Kelsey says about this daring venture: “Most fashion shorts I’ve seen tend to look great, but can feel like stretched-out adverts. We wanted something with depth, and a genuine narrative . . . the new winter collection [is] dark, loaded with hard edges and rock chick attitude. We wanted the film to reflect this, while pushing the envelope within the genre.”
And it is indeed daring…and bold; as well as beautifully shot and incredibly intriguing. And apparently there’s more to come – I’m on the edge of my seat already.
The July 09 issue of Italian Vogue sees the return of Kristen McMenamy, one of the 90s supermodels. Shot by Steven Meisel, it’s incredible to see “The Legend” working it once again.
Dutch photographers, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, have been partners in every sense, since meeting in 1986. They mixed their separate fashion design and art backgrounds to create a new wave in fashion/art photography and pushed boundaries using image manipulation, quirky compositions and humour to produce images which have changed the perception of typical fashion photography.
YSL Manifestos
And they are now working, amongst other advertising, on the unique YSL Manifesto seasonal campaigns. These are great ad campaigns with the image book, behind-the-scenes video and free gift, all released simultaneously in major cities on the streets, and on the YSL website. Campaigns have featured some of fashion’s most iconic models such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer.
Starting on 18 Sept 2009, Somerset House will host a series of events, produced by the legendary Nick Knight. Events will include specially commissioned Fashion Films; collaborations with Alexander McQueen, Peter Saville, Liberty Ross, Heston Blumenthal, Gareth Pugh, Simon Foxton and Julie Verhoeven; and even a live photographic studio with Nick Knight and other leading photographers taking 100 portraits of London’s in-crowd of models, musicians, actors and artists. So, bookmark this in your diary now.
From 18 September to 20 December at Somerset House.
For those of you who live in London, or happen to be visiting, get over to The Wapping Project to see the ‘Unseen: Guy Bourdin‘ exhibition, featuring 32 never-before-seen images from this iconic French fashion photographer.
Despite Guy wanting all of his photographs destroyed after his death (1991), The Wapping Project founder and director Jules Wright says,
“It is a bit of a conundrum. However, from my point of view, I think the work is extraordinary and it deserves to be seen. It’s so influential and I’m pleased and delighted to be showing it, and for the work to be re-looked at, reappraised, re-thought.”
Following on from the previous ‘one to watch’ Emma Watson post, I just had to put up these images of her in the new Burberry AW 09 campaign, shot by Mario Testino. These are hot off the press.
“Emma has a classic beauty, a great character and a modern edge. Her charm, intellect and brilliant sense of fun made the whole shoot feel like a picnic on the Thames. He added: ‘I felt Emma would be strong enough to hold the campaign as the only girl, and I loved the idea of her being surrounded by these young, cool British guys.” Chris Bailey, Burberry’s Creative Director. Daily Mail
A classic Mario Testino book, Portraits, can be purchased here.
I know these have been around for a while now, but no good photography blog would be complete without this. Gucci has invested in renowned director, Chris Cunningham, to create a beautiful ad for their new fragrance, Flora. The ad’s cool simplicity and retake on Donna Summer’s classic ‘I Feel Love’ (Chris also did the music) makes this pure inspiration. The tv ad was also supported by a print campaign, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. I’ll be featuring them in a soon-to-come ‘creative collaborations’ post. For your viewing pleasure, I’ve also included the Behind the Scenes film of the ad.
Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, is certainly ‘one to watch’ on the fashion scene. From front-row appearances at the catwalks of London and Paris, to fashion shoots in Italian Vogue, Interview magazine, French mag Crash and VS magazine, Emma will soon be up there with the fashion elite and her simple personal style will make her a red carpet regular for years to come, from movie premiere to awards ceremonies to fashion parties. She’s already been spotted at all the right shows – Chanel to Giambattista Valli to Giles; the right parties – Sonia Rykiel’s anniversary show and party; to the right exhibitions – Patrick Demarchelier’s Paris exhibit. Repped by Storm Models, she has also been signed for Burberry’s AW 09 campaign, rumoured to be the only face of the campaign.
Of all the shoots she has done to date though, the biggest departure from her Hermione image and first sure-footed step into the world of fashion, is her recent shoot for Crash (below), photographed by none other than Karl Lagerfeld.
“This was a dream come true. We spent the whole day together and he can talk about anything — literature, art, science, modern culture. I was totally seduced.” Daily Mail
Perhaps one of the ultimate creative collaborations is Jean-Paul Goude and Grace Jones:-
“Initially, she was flattered by all of my attention,” says Goude on his former muse and lover. “And she’s no dope – Grace is an opportunist and she knew my vision was good for her career. Initially, she let herself be taken over, but then she suspected that I had only fallen in love with her image.” Was that true? “Of course it was! That’s the story of my life.” The Guardian
Jean-Paul Goude, was a photographer and art director when he met Grace Jones. She, at the time, was a model and performer. What began then was the most amazing, inspirational collaboration in our modern creative history. I distinctly remember the first time I saw their work together – work of jawdropping effect. Work so powerful and confident, with the power of its own convictions, that it stood out from everything around it at the time.
Jean-Paul Goude became famous for his other-wordly creations featuring Grace and went to many lengths to achieve them. “What I’m interested is the illusion of reality,” says Goude to The Guardian. To achieve the iconic full-length portrait of Grace, without Photoshop and today’s easy computer manipulation, was a testament to his search for perfection. He did it by cutting up transparencies of many different poses to create a montage of the perfect pose (see stages below). This was to be the launch image of Grace Jones as an icon in 1978.
After that, from album covers to tv ads, his creativity with her knew no bounds. I especially remember the totally shocking Citroen ad – it was way ahead of its time.
25 years later, in Spring 2009, they were ‘together’ again to produce some seriously fierce imagery for V Magazine (above) for the release of her new album ‘Hurricane’, the first in 20 years. You can purchase ‘Hurricane’ here. And Jean-Paul Goude released a retrospective of work to mark his 30-year career, ‘So Far So Goude’, available here.
Just going to show – true talent never fades or ages.
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Quirky ‘fashion’ editorial shoot.
After that, from album covers to tv ads, his creativity with her knew no bounds. I especially remember the totally shocking Citroen ad – it was way ahead of its time.
