online 4.2010
From the global leader of flash memory cards
© Claudia Goetzelmann
“The best camera systems in the world require the best compact flash solution. With the launch of the new H4D-40, Hasselblad has looked to the SanDisk Extreme® Pro™ CompactFlash® cards as the best choice for reliability and speed, creating a perfect blend of the world’s best digital technology.”
–Mark Duhaime, VP Marketing, Hasselblad USA
90 MB/second
capacities up to 64 GB
60 MB/second
capacities up to 32 GB
www.sandisk.com *up to 90 MB/sec read/write speed for Extreme Pro; up to 60 MB/sec for Extreme. Speeds based on SanDisk internal testing performance may be lower depending upon host device. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes x=150 KB/sec. 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage. 10 year warranty in Germany and regions not recognizing Lifetime limited warranty. © 2010 SanDisk Corporation . All rights reserved. SanDisk, the SanDisk logo, CompactFlash and SanDisk Extreme are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation. Registered in the U.S. and other countries. SanDisk Extreme Pro and Power Core are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation
editorial
Content
Mary Kay Ash, founder of a cosmetic empire, once remarked: “Listen long enough and the person will generally come up with an adequate solution.” And here at Hasselblad we’re very good at listening. Our customers’ needs have always driven our product output – and never more so than with our recent launch of the H4D-40 and -50. Our customers told us what they needed and we responded with a “far more than adequate” solution. We pioneered a new series of cameras that deliver cutting edge medium format solutions to a brand new generation of high-end 35mm photographers. We created faster capture rates, high ISO ratings, up to four minutes exposure times, True Focus technology for simple and accurate near-field composing, the 35-90 lens, and stunning, updated Phocus software that dramatically reduces the learning curve for users – the average photographer can get up to speed in less than half an hour. These are important new “game changing” advantages for today’s photographers, particularly those in the portrait and wedding market. All this because we listened. And in the UK our ears are pinned back like never before. Our “listening to customers” strategy has led to a raft of new ideas, initiatives and programmes that are already making a mark on the industry. The launch of the proactive and entirely compelling Hasselblad Owners’ Club provides registered Hasselblad customers with a unique opportunity to interact with both the company and other users, plus free online space for publishing short personal biographies and showcasing images. We’ve also recently launched a unique nationwide educational roadshow giving hundreds of UK students at colleges and universities an exclusive opportunity to test drive our new H4D cameras and engage directly with the company. This has already proved to be a hugely successful campaign to win hearts and minds with young audiences, and a great chance for us to dispel any previous misconceptions about Hasselblad pricing and service. Our Studio Days and Phocus seminars are providing us with an ideal outreach to photographers who can now really grasp the chance to become a real part of the Hasselblad community. Studio Days have been an eye opener for young photographers who may have previously thought Hasselblad cameras too complex for them. We’ve been dispelling those myths up and down the UK. The launch of Phocus 2.0, the world’s most powerful image processing software, and the ultimate key to a fast, effective workflow, has been widely acclaimed by Hasselblad owners. The announcement of our Hasselbuddy programme, run through our new-look customer care team, gives photo- graphers a link to a unique, bespoke service and one to one contact by phone or email with a member of the team, for the best technical advice, support and workflow assistance. I am also delighted to inform you that in this edition of VICTOR online you will see a superb feature on top UKbased car photographer, Tim Wallace. I have known Tim for over two years and we’ve worked together on a number of location/education shoots. Tim’s passion for our cameras, in tandem with his outstanding professional skill and ability to deliver jaw-dropping images, is simply breathtaking. I have no doubt you will love his work.
Pictures taken by Tim Wallace – like the Morgan on the cover or this shot of an Aston Martin One77 – always cause an emotional impact
04 >> news Hasselblad Owners’ Club: a fashion shot by Alessandro Dobici has been chosen as the first Photo of the Month · Hasselblad Masters Award 2010: announcing the new members of the jury
06 >> Tim Wallace Images taken by Wallace capture the car photographer’s personal feelings about his subject, which explains how he was able to develop a unique style and establish himself so quickly in the market.
22 >> amedeo m. Turello The Italian photographer is passionate about immortalizing the style, elegance and charm of women. He has recently published a book collecting together his best images from the past ten years.
40 >> carl lyttle Photographer Carl Lyttle, a former Hasselblad Master, couples perfectionism with a high level of individuality and diversity. In his images he combines static grandeur with cinematic dynamics.
42 >> Morten Qvale The high voltage close-up pictures taken by Norwegian beauty and fashion photographer Morten Qvale are truly riveting: brilliant, colorful, impressive. He shoots with an H3DII-50.
48 >> preview Award-winning, American reportage photographer, Steve McCurry, set out to explore Thailand equipped with the new Hasselblad H4D-40 – and shows his most outstanding images.
Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad UK Managing Director
ONLINE 4/2010
3
victornEWS community first photo of the month chosen
This nostalgic, dreamy fashion shot taken by Alessandro Dobici was chosen as Photo of the Month of April by registered users of the Hasselblad Owners’ Club
Alessandro Dobici is a winner! Registered members of the Hasselblad Owners’ Club chose his nostalgic, dreamy fashion shot as Photo of the Month, making the Italian photographer the first to receive this honor. Dobici faced stiff competition: over 1800 images were in the running for April’s Photo of the Month, showing how wholeheartedly the Hasselblad community has adopted the Hasselblad Owners’ Club since it went on-line on February 22 this year. During the very first weeks, the site received over 5000
The portfolio page of the April winner, Alessandro Dobici, on the Hasselblad Owners’ Club site (above); the ten photos receiving most votes appear on the Top 10 page (ri.)
4
ONLINE 4/2010
competition Hasselblad Masters: new jury members visitors. For registered Hasselblad users signing up is free. By the end of March, several hundreds had registered and uploaded six of their best images. Each person who uploads pictures can decide if the photos are in the competition and, theoretically, all six pictures can be submitted for Photo of the Month. On the first day of each month, the winning image will appear on the Hasselblad Owners’ Club website; and on the Top 10 page, another nine pictures considered worthy of mention will also be displayed. Passing the courser over any of the Top 10 pictures will not only reveal which photographer took the picture, but also a short biography – with information such as the fact that Alessandro Dobici was born in Rome in 1970. Dobici’s winning picture will be exhibited on the site during the month of April, as well as in the News segment of the main Hasselblad website. In addition, all the Photos of the Month chosen until September will be on display at the Hasselblad booth at Photokina in Cologne/Germany – another chance to be seen by international photo experts. Photo of the Month photographers will also get a full presentation in VICTOR online. As of the May issue, the previous month’s winner will appear in VICTOR online, allowing you to learn more about the aesthetic approaches and technical preferences of each photographer – as well as getting to see more of his or her outstanding pictures. ■
Shortly after the Hasselblad Masters Award 2010 was announced, a jury was put together providing an even wider range of experience and perspective to this exciting competition. The most recent member is the top American photographer, Michael Grecco, who knows the meaning of the Hasselblad Masters Awards very well – in 2001, the year the now renowned competition was first launched, he was made one of the Hasselblad Masters. Having acclaimed photographer Michael Grecco on board fits the independent jury’s make-up perfectly. Judging the Hasselblad Masters Awards for the third time, the 2010 jury is mostly made up of celebrated photographers: Peter Bialobrzeski (Germany), Steve McCurry (USA), Tim Flach (UK), F. C. Gundlach (Germany), Douglas Kirkland (USA), Joachim Ladefoged (Denmark), Xie Mo (China) and
Efrem Raimondi (Italy), in addition to leading photo journalists from England, China, Germany and France. Supported by the public – these professionals will choose the eleven photographers who will each become the Hasselblad Master 2010 in their respective category. Any professional photographer using some form of medium or large format system, and wanting to submit his or her work to the jury’s scrutiny, can do so up to December 31, 2010 at www.hasselblad.com. ■
Which eleven photographers will be chosen Hasselblad Masters 2010, is in the hands of a top-quality, international jury of experts – American photographer Michael Grecco is its newest member
PHoTo: KEvin THEn
welcoming a new generation. the haSSelblad h4d-40.
With the new H4D-40, Hasselblad is bringing ultimate image quality to an entirely new generation of photographers. Featuring a 40 Megapixel Medium Format sensor, our Phocus 2.0 software, and the new True Focus AF, the H4D-40 is as easy to use as any 35mm camera and provides the perfect entry point into the Hasselblad world. Designed to meet the needs of the world’s most demanding high-end photographers, the H4D-40 (starting at 12,995 EUR) gives you full access to the entire Hasselblad range of professional lenses and features – at whatever stage your career is at.
So go ahead – evolve.
the hasselblad h4d-40 with true Focus technology.
Tim Wallace British car photographer, Tim Wallace, is more interested in an emotional response than in the technology – except in his choice of equipment: he works with Hasselblad cameras, principally an H3DII-39 or an H3DII-50. Seeing his pictures, you would never guess that Wallace has only been photographing cars for three years.
Tim Wallace shot this Aston Martin Vantage outside the Sage building in Newcastle for The Aston Workshop as part of the 2010 Aston Calendar. “We had a window of 20 minutes to complete the shot, not much time but an image that I’m very happy with,” he says
6
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
7
Left page, above: Tim Wallace photographed this Aston Martin Classic DB6 Mk1 for an advertising feature – “I really wanted to give the car a platform for its sheer elegance and stature.” Left page below: Detail of the Aston Martin One-77
8
ONLINE 4/2010
Right page, above: When a storm began to brew during the Aston Martin DB7 GT shoot, Wallace quick ly organised a protective sheeting – “We simply draped this over the car and shot 2 frames before the rain started.” Right page, below: Details of the Morgan Aero 8
ONLINE 4/2010
9
10
ONLINE 4/2010
Left page: “For me this image of an Aston Martin DB6 is typical of my current shooting style; it’s in a way an ‘automotive portrait’. I’m looking to capture the ‘essence’ of how the car makes me feel.” Right page: Aston Martin images shot for magazine features
ONLINE 4/2010
11
Many think this picture of an Aston Martin DB5 was done with CGI, but it was taken at a vintage train repair yard. “After a lot of ‘shunting’ and much steam, the shot was taken using an array of lights to pick out the steam drifting on the tracks and give the car a clear but atmospheric feel that was sympathetic to its years.”
12
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
13
“Shot on the H3DII again, this is possibly one of my favourite recent shots featuring the Morgan Aero 8, shot for the manufacturer. The brief was to show the car in a modern light that would break away from tradition and appeal to a younger customer demographic.�
14
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
15
Left page from above: Ford GT shot for “Vitesse�; Morgan Aero 8 shot for Morgan; Aston Martin Vanquish; Right page: Aston Martin One-77 captured on the H3DII at the Aston Design Centre for a feature advertising campaign and for the 75th Anniversary Aston Dairy
16
ONLINE 4/2010
Cons nonummy nibh euismod tincidt utectetuer adipiscing elit, sediam volupat wis enim minim veniam, quis nostru exerci tation ullam. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, cons nonummy nibh euis mod tincidunt ectetuir adipiscing elit, sediam volupat utwis ONLINE 4/2010
17
18
ONLINE 4/2010
Left and right page, above: Wallace shot the new Ford GT model for UK super car client “Vitesse” – “I got a few strange looks when I took the Ford into a rundown industrial area, but to me the car represented a blue collar working class hero and as such it needed that roughness to the location.”
Below from left: Close-up of an Aston Martin One-77’s engine plaque, shot with a 110mm on an H3DII-39; Wallace took this shot of an engine gear for the 2010 Mercedes Commercial Parts calendar; with this shot of a Maserati engine cap, Wallace underlines the grace and beauty of this car
ONLINE 4/2010
19
Portfolio Tim Wallace
British photographer, Tim Wallace, loves a challenge: if told something is impossible, he will prove the contrary. Beginning his career as a 16 year-old in the Daily Mail Group darkroom, Wallace later worked as an agency photographer, with large media companies such as Virgin and Orange, and also served in the Marines. In his mid thirties, he suffered a 147-foot fall while climbing in Norway, leading doctors to say he would never walk again; but a year and a half later, sheer will power had him back on his feet. Wondering what to do next with his life, he ultimately decided to become a professional car photographer. He began his new career three years ago. Putting together a business plan in four days, the initial reactions were not very encouraging: “You’re too old and you don’t live in London.” But that was not enough to dissuade Wallace. Starting out with an analogue camera, he quickly changed to a digital 35mm and, after a year on the job, turned to Hasselblad digital cameras. “When I bought into Hasselblad, I bought into the lenses,” Wallace explains, and adds, “Always invest in good glass.” Hasselblad equipment and the company’s back-up service, are very important to Wallace; even so, he pays little attention to the technology. “I’m probably the least technical photographer you’ll ever meet,” he claims. “The camera captures the light, but it’s your heart that makes the image.” When Wallace composes a picture, he intuitively draws on his many years of experience in the darkroom. “I see it as a print, so I shoot it as a print. How it’s going to look is already in my mind,” he explains. This approach is reflected in his aesthetic imagery, which provokes strong emotions in the viewer. Wallace considers his style perfectly appropriate because he reckons people buy such cars because of the way
20
ONLINE 4/2010
“This shot shows an Aston Martin DB5 that has been through a drive conversion from left to right hand drive as well as a full interior retrim,” Tim Wallace explains
Right page: Wallace photographed the new Audi A4 for a client in the US; below: in addition to cars, Wallace photographs other products, such as this Seiko Kinetic watch
they make them feel. As pointedly expressed to him by Aston Martin designer, Marek Reichman, “You shoot the way the car makes you feel.” As the assignment is ultimately about selling cars, Wallace considers the emotional approach is key. “Photographing cars, and indeed any professional vehicle, can be quite difficult. For me it’s all about shooting the image to fit the client. That may be a shot that is powerful and aggressive or one that gives an air of grace and beauty to the car, truck, or whatever the vehicle. In some ways I view each car as a distinct personality, and the starting point is to understand what the design and overall purpose is trying to put across.” Wallace’s rapid success in his field speaks for itself. Alongside Aston Martin, his clients include Morgan and Mercedes Benz. Back in 2007, he produced the first “live shoot” seminar in collaboration with Jaguar – an industry first in British car photography. Nowadays the seminars take place on a yearly basis in collaboration with Land Rover, Jaguar and Morgan. Deeply concentrated while he works, Wallace usually takes only 20 to 25 pictures a day. “It has to be worth the effort every time I release the trigger,” he explains. “The cars, they’re like sculptures to me. The shape, that’s what I’m interested in.” To ensure an emotional response, Wallace looks for a strong interaction with the background, which is why he prefers to work on location. “There are a lot of car photographers who spend their whole life in the studio. I avoid it if I can.” This takes him outside – in nature, on railway tracks or in cities – looking for atmospheric settings in which to photograph the cars. And timing is, of course, fundamental. Like when he managed to photograph an Aston Martin in front of dark storm clouds just before the first raindrops marred the high-lacquer finish. www.ambientlife.co.uk
ONLINE 4/2010
21
22
ONLINE 4/2010
Amedeo M. Turello “10 Years Celebrating Women” – a monumental photo book by Italian photographer Amedeo M. Turello – does a wonderful job of capturing the style, elegance and charm of women. Whether in color or black & white, Turello – who first studied architecture – creates an interaction between model and setting that awakens an emotional response in the viewer.
Talking about a photo shoot with Amedeo M. Turello in New York, 2009, model Irina Shayk says: “Amedeo has a great energy about him. He’s so talented and easy to work with, it wasn’t hard to get great shots.”
ONLINE 4/2010
23
24
ONLINE 4/2010
Left: Anastassia Khozissova, New York, 2008: “Amedeo brought a lot of energy and humor to the set, which inspired everybody.” Right: Janeta Samp, Milan, 2009: “Anyone can pick up a camera. But only the creative mind, such as Amedeo’s, is able to include something more subtle.”
ONLINE 4/2010
25
Dita Von Teese, Senigallia, 2007: “When I was performing at the Summer Jamboree on the Italian Riviera in Senigallia, Amedeo insisted we needed to shoot at the Art Deco Rotunda. It is always a great surprise to see the results. Details that seemed inconsequential become vital parts of the scenery.“
26
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
27
28
ONLINE 4/2010
Simona Levenok, Saint Tropez, 2009: “Out of a dark corner of your unconscious mind, Amedeo brings out your sensuality and feeling of being a beautiful woman. He ex poses your deepest inner nature.”
ONLINE 4/2010
29
30
ONLINE 4/2010
Left: Nastya Kunskaya, Saint Tropez, 2009: “Amedeo’s compositions are put together with his own, unique twist – something that is difficult to find in photographers nowadays.” Right: Anta Fall, Cannes, 2007
Erin O’Connor, Cliveden House, London, 2008: “Amedeo’s approach is certainly influenced by high cultural references from the past, yet he is able to interpret his classic and elegant taste …
32
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
33
34
ONLINE 4/2010
… with an incredible, modern eye. His unique work and constant search for beauty is re assuring. I have always enjoyed working with him.“
ONLINE 4/2010
35
Anna Chyzh, Milan, 2009: “Each of his pictures opens the beauty of his muse and evokes a gentle yet sensual realism. He has an innate love and respect for the fun damentals of the female form.”
36
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
37
Portfolio Amedeo M. Turello
“The birth of my career as a photographer was linked to Hasselblad,” renowned Italian photographer, Amedeo M. Turello, explains. The son of a north Italian furniture manufacturer, Turello first studied architecture, then worked as a graphic designer and publisher. Everything changed, however, the day his father gave him a used analogue Hasselblad from the 2000 series. Taking pictures with the Hasselblad, Turello immediately discovered a passion for photography, which lead him to turn professional in 1999 when he was 35. The genre he chose to work in was fashion photography. His unique style reflects an ability to place his mostly female models in the perfect setting, harmoniously incorporating the tiniest details of clothes, accessories, expression and pose. “Every time I shoot, it’s important for me to create a relationship between the subject and the space – be it a wall, a strange floor, a carpet, or a window,” Turello explains. Turello makes good use of his knowledge of architecture and sense for shapes, colors and emotions. “For me, photography is more a question of art, emotion and expression,” the self-taught photographer says of his work. Since beginning his career, he works exclusively with Hasselblad cameras – currently mostly with his H3DII. In addition to the unequalled results, he appreciates Hasselblad’s dependability, which he feels he can rely on wherever he may be working – at his adopted home in Monte Carlo, on a fashion shoot above Sweden’s Arctic Circle, in Morocco, or in the Mojave desert. After working in the fashion scene for ten years, photographing around
38
ONLINE 4/2010
Above: Emmanuelle Seigner, Paris, 2006: “The shoot was fantastic. He was fast, funny, complimentary and a true gentleman.”; Right: Alice Rausch, San Felice, 2008: “Amedeo is possibly the photogra pher I’ve had the best connection with in such a short time.”
Below: Nicole Trunfio, New York, 2009: “The elements of sensuality in the finished images are defi nitely part of the natural alchemy between photographer and model.”
1700 female models for international magazines and designers – including such renowned stars as Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Dita Von Teese –, Turello decided the time had come to create a book in honor of feminine beauty. “10 Years Celebrating Women”, which appeared in book stores last November, presents 245 of his most beautiful and touching pictures of women – some in black & white, some in color. However, it’s not about perfect beauty, which Turello finds boring, but rather about creating an emotional response to the particular style, elegance, appeal and charm of each of the women. The photo shoot Turello remembers most fondly was with the now 78 year-old American cult model Carmen dell’Orefice. Having this iconic beauty in front of the camera brought tears to his eyes – it was such a wonderful moment – like a dancing swan. The photographer finds working with female models both pleasant and productive, quickly managing to build relationships of trust. “Women feel very safe with me. They’re comfortable and there’s a lot of trust. That’s why they give me the best they can and are never shy with me,” Turello says, describing the process. “The women always try to seduce me in front of the camera.” It’s the subtle tension and attraction captured in the images that bring the viewer back to the book time and again. The photographer’s next big book project is already in the works: he is photographing top models with exotic fish in the aquarium at the Oceanographic Museum in Monte Carlo, interpreting the relationship between life and water in his own particular way – as well as celebrating feminine beauty once more. Amedeo M. Turello: “10 Years Celebrating Women”, Style Book, 288 pp., 47,90 Euro www.amedeoturello.com
ONLINE 4/2010
39
Hasselblad Masters 2007
Carl Lyttle
Born in 1965 in Belfast/Northern Ireland | 1983–1986 apprentice at the Anderson McMeekin Studio in Belfast | 1986–1989 studied photography at the Bournemouth & Poole College | 1988–1989 photo assistant with Christopher Joyce | freelance photographer since 1991 | Advertisements for Nissan, Audi, Renault, Mercedes, HSBC, B.A.T., BT, O2, Orange, Vittel and more| Awards include AOP Award 1992, 1994, 1999, 2003
Photograph of a jewel for Corbis (2005, top); picture of a New York skyscraper for a personal assignment (2003, above)
The beginning. I was raised in Belfast and felt right at home in the 1970s’ Irish punk scene. Back then I wished I could take photographs of bands, just like famous Anton Corbijn was doing. When I was 15 or 16, I started using a small camera to take pictures at concerts. The heroes. Several years ago I met Anton Corbijn for dinner. It was a big moment for me. Normally I’m not that interested in celebrities, but I would love to meet some of the outstanding contemporary pho tographers, like Irving Penn. The hobby horse. Photography is my favorite pastime – I eat, sleep and breathe it. But my biggest love is for my family, so I try to balance the photographic addiction and the time I spend with my wife and kids. My family inspires my work; and both must be enveloped by music, as that was my first big love and still plays an important role in my life.
The excitement. We shut down Wall Street in New York for a full day to do the Chrysler Stratus shoot. We had sophisticated special effects and a huge crew. Being the photographer was extremely nerve wracking because it was up to me to take the pictures. Having the responsibility for a project like this keeps the adrenaline pumping. The dream. As a photographer I’m constantly faced with new challenges and places across the world. This is my dream and I am living it. The nightmare. I always think positively – sometimes maybe even excessively so. I am an optimist, which is why I believe I can handle any situation – as long as I don’t see it as a nightmare. And in most cases, I don’t. The philosophy. Passion and determination lead to victory. Most of all it’s the passion for photography that nurtures creativity and produces the heartbeat of the creative process. But I also believe that, without a well-founded technical basis, it is impossible to take one’s work to the next level and communicate that passion in the right way. The treasure. I’m always honored when I receive an award by the Association of Photographers, as it’s an association that brings together some exceptional talent. The Hasselblad. I work with the H3DII-39 and love the camera. The new menu control options are fantastic – and so is the large screen. To me what’s important is optical quality and a camera back with a large pixel count and high resolution. Stability and reliability are also important factors, since most of my photo shoots take place outdoors – in the most diverse and extreme conditions. Carl Lyttle is a Hasselblad Master because he manages to couple his perfectionism with a high level of individuality and diversity. That’s how he manages to create photographs both commercial and expressive – images that are static and monumental, or cinematographic and dynamic, but always impressive.
40
ONLINE 4/2010
Lyttle photographed the Mercedes CL 65 AMG in Chicago for the Moofe data base, specializing in High Dynamic Range pictures (2007, above); the Nissan Micra in Barcelona for the Egraphics/TBWA adverstising agency (2007, left)
www.carllyttle.com www.hasselblad.com
Carl Lyttle went to Death Valley in the Mojave Desert where he staged the “Man on the Moon” for Microsoft (2003, right); on an assignment for Getty Images in a swimming pool in South Africa’s Cape Town (2006, far right)
ONLINE 4/2010
41
eye catcher Brilliant, colorful, impressive – these stunning close-ups by Norwegian fashion and beauty photographer Morten Qvale grab your attention. He took the pictures with the new H3DII-50. PHotos: Morten Qvale
ONLINE 4/2010
ONLINE 4/2010
43
ONLINE 4/2010
Open (previous page) or closed (left) – eyes photographed by Morten Qvale leave a rather hypnotic impression. Make-up artist Amar Faiz is responsible for the powerful color scheme and the outlandish special effects (next page)
ONLINE 4/2010
45
eye catcher morten qvale Norwegian photographer Morten Qvale was born in 1957 in Drøbak, a little town about 40 kilometres south of Oslo. After training as a graphic artist, he turned to business. In 1983 he started up Norway’s first ever fashion magazine, Tique, working together with some of the worlds most famous fashion photographers. In 1986, Qvale increasingly picked up the camera himself and finally turned to freelance photography. His works have been published in, among others, Vanity Fair, Elle, FHM, and Men’s Health. Some of his commercial customers are Oscar de la Renta, IBM, Sony Ericsson, l‘Oréal, Garnier, Ricco Vero, Elixia, Synsame, Damas Jewellery, David Andersen and Max Factor.
Hair: Takeshi Cato using Bumble and bumble products. Make-up: Amar Faiz, Liz Martin/Naked. Models: Ulrikke/Heartbreak, Linnea Hellbom/Mikas, Tabitha/Models 1 Dress: Ruggiero De Santis. Photo assistants: Thomas Qvale, John Kerlefsen, Janne Rugland, Truls M. Qvale. Studios: Zone 5 Studios A/S, Snap Studio/London. Digital Artwork: Valentina/Happy Finish
www.mortenqvale.no
46
ONLINE 4/2010
Morten Qvale does nothing in half measures. In his youth, he discovered a passion for kayaking and trained twice daily for two years, finally winning silver at the Norwegian championships. Qvale’s approach to photography is similar, he seeks to be involved in every aspect of the creative process – not just one. His journey to photography began in a roundabout way back in 1983 when Qvale produced Tique the first ever Norwegian fashion magazine, and worked with the best fashion photographers of the time. It was the perfect place to learn all about photography and effective lighting. His passion aroused, he let the masters teach him everything they knew about the medium’s technological and creative aspects. In 1986, he was finally able to include his own fashion series in Tique. “My photographic training was extremely expensive,” Qvale says with a laugh. “One of the highlights was Bill King shooting with Isabella Rossellini. He was a fashion photography great.” Since then, Qvale has sold Tique and is dedicated to photography full time, doing fashion shoots with such famous models as Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Agyness Deyn. To put the new H3DII-50 to the test in studio conditions,
Qvale – who normally works with an H3DII-39 – opted for beauty and fashion shoots. Together with talented make-up artist, Amar Faiz, he took a series of pictures with brilliant colors and sharp contrasts. “I decided to use a strong light source, so I opted for a Broncolor flash with a conical snoot. The harsh light gave the colors the stark brilliance I was looking for,” Qvale explains. In contrast to the radiance of the make-up, he was concerned about keeping a natural skin tone – something that can be very problematic with digital images, especially extreme close-ups. For the beauty shots, Qvale got so close that you can spot the tiniest particle on the eye-shadow, each individual eye-lash, and every sparkle on the lips. Despite the extreme proximity, the H3DII-50 had no difficulty dealing with the skin tones. “The harsh light I used and the angle of the light to the face, allowed me to produce stark contrasts and shadows. In the past, the dark parts of the skin presented a problem even for analogue cameras. The H3DII50, however, manages to rise to the challenge pretty well,” Qvale reports. It is precisely the interplay of contrast and shadows that provides the tension and intensity of his beauty shots.
The make-up used in these pictures is very much in line with the current Zeitgeist, yet Qvale’s photographs taken with the H3DII-50 also have a timeless and classic aesthetic quality. Curiously, the half-nude shots came about quite by chance. “Tabitha is a model with a beautiful body,” Qvale raves. “But she’s rather tall, which meant that some clothes were too short for her.” Consequently, Qvale decided to use the clothes somewhat differently – and Tabitha agreed: the model was photographed only partially covered, resulting in lovely half-nude black & white pictures.
Morten Qvale captures model Tabitha in a series of timeless, classic photographs. She looks great with or without a top, immortalised in black & white
Qvale could well imagine including some of them in his next exhibition. Morten Qvale was delighted with the results of the H3DII-50 photo shoots, as well as the camera’s speed. Having learnt so much from others, he’s also happy to pass on his passion and technical know-how to others: for the beauty shoot, Thomas Qvale was among his assistants; for the fashion shoot, Truls M. Qvale. These are Qvale’s sons, both clearly focussed on photographic careers and just about to set off for New York. If they are anywhere near as committed and ambitious as their father, they are bound for success. Qvale, who considers the constantly increasing standards of fashion and beauty photography as an incentive to improve his own performance, explains his motivation: “Maybe it’s my old competitive spirit that’s resurfacing. As an artistic photographer, I hope to one day produce a picture that will become iconic.” susanne schmitt
Next victor online: 1 MAy 2010 Be surprised by inspiring portfolios, keep up-to-date with the most significant photographic trends and read leading news for the photography community. On May 1st, 2010, check your monitor for the next issue of VICTOR online.
Steve Mccurry >> the new H4D-40 on a reportage tour with the great American photographer
Benjamin A. Monn >> the essence of modern architecture in compositions of colour and shapes
Imprint
Photo of the month
VICTOR online | 4/2010 www.victorbyhasselblad.com info@victorbyhasselblad.com
>> discover the aesthetic world of the photographer who took the Hasselblad Owners’ Club photo of the month
Publisher: Stephan Bittner, Center of Service GmbH
Items and topics in the next issue of VICTOR online may be changed or post-poned due to editorial or other reasons.
48
ONLINE 4/2010
Realization: IDC Corporate Publishing GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
Publishing House /Advertising: Center of Service GmbH Hammerbrookstr. 93 20097 Hamburg, Germany Tel.: + 49.40.25 40 48-69 (Fax: - 40) E-mail: info@centerofservice.com
All articles and illustrations contained in the online magazine are subject to the laws of copyright. Any form of utilisation beyond the narrow limits imposed by the laws of copyright and without the expressed permission of the publisher is forbidden and will be prosecuted. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited material and this will only be returned if appropriate postage is included.
Photographer Relations Manager Hasselblad: Christian Nørgaard Christian.Norgaard@Hasselblad.dk
Hasselblad is a registered trademark of Victor Hasselblad A/S, Denmark. Place of jurisdiction and execution: Hamburg, Germany