Nice one . . . . W

I have always had a keen interest in fashion photography after all I had my sights firmly set on being the next David Bailey, Peter Lindbergh or Steven Meisel during my formative years. I enjoyed some success working my way from front of book to well stories for Mademoiselle capping it off with the infamous 'Panty Raid' spread for Cosmopolitan a few years back. Realizing I had got as far as I could go on my talents things took a turn et voila a new journey of discovery and photographic endeavours began.

I used to eat up the fashion mags as part of my educational diet and had quite the collection. Although my passion for fashion has waned somewhat I am still a huge fan especially the photographic genre. Although I don't spend as much time as I once did trolling through all the fashion gutters every now and then I see a story that just blows my mind.

Long time collaborators Philip-Lorca diCorcia and W Magazine are at it again. This time the diCorcia show landed in Cairo for an epic 30+ pages of well epicness. To say this man has talent would be an understatement, cant help but make one wonder how far one has to go. As is the case in a story of this magnitude the web slide show here doesn't really do the trick. Treat yourself to a copy of the magazine itself or at least give it a good going over on the news stand where the big W pages were made for such a lavish production. Yes APE magazines are the proper vehicle for such beautiful work but I cannot help but wonder why they chose to feature it in all its entirety on their website and not just titillate us with a seductive sampling that might bring in a few extra hard copy sales.

And yes there are credits for the clothing although sometimes the fact that this a fashion shoot and not solely a fine art piece can seem a little blurry. diCorcia has done many features for W over the years in a similar vain but fuck does he still bring it. Why not help them spend some of their budget on realizing his own vision, I am sure we will see some of these pictures filter into his art portfolio or a future book project even a show as some of his previous outings for W have remained relevant to diCorcia long past the news stand sell by date.







Heres to you PLD and W magazine.

Nice one - Wired

It's been a while since I picked out what I consider to be some inspired photo editing and posted about it. Not that there hasn't been a ton that's caught my eye but every now and again there's a real unexpected gem.

Big UP to Wired for commissioning Nick Waplington for a photo essay in the April issue entitled: Unlikely Places Where Wired Pioneers Had Their Eureka ! Moments.

Photo © Nick Waplington

NETFLIX, 1997
Reed Hastings
Founder and CEO of Netflix
Canyon Video (above)
La Honda
California

"I had a big late fee for Apollo 13. It was six weeks late, and I owed the video store $40. I had misplaced the cassette. It was all my fault. I didn't want to tell my wife about it. And I said to myself, 'I'm going to compromise the integrity of my marriage over a late fee' ... I started thinking, 'How come movie rentals don't work like a health club, where, whether you use it a lot or a little, you get the same charge?"

There are 8 pictures in the portfolio and all are available online. Its a great photo driven essay and concept. Waplington is certainly an interesting choice for an assignment like this. One rarely (if ever ?) see's his name on editorial work but this seems to make sense; no big theatrics, lighting rigs or high concept, in fact its rather straightforward and honest especially for a glossy tech publication like Wired. Then again its kind of fascinating how some of the great ideas of our time have come about in some of the most ordinarily mundane nondescript locals. The imagery fits and I cannot help but wonder will the average Wired reader appreciate the subtle touch of the photographer but maybe thats the draw. The rest of the issue is a little photo light so this is certainly the main feature. It wouldn't surprise me if this picks up some awards next year its the kind of thing juries will love.

Noted for his conceptual approach to photography, Waplingtons ground breaking books 'The Wedding' and 'Living Room' are two of my all time favorites.

Heres to you Wired and Nick Waplington !

Nice one . . . . New York Look

Photo © Paolo Pellegrin

Wow ! That's what I said to myself when I saw the inaugural issue of Look magazine; a spin off courtesy of the fashion department at New York. This side project which I believe will be published twice a year takes their usual newsy fashion week coverage and follows it up with a more thorough, digested review of the season from the runways of New York, Milan and Paris.

So if that isn't enough to whet your passion for fashion fear not, the photographs are terrific with one man responsible for the bulk of the issue: all hail Paolo Pellegrin who has turned in a stunning performance with 40 amazing images. I am not even a huge Pellegrin fan to be honest but he nails it here.

I picked up the magazine at the supermarket the other day more out of curiosity then anything else. I didn't even browse through it just brought it home, a little something to amuse myself over lunch, if nothing else Mrs H would enjoy the read. Anyways the cover looks fine so I wasn't overly expectant of too many surprises on the inside; another precious avant guard look at the fashion world me thought.

Well fuck me Pellegrin is on another planet. His refreshing and revealing approach to an oft tackled subject is magical. He was in the thick of the action, Paris, Milan, New York; backstage, front stage, on stage and has turned in a powerhouse portfolio. Black & white and color this is a true master at the top of his game, if nothing else this makes me realize how far I have got to go. As I mentioned already I am not a huge fan of his work but he really brings the funk and the noise here. What an inspired bit of photo editing, not only in choice of photographer and in the edit/layout but also in having the balls and vision to commission one photographer to tackle an entire magazine. Oh and have I said award winning yet, if this doesn't mop some up I don't know what will.

Unfortunately the web version of Look is not up yet but is due in the next few weeks and the pictures are not yet available online. The magazine retails for $5.99 on news stands and while readily available in New York, Barnes and Noble would be your best bet elsewhere. Do yourself a favor and check it out I promise you will not be disappointed even if your not too keen on the fashion.

Here's to you Paolo !

Nice one . . . . Vanity Fair

Photo © Mark Heithoff

Its the usual list of suspects in the December issue of Vanity Fair, Annie (Leibovitz), Norman Jean (Roy), Jonathan (Becker), Michael (Thompson), Mark (Seliger), Gasper (Triangle) but what was really refreshing was to see some new talent breaking through. Kudos to Mark Heithoff for a bang up well story featuring artist of the moment Richard Prince. I really like the opening spread, there's hope for the rest of us one light practitioners yet in this pantheon of big production.

Nice one Mark !

Nice one . . . . ESPN The Magazine

Photos © Dan Winters

Lots of new magazines on the news stands and I am finally getting through the pile. I have been meaning for sometime to post more about interesting commissioning I have come across that really appeals to me since my initial post here.

One story that grabbed my eye was from 'Whats the Jackanory ?' inspirator and perennial 'A Photo Editor' favorite Dan Winters who scaled some dizzy heights for the current issue of ESPN the Magazine with a feature on controversial extreme rock climber Dean Potter. Potter is something of a bad boy whos reputation proceeds him as one the most talented athletes in adventure sports. Not one to be content with climbing he also BASE-jumps and gets extra kicks out of Highlining a more radical version of tightrope walking; developed by climbers the lines are suspended high above the ground with no safety netting, no poles are used for balance and Potter one of the elite only uses a harness during shoots or when outsiders who may break his concentration are present.

Looks like Dan brought the full signature lighting package topside of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park to capture the action. I wonder whether he had Sherpa help or the budget for a helicopter to get the gear ferried up.

Nice one ESPN the Magazine and Dan Winters.

In the course of full disclosure I am a contributing photographer to ESPN The Magazine, more on that in a future post.