lara why she didn’t just throw in the towel, as most people would, or quit and find something else to do. She replied, “My motivation in life comes from photography and being creative. I would never give it up because I’m at my happiest when I’m shooting.”
Can you tell us a little bit about your art? What, in your opinion, makes a good photographer? In my opinion, a photograph always has to have a narrative. Whether it’s immediately obvious or not, it needs to strike a chord. The image has to evoke a feeling for it to be relatable – this can stem from the model, the styling, the composition or the lighting. I think the most successful photographs tell a story. I don’t think we realize it but I believe people want to find a connection between themselves and the subject.
Nowadays, many photographers rely heavily on Photoshop. What do you make of it? When I first started, I used Photoshop heavily because I wanted to create something far from reality. My work fell more into the photo manipulation category. Now, when working on a fashion or commercial image, I have various different rules I stand by. Overall, I like the skin to be clear but pores showing – I want to see detail! For tones, I try to enhance the color to an almost retro-cross process look and slightly de-saturate the skin; this helps add the ‘painterly’ feel to my work. When composing the lighting on a shoot, I think about the way I want to enhance that in Photoshop later on. I can often see an edited image in camera because I trust my process. Depending on the client and style of work, it’s best not to show certain pieces in your portfolio because it can distract from your style and confuse clients. Only show the best selects – stand by your decision as a photographer and trust your eye when it comes to what you think is a good image.
What do you try to convey in your work, and how do you achieve this? This all comes down to the type of shoot it is. For editorial shoots I can play around a lot more – I’m often looking on fashion forums or websites like Style.com for recent fashion trends that could inspire an idea. There will also be times when my creative team will approach me with ideas and ask me to enhance on that, stylists are usually good at this and it puts you on your toes to collaborate on an idea quickly! Casting for me is essential and I like to be involved as much as possible. Sometimes clients approach me and ask me to come up with the idea, perhaps based on something another brand has done but in a new way. Sometimes I’ll come up with my own mood board based on their idea and this is when I can add my own touch to the shoot. If I shoot something that’s very commercial for a client then I would select a model that’s more editorial; that way I can still be congruent with my style.
In many interviews you talk about the importance of style in photography. Can you share your thoughts on this? My style is inspired by femininity and by color – soft and pastel tones. I would say it’s not too far from reality. I feel like the style I produce is very close to ‘me’ and my style. In the beginning, it is difficult for a new photographer to find a visual style/voice within their work. Photography is personal, so there has to be some of your personality incorporated into your work. The colors you use in your work are most likely chosen because there has been a preference either in the past or present. The same thing can be said about clothes. The clothes you tend to choose are likely chosen because you would wear them. It also comes down to the subjects you use and how you cast models. You need to put yourself and your personality into your work because it’s important that your audience or clients see YOU in your photographs. You’re not going to find your style overnight; it takes years to build and takes a fair amount of experimentation and self-realization to figure out.
How do you choose your subjects and what influences you when casting models for your shoots? I have to be inspired by my subject. If I work with a model that I feel can’t convey my style, I find it hard to portray the idea and something would be ‘off’ in the final images. This is why casting is really important for me – especially since trends are always changing in fashion, you have to flow with it. If there’s a 60’s trend shoot, it’s ideal to work with a model that can hold heavy eye make-up and possibly a good choppy wig. If I’m shooting groups I try to choose models that not only look similar (features, height etc) but also are good team players and will be happy posing with other models for long hours.
Could you tell us a little bit about the reality TV show you are involved in? How and why did you become involved? The series was developed by Willie Christie and Back to Front TV. It celebrates the essential relationship between fashion and photography. Back to Front TV have the Royal Photographic Society as a headline supporter and have a growing number of supporters, including Phase One, the world’s leading medium format camera manufacturer. The executive producer is currently accepting contestant entries and is leading a weekly review of submissions. I am extremely honoured to be working alongside Willie Christie for this show and excited to be involved in one of Britain’s first photography TV shows. I hope that my part in the series will inspire and encourage young photographers to realize that, regardless of age, talent is what speaks the most.
You have built a successful career since that very first move to London at seventeen. What were the biggest challenges you faced on your journey? For me, London was a place where everyone was trying to make it work and I feel like I could have tried harder to build a team back then. My advice to any photographer is to try to build a team and a strong support system, because they may be the people who recommend you to clients. I used to shoot a lot and think everything would just happen out of the blue. I learned that, if you shoot a lot and there’s no one to see that work, there won’t be much work coming in to sustain you. Also, there are so many things you have to do besides just shooting. Emailing advertising agencies or researching are equally important. There’s a misconception that if you have an agent, you will be ok but the agent doesn’t do everything. It is important to be proactive and spend time reaching out to the right people to make things happen.
What influences you creatively, and how would you like to influence others? My influence is feminine energy, colours, or shooting groups of girls. I would be extremely happy if I had been born in the 1920’s! I’m inspired by the ‘Gatsby’ era, things that are glamorous and beautiful, old Hollywood and film noir. I’m inspired by old romanticism in paintings and the way they painted women.
How do you feel about being in front of the camera these days? Is it something you enjoy? Nowadays, I am rarely in front of the camera. You would think that starting out as a self-portrait photographer that it would be something I do more often, or be more comfortable with, but it’s not! When I’m standing there I think a lot and become more aware of the fact I am not a model, I’m 5’3” (thank you heels!). I’ll think of how my skin has broken out due to the stress of doing the workshop production for the past two weeks, or that what I’m wearing is too casual for a portrait (and I haven’t had time to think about my hair and makeup). Its funny isn’t it? How photographers, who photograph countless subjects and see an unlimited number of poses, can break down in front of the camera!
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Oriental Home Photographer / Ewa Sawicka Ewalds / http://www.ewasawicka.pl/ Model / Magda / Magteam Models Stylist / Dorota Michael Makeup / Margo Gosia Seferynska Designers / Misztela / Kasnalka / Mr. GUGU & Miss Go / Agata Bogonska / Zuzanna Krynicka
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The Enigma that is
Jenya VygUzov It may be difficult to find information about twenty one-year-old illustrator and mixed media artist Jenya Vyguzov. However I think it would be safe to assume that his name is definitely one to watch for. His very modern and fresh approach to his mixed media fashion collages is earning him quite a reputation. This young Russian born artist collaborates regularly with fashion designers and magazines, Trend hunter, I famous, Burro, and Sickly magazine are just a few of those. His work has been described as a beautiful combination of photography and illustrations, which are infused with abstract visuals and vibrant colours. He cleverly combines fashion and nature to create images with a certain mystery. While Jenya himself, remains for now, a bit of an enigma, it is obvious that his artistry speaks for itself. 66
Emily Soto By Carlotta Buosi
Based in Southern California, Emily Soto is already making an impression as an international fashion, celebrity and lifestyle photographer. Her work can be seen on the covers of countless magazines all over the world. Having received a ‘best of photography’ award from Sigma, and with a multi country tour under her belt, it is safe to say that Emily Soto’s whimsical, dreamlike style of photography coupled with her passion to do what ‘just comes naturally’ is already earning her a reputation with fashion editors, top model agencies and her tens of thousands of followers on Facebook. How would you describe your first and last project and how do you perceive your photography to have evolved? Of course I have learned so much since my first project, my first shoot was more about learning lighting and how to work with models. I have much more experience now and know what I am looking for. I am always challenging myself and trying out new techniques so my photography has evolved and continues to do so.
What are the things that inspire you and how much are you influenced by the environment around you when shooting? I love everything involving fashion, window shopping, and the city of Paris, Fashion TV, magazines and much more. I find Fashion a wonderful source of inspiration and constantly get new ideas just by going onto fashion websites or walking around the streets of New York City. A shoot can of course be greatly influenced by environment, but I have learned how to create beautiful shoots with the simplest of environments.
What is your background and when did you decide to become a fashion photographer? I have a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management but I have completed many courses in fashion, while studying also. After I graduated my husband, bought me a camera, and we began shooting landscapes, and nature together. After a couple of years I decided to start shooting people, fell in love with fashion photography and it all grew from there.
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What is your ultimate goal when shooting: do you aim to communicate something particular with your images? I love the romantic style, beauty with a slight feel of a painted image.
Which are your favourite pieces of equipment? Which is the thing you simply cannot work without? The Canon 5d Mark III, Canon 85mm 1.2 lens and the Mola Setti Beauty Dish are my favourites. I would have to say that the Canon 85mm 1.2 lens is my absolute favourite though!
Do you enjoy dealing with models and designers? How important is it to have a good team with you when you work? Yes I absolutely love it and it is very important to have a good team in order to get the best images. I consider myself very lucky and thankful to have had the opportunity to work with wonderful people.
Tell us about your workshops: When and why did you first decide to start sharing your experience? Do you enjoy teaching? I started last year in 2012 when a photography company in Asia asked to host my first tour to four countries. I was always shy growing up, and being a teacher was not something I had thought of, but it was such a great opportunity I decided to take it, and absolutely loved it. It is just so much fun meeting so many different people from around the world and to share their excitement for their work and see their progress. I have been so fortunate and I am really thankful to have had the opportunity to teach in over eight countries, and made so many friends along the way.
Until now, what would you say was the most exciting project you have been involved in? This year I did a personal project based on Marie Antoinette, it was a two part series and we had so much fun with it. It was my first shoot working with prop directors and houses and I loved what it added to the photos!
As a photographer, is there anything outside your comfort zone you’d like to experience? Oh goodness! I would love to do more shoots with animals, maybe a tiger or a bear but I doubt I’d ever have the courage to. I am still relatively new to the industry and I am confident that there will be many opportunities which present themselves in the future.
What are your goals for the future? I have a lot of goals for the future and I dream really big so I can’t really say, I guess only time will tell! :)
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Photographer / Jimmy Bollaerts Modelr / Liesl De Weirdt MUA and Hair / Muartistry Fashion Designerr / Elise Lucas Wolf / Hacapella Sophie Lefebvre
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Blue Sunday Photography / Liselotte Fleur www.liselottefleur.com / http://www.facebook.com/LiselotteFleurPhotography Make-up / Misty Smit, Amanda Rijff Hair / Kenrick Vrolijk, Louise Vlaar @ Pro-Solo Styling / Nienke van Duinkerken Models / Eva & Eline @ Fresh Model Management Designers / Anne van den Boogaard, Fleur Roossien, Wendy Rombouts
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A DAY WITH
Nina By Carlotta Buosi
It would be quite hard to try to define Nina Athanasiou. Maybe because she has always preferred to be considered as something different from the trends of the fashion world, maybe because epithet fashion designer isn’t what defines her. She is also a mother and traveller. These are just a few of the topics we have discussed as we sit chatting, while her designs are being photographed by Muhammad Sami. As we sit here in the White Rabbit studios of Shore ditch, London, we also consider the multiple aspects of art, and the world as an enormous inspiring play. Nina, how would you define your style? This is such a difficult question! I’d say it’s very unique, strong, for people confident and like to express themselves or make a statement with what they wear.
Would you tell us something about yourself, your childhood and what brought you here today? Well, I am now 36 and I have studied fashion design but at the end of my degree I was so fed up with the entire business that I got into something completely different. So, I opened my own bar, and just thought I would never become a fashion designer. I was there for a long time. It was only after the birth of my two wonderful children, that I realised I couldn’t do that work any more. That’s when I got back to fashion and that time it really clicked with me and became my actual passion. I can catch a bit of sparkle in Nina’s eyes when she mentions her children. I see that same sparkle when she is preparing for a shoot.
What would you become if you hadn’t decided to return to fashion design? I would have probably done something art related. I really loved bar tending and working being in that atmosphere, but I guess pursuing that career, you eventually get to the point when you’ve had enough.
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Is there a place you’ve visited that particularly inspired you? New York, without a doubt. I don’t know if it’s possible to fall in love with a city, but if it was New York would be my one and only love! I fell in love with the city the very first time I visited about twenty years ago. It’s just so alive and vibrant.
Would you define New York as the place that could better represent your design as well? Yes, I’d say so. Germany it’s still very conservative, quiet, structured, especially Munich and Bavaria in general; it doesn’t represent my style at all and sometimes I feel limited living there.
Photographer / Muhammad Sami Designer / Nina Athanasiou Makeup / Mumtaz Anwar Mua Hair Stylist / Diego Miranda Model / Ellie Knight
Where do you take your inspiration? Everywhere. From movies, architecture, my children’s drawings. Everyday, I get inspired through different channels and I wouldn’t be able to identify a single one.
Describe one day in the life of Nina Athanasiou It starts at about 5.30am when I wake up and get ready before waking up the children for school. After that I work in my office and show room. The afternoon is dedicated to the children, and once they are in bed, usually by 9pm, I go back to my work.
How do you choose the fabrics for your collections? Sometimes I get the idea for a fabric and have it printed. Everything else I obtain from a very old shop in Bavaria. It has just about everything I need. I have been going there for five years now, and see no need to change.
Which place has your job, brought you so far, that you’ve appreciated the most? Probably the Sky Walk, in Grand Canyon. I was part of a fashion show there in November. J Model Management who were organising the show, which featured seven other designers, contacted me. It was a stunning show.
Which image are you trying to portray of your style? Do you personally choose the models for your shootings? I’m not very picky from that point of view, but I do have a vision. Firstly, there needs to be some empathy between the model and myself. I prefer models who portray a certain edgy feel and don’t look to sweet. I have been working with one model, James Gallagher, for about three of four years now and we have a good chemistry.
What progression do you feel there has been in your work, since your first project and now. My first project was Brooklyn Fashion Week-End. That was in 1992. I was searching for a contact for that New York Fashion Week and found their website by mistake. Things moved slowly for a while. Since the beginning of this year however, work has been overwhelming. I am not sure what changed, but its moving fast. The last and most professional project for me was the one in Grand Canyon.
What would be the final message you’d like to communicate with your design? Express yourself and be confident. The interview is finished and we all get back into the photography studio where the shoot is still going on. While Nina watches the models posing in her creations, that familiar sparkle in her eyes returns. ‘ I just want to keep things as they are now,’ she says. But there is a sense that everyone in the room feels that there will be much more. Having met her in person today, it is apparent that she has an inner beauty which coupled with her talent is what makes her designs so beautiful and special.
Sam Jinks 104
By Carlotta Buosi
Prior to working as a full- time sculptor, Sam Jinks was employed in the world of the movie industry, as a prop maker. It was during this time that the sculptor in him surfaced. Based in Melbourne Australia, Jinks has been a commercial sculptor for 11 years. Known for crafting hyper-realistic sculptures using clay, silicon and human hair, his work can at first glance be mistaken as real photographs. The attention to detail showcased in his work, reflects what a meticulous artist Sam Jinks is. Can you describe for us, a day in the life of Sam Jinks? I usually head over to the studio first, as I often have a bunch of things happening at once. This isn’t’ my preference, but there is usually an edition being made as well the progression of new work. If there is a show coming up I tend to be working longer hours.
Growing up, did you always know you wanted to be a sculptor? who were your influence’s? Why do you use silicon as the main material for your sculptures? I started out, using most of my spare time drawing, and making models and various things from wood. I spent a lot of time on my own as a kid which in a way was a good thing, but didn’t really help my social skills. As a teen I began to sculpt, mostly because of my love for film and wanting to make monsters. I also saw it as an opportunity to translate my drawing into 3 dimensions,
Someone has described your sculptures as “shocking” and “incredibly real”, would you define yourself as an hyper-realist? No. Hyper realism has never been my priority. I always change scale proportions and try to give the work a surreal element in some way. Hyper realism is also such a demanding task that I think the process can begin taking over from the content of the work. I try to move quick enough to keep it fresh but still keep it realistic. I would spend so much time making something hyper real that it would take a year to make a work.
Why do you choose to often represent dead bodies instead of living ones? Does the representation of dead bodies carry a particular meaning for you? I think I have sculpted one dead or near-death body in my work. The work sometime shows the closeness of death, the cross over, so to speak, or the constant presence of it. However, I’m not focused on the dead body specifically. I am interested the idea of it because it’s a mystery for me, something unresolved.
What is the message do you aim to communicate with your art? I don’t have a message. I’m just trying to make something that is precious. A perfect thing. like a crucifix is an amazing sculpture as well as a powerful symbol. I have yet to do it, but hopefully, one day!
Sam Jinks You are now based in Melbourne, Australia. How much does the environment you live in influence your art and your state of mind? Would you be able to move somewhere else? I’m happy where I am, it’s a great melting pot of cultures. I do love Italy though; it’s an extraordinary place, with so much history and beautiful art. I always leave there, inspired.
You use some other materials to improve the realism of your sculptures such as human hair. How do you manage to find all these unusual “tools” for your art? Most of the processes and tools are things discovered through trial and error over the years. My work in film did help me learn mold-making techniques but most of the appearance of the work is from testing different things till they work.
Could you tell us what has been the biggest love or biggest pain you have experienced and how that may have influenced you and your artistic side? I do have some pains that I’ve lived through but they tend to be personal things. It all comes together along with new experiences, to influence the work.
People usually just see the final product – How do you deal with the stress of time management or something going wrong during a big project? I have struggled with this in the past, but it has improved. Now, my stress during a project is more about the conceptual element, and less to do with the technical end. I can sometimes over think a piece and it can get lost. I find deadlines and schedules challenging though, especially with a family.
If budgets, resources or time were not an obstacle, and you could make anything you wanted, what would it be? I would continue to do what I do. My work can be quite expensive to make, but I have no desire to make some monumental piece yet. Maybe in the future, but not now.
Stine Mo By Carlotta Busoi
Tell me something about yourself. When did you become a blogger? My name is Stine, I am twenty one and I live in Copenhagen, Denmark. I am a fashion blogger. I became a blogger when I joined the blogging community that I am currently with. We are an exclusive little group, and are well known to influential people and the press, as we have a good brand. So, we just get invited to all their events. Being in a big group of talented bloggers is a good way to get noticed. I am lucky that I am among twenty or thirty bloggers here in Denmark who always get invited to the same events. Even though it’s a bit weird getting invited to these things, I think its fun too. It is also a great opportunity to collaborate with brands, and is a very unique experience to meet people who are quite influential. I really appreciate that and know there are a lot of young bloggers who would love to have that opportunity.
Do you experience any limitations living in Copenhagen? Do you have any ambition to live anywhere else which might offer more opportunities for you as a blogger? I think it would be difficult for me if I moved to a different country. I would not have as much recognition there as some of the more well known bloggers in that particular country. I guess if I wanted to I would be able break into that market. However, I don’t feel limited in Denmark, as I have had a lot of opportunities here. I have a better chance of success here, and I think it is a good country for bloggers.
Is it true that at present, it is quite a common phenomenon for Scandinavian Bloggers to make a successful career just from blogging? I personally don’t earn enough money from my blog to sustain a living from it. I know quite a few bloggers in Denmark who could do so successfully if they chose to, it’s a small country with few well known bloggers, so those who have made a name, make a lot of money. it’s a similar situation in Norway and Sweden
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stinemo.looklab.dk youtube.com/toastbroed www.stinemo.looklab.dk
When did you stat blogging and why. Did you have a particular goal or aspiration? Are there any blogs which inspire you? I started maybe five years ago, not a blog specifically but more of an online journal. I was really into Japanese culture and the blog was really just a good way to connect with people of similar interests. It kind of evolved from there and slowly became a fashion blog. I didn’t really have a goal as I said initially it was a journal. I never imagined that it would continue so long, and that I would be earning an income from it. I follow a lot of blogs but I don’t always have time to read them all. My best friend Sarah from Fabroise Fashion is a great inspiration to me, she has such a great sense of style and takes wonderful pictures. I also was greatly inspired by a woman called Sandra from Five-Inch-Up. She is a shoe fanatic like me.
What do you consider the best opportunity you have had as a direct result of your blog? I would say, meeting my friend Sarah from Framboise Fashion. That was a few years ago, when my blog had a relatively small audience. I was invited to an important event for a Danish magazine, and there were a lot of influential people there; editors, models, and stylists. I was with another blogger friend of mine and we were feeling very awkward, then we noticed a girl who was much like us but more social. She sat beside us and we got talking. A few days later I met up with her and we hung out a few times after that. She is now one of my best friends, and has helped me so much with my blog, as she is an amazing photographer. I am so thankful that I met her, as she is an amazing person. I don’t think that would have happened if I hadn’t had a blog.
How do you organise your posts and how do you know what to choose to blog about ? Do you have a team who help with those decisions? I use categories for my readers because as they help keep my blog more organised and easier for people to find specif things. As for knowing what to post, that’s a very good question. I guess i rely on ituition or a particular mood. I post a lot of outfits, obviously not all mine, as I wear some boring stuff too, When I do wear something that I think looks cool, then I publish it. If I have bought something im really excited about, or if there is a product that I find that works really well for me and makes me happy, then I blog about that. It really is just down to a feeling I get. At this point it is also a habit because I have been blogging for a while now, I feel I have a sense of what readers want. Sometimes I do things that really interest me and I might not get a lot of response. If its something im really passionate about and that happens, I don’t really care as I feel I can put in what I like. I usually write and edit everything, my boyfriend takes the pictures, and there is a technician who is part of a Danish bloggers network, who does the layout.
Which are the most popular categories of your blog? Is there a particular audience that follows you ? How do you relate to that audience? Well I also have a you tube channel where I post videos of my favourite things, tutorials and things like that. People react to those really well. I think that this is what might set me apart from other Danish bloggers, as some of the videos are really personal. People can see who I am, and that I can be really awkward and silly sometimes, just like a lot of young people. I think this makes it easier for people to relate to me. I try to communicate with my audience through social networking sites and always return emails, as I know how frustrating it is if someone doesn’t respond. If I meet my readers I am usually friendly even though I am quite awkward and don’t find it easy meeting new people. I like to create a feeling of anticipation for my audience, so if they have a particular request I will meet it. The majority of my audience are between the age of fifteen and eighteen, and are for the most part Danish, although I do have a followers in Europe and America. I have started to write in English only now, as I am trying to achieve a more international following, and I love England, I would like to live there one day.
I have a pretty loyal readership and I am constantly trying to evolve, but I do think the blog is pretty good right now and I am happy with it. I do aim for better pictures, as for me that is the main element of a great fashion or style blog. I would also like to be more regular with posts as sometimes I might go five days without posting anything.
What is your opinion of bloggers who gain celebrity status? Do you feel this makes them less approachable and would you like to become a celebrity? I definitely feel that some of the essence of what makes a blogger, can be lost once celebrity status is attained. For me personally, part of being a blogger is about being approachable. I think once someone becomes a celebrity, that becomes less likely, as they have moved to a different category. I think it’s a positive thing for them, but I don’t really view them as bloggers any more. They have become something different. As for myself, I don’t want to become so famous that people will feel my persona is different. For me, one of the important things is that I am always myself, and I want people to see that. I don’t consider myself to be anything special, just a weird girl who has a blog. To me anyone can be a blogger.
Do you, collaborate with other bloggers? Do you see yourself blogging for a long time or is it something which has an expiry date? I only ever collaborate with friends, and haven’t ever considered doing it with anyone who isn’t. I don’t really see the point of having another blogger doing things on my blog. I cant really say how long I will be blogging for but I will continue to do so as long as I am interested and don’t feel obliged to do it. I would see myself continuing for a few more years, unless I get busy with other projects. I do hope that I will be doing it for a long time though as its really fun and it opens a lot of doors, especially if you live in a small country like Denmark.
What do you think sets your blog apart from other blogs. What in your opinion makes it special? I think maybe my honesty, irony and ability not to take what I do too seriously. I try not to get caught up in my own self importance just because my blog is successful. I find it irritating when bloggers who gain some success start to act like celebrities. I really just try to keep myself grounded and just have fun with what I do. I don’t see it as a profession I just do it because I enjoy it. Maybe that’s what makes it different .
Describe for us a typical day in the life of Stine. I usually wake about ten, have breakfast, and watch some Netflix. I work in a cake shop, so eventually I get ready to go to work, for a couple of hours, then I might go to my boyfriends house or he will join me at mine. In the evenings I like to read blogs, watch movies and edit . I might sometimes fill the blog before work, or meet with some friends. I don’t really have a schedule as I don’t work every day, so there are days I am free to do what I like. I am a quiet person, so I don’t go to parties much, I would much rather stay home and watch movies. My blog has been responsible for making me more outgoing as I get invited to various events where I have to socialise and meet new people. Being with close friends is my preference though.
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Photographer / Arkadiusz Jankowski Styling by / Aleksandra Cegielska Model / Daria Pisula / @ GAGA Model Clothes / 2WonderUnderground, Moschino, Top Shop, H&M (also Versace and Maison Martin Margiela collections for H&M), Jeffrey Campbell, Asos, Blanco, Kenzo, COS, Forever 21, and Mango
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Photographer / Ricky Woodside Dress Designer / Shauna Fay Model / Julia Ĺ okele ricky@urbanfoxltd.com