See more of his work here.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Misc Inspirations: Tim Walker's Blow up
"In W magazine April 2011 issue, photographer Tim Walker brings his favorite paintings to life.
When super-sized to fill the walls of England’s Glemham Hall, 18th- and 19th-century portraits of Baroness de Rothschild, Madame de Pompadour, and other nobles burst out of their frames and into the present.
What would happen if you made a painting so big that it became almost real? And what if the characters in that painting started to fall out and into our reality? These were the thoughts percolating in photographer Tim Walker’s mind when he conceived of “Blow-Up” in W magazine April 2011 issue.
Walker, together with set and costume designer Rhea Thierstein and their respective teams, spent days super-sizing some of his favorite works, like François-Hubert Drouale’s Madame de Pompadour at Her Tambour Frame and James Jacques Joseph Tissot’s Frederick Gustavus Burnaby, and then transferring them onto the walls of Glemham Hall, a vast Elizabethan house in Suffolk, England. “There’s something ghostly about it,” says Walker, “something of the past.”" - Source
Monday 14 March 2011
Sunday 13 March 2011
Inspirational Photographers: Bruno Dayan
"A freelance artist, Dayan is not associated with any agency. Despite working for himself, he has had no trouble in landing golden contracts. The first mark that he collaborated with was none other than Louis Vuitton in 1997. The first contract was a success: the photo shoot for Louis Vuitton on “The seven big photos” was very well received. Since his first contract, Dayan has become a household name in fashion photography, shooting huge publicity campaigns for ready-to-wear lines like Moschino, lingerie adverts for Lejaby and Chantal Thomas as well as beauty shoots for Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.
Bruno Dayan’s world of photography is sophisticated and glamorous, and his shots demonstrate a remarkable expertise when it comes to light and shadows. He has shown off his exceptional talent in his snaps for the Dior’s perfume Poison and Yves Saint Laurent’s Baby Doll as well as in his campaigns for Moschino and Louis Vuitton. Bruno Dayan’s work always captures sensual and graphic elements of his subjects that are very pleasing to the eye." - Source
Inspirational Photographers: Paolo Roversi
Paolo Roversi is a photographer who's work never fails to enchant me.
"« For me, light is life – and the first light that I see is the
sun », says Italian-born fashion photographer Paolo Roversi. « So
when I think about light, I think about the sun and nothing else.
Window light is the most important light for me. When I take a
picture using window light, I always think about what a long trip
the light is making to reach my subject. »
«My studio is a place for the chance, the dream, the imaginary to
prevail. I give these forces as much space as I can. »
While he prefers « to be lost in the mystery of it all », he
recognizes that there is a single motive at work in his
creations. « I am always in search of beauty. This I know for
sure. Beauty is something that attracts me completely all of the
time and pushes me far in search of something. »
In an industry that has glamorized grunge, misogyny and heroin
chic, Roversi’s reverence for his female muses has remained a
constant. His images have been described as « romantic »,
« tender », « ethereal », « erotic » and « exquisitely
beautiful »." - Source
"Born in Ravenna in 1947, Paolo Roversi’s interest in photography was
kindled as a teenager during a family vacation in Spain in 1964.
Back home, he set up a darkroom in a convenient cellar with another
keen amateur, the local postman Battista Minguzzi, and began
developing and printing his own black & white work. The encounter
with a local professional photographer Nevio Natali was very
important: in Nevio’s studio Paolo spent many many hours realising
an important apprenticeship as well as a strong durable friendship.
In 1970 he started collaborating with the Associated Press: on his
first assignment, AP sent Paolo to cover Ezra Pound’s funeral in
Venice. During the same year Paolo opened, with his friend Giancarlo
Gramantieri his first portrait studio, located in Ravenna, via
Cavour, 58, photographing local celebrities and their families. In
1971 he met by chance in Ravenna, Peter Knapp, the legendary Art
Director of Elle magazine. At Knapp’s invitation, Paolo visited
Paris in November 1973 and has never left.
In Paris Paolo started working as a reporter for the Huppert Agency
but little by little, through his friends, he began to approach
fashion photography. The photographers who really interested him
then were reporters. At that moment he didn’t know much about
fashion or fashion photography. Only later he discovered the work
of Avedon, Penn, Newton, Bourdin and many others.
The British photographer Lawrence Sackmann took Paolo on as his
assistant in 1974. « Sackmann was very difficult. Most assistants
only lasted a week before running away. But he taught me everything
I needed to know in order to become a professional photographer.
Sackmann taught me creativity. He was always trying new things even
if he did always use the same camera and flash set-up. He was almost
military-like in his approach to preparation for a shoot. But he
always used to say ‘your tripod and your camera must be well-fixed
but your eyes and mind should be free’”. Paolo endured Sackmann for
nine months before starting on his own with small jobs here and
there for magazines like Elle and Depeche Mode until Marie Claire
published his first major fashion story. A Christian Dior beauty
campaign brought him wider recognition in 1980, the year he started
using the 8 x 10” Polaroid format that would become his trademark.
Not only because of the large camera, Paolo has always preferred
working in studio. In his first years in Paris, the studio was very
often a room from his own different apartments, all on the left
bank, until he found in 1981 the studio located in 9 rue Paul Fort
where he is still working.
In the middle of the ‘80s the fashion industry was very keen to
produce catalogues which allowed photographers to express a very
creative and personal work: Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Romeo
Gigli… gave Paolo that opportunity.
During his travels to India, Yemen… Paolo took many portraits; we
can see some of them in his books ANGELI and Al Moukalla; a book about India is in preparation. Paolo has also realised some
commercials. Since the middle 80’ his work has been subject to many
exhibitions and books and many awards have honoured his work. Today
Paolo has a regular collaboration with the most interesting fashion
magazines and fashion designers." - Source
Inspirational Photographers: Craig Mcdean
Craig Mcdean has shot some of my favourite editorials ever, most notably "The Now Smash of Style" and "Magnificent Express" both were shot for Vogue Italia
"Craig McDean is a photographer and filmmaker who is renowned for his striking fashion imagery and portraiture. Having discovered photography by taking pictures of his rocker friends in the North of England, McDean moved to London, where he assisted before striking out on his own with assignments for i-D and The Face. In 1999, McDean made his highly anticipated publishing debut with 'I Love Fast Cars', his homage to the world of drag racing and the community who love it. In 2004, his second book, ‘Lifescapes’, was published by Steidl/Dangin. McDean currently lives in New York, and has photographed campaigns for Dior, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, Estee Lauder, and Calvin Klein. He regularly contributes to a range of international fashion publications including W, American, French, British and Italian Vogue, and Another Magazine. He is a 2008 recipient of the ICP Infinity Award." - Source
Inspirational Photographers: Tim Walker
Tim walker has shot a number of Tim Burton inspired shoots, the most notable being "Tim Burton's Magical Fashion" From the Halloween issue of Harpers Bazaar 2009.
Walker also shot "Tales of the Unexpected" featuring Tim Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter for Vogue UK
"Born in England in 1970, Tim Walker's fascination with photography began in Condé Nast's very own library in London - where the photographer worked on the Cecil Beaton archive as part of a year's work experience prior to going to university. His work - underpinned by a magical and eccentric charm - has since gone on to grace the pages of Vogue, where he continues to wow with his extravagant settings and theatrical characters.
- Walker came third in The Independent newspaper photography awards which led to a three-year photography BA (Hons) degree at Exeter College of Art.
- After graduating in 1994, Walker worked as a freelance photography assistant in London before moving to New York to work full-time as assistant to Richard Avedon. When he returned to England, he initially focused his attention on portrait and documentary work for UK newspapers.
- Walker shot his first fashion story for Vogue at the age of 25.
- In 2008, his first major show was held at the Design Museum in London and coincided with the publication of his first book, entitled Pictures.
- Walker received the Isabella Blow award for Fashion Creator at the British Fashion Awards in 2008.
- In May 2009, he received an infinity award from The International Centre of Photography in New York for his work as a fashion photographer.
- Both the Victoria & Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in London have photographs of Tim Walker in their permanent collections.
- Walker has shot two front covers for British Vogue - Lily Cole on the July 2005 cover and Stella Tenant on the November 2005 issue." - Source
Some more of Walker's work i enjoy:
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