05.11.11

Perou’s Dirty, sexy… Jeans

“I am the guy that flies around the world photographing the rich, beautiful and famous people” With those words photographer Perou introduced himself at the beginning of each episode of “Dirty, Sexy things” (you can still catch it on Channel 4 OD if you missed it) and those were the words that first came to my mind when the people from Levi’s told me about their Curve ID events involving a photo shoot with Perou and a chance to interview him. After a few seconds of meeting him, I could have extended that definition to much more: Perou is also a rather approachable and easy to talk to guy from Newick, Sussex, who owns a farm where he lives with his wife and kids and has a genuine interest in people. What makes him such a talented photographer is his ability to bring all that into iconic photographs.

“You have to try on the jeans and then I’ll take a photo of you or two… if you want” he says with a smile knowing that no one in their right mind will refuse a chance to get a photo taken by his expert eye. But how was it for him, the idea of working with normal people, when his day by day glamorous endeavours are full of models and celebrities?

“I was a bit scared at the beginning of the idea of doing public photo shoots but the photos we already took in Italy look amazing and it’s been so far a wonderful experience.  Yes I am used to working with professional models, but these Levi’s jeans make girls look great and girls that look great feel sexy and therefore look beautiful which makes it so easy for me. To be honest the jeans have helped me a lot in this process. My wife never used to wear jeans but she got a pair of Curve ID and now she wears them all the time… she even wears them to bed! which make things a bit complicated for me, but she looks amazing.” 

How did you get involved with this campaign and what attracted you most to the project?

“I think this project and I were really meant for each other. I am interested in real people and I love this concept of jeans that can make women feel sexy and comfortable with the way they look… it is a democratized appeal and it’s great. The idea is to make women look fantastic and make them realise they don’t need to be celebrities or models to feel good with themselves. I usually get asked on interviews who I would like to photograph, and I always say “people”. Each person makes the experience.”

 Tell me about your project of photographing homeless kids.

“The whole idea comes from talking to homeless people and finding out how they feel invisible, so I’m planning to make them visible. I want to photograph them as whole people, part of society: in the same way as I might photograph a celebrity or an actor for a magazine”

After being part in several TV shows (Make me a Supermodel; Dirty, Sexy things) and directing videos and commercials, which of your jobs do you find yourself more comfortable with?

“Definitely photographing. Directing is something I do more because I have to, but doing photos is what I enjoy the most”

What makes a Perou photograph?

“I always say I’m more interested in the content than anything else: function over form. What I bring into my photographs is beauty but it is internal more than external. I’ve worked with incredibly attractive models who were standing in front of me and I couldn’t see them as being as beautiful as the normal people that usually don’t stand in front of a camera. Even during these photo shoots for Levi’s, a lot of people have told me they were afraid to be photographed in jeans but afterwards they felt great and I could see that. I’m simply taking a photograph of how beautiful they feel”

Last but not least, do you have a Sketchbook and what’s on it?

“I do have a Sketchbook. It’s a Moleskine I take everywhere and where I sketch all my ideas for photo shoots. I usually show my clients what I drew and everybody looks at it like “what the hell is that?” I am actually terrible at drawing but that’s why I take photos, because I can’t draw”

Find out more about Perou’s iconic photographs here: http://www.perou.co.uk/ 

Words: Mariana Moyano Menta

Photos: Perou

09.10.11

Interview with photographer Carol Burri

How did you get into photography initially?

During my first study in post-industrial design, I did a lot of computer graphics, particularly in 3D applications. I played with virtual physical light and for this, I did tests with cameras and lighting. Through this process over a year I mixed computer graphics and photography but ended up being more interested in natural photography.

What do you generally look for when you choose a subject?

I like subjects that look like they come from another planet. For that I often have to create my subject with a lot of organization. Another important fact is that the image tells you a story or makes the audience think, how the hell did he do this. Of course I’m always looking for strange faces for portraits. They’re hard to find but they have always a place in my photography.

What is the most important aspect of photography to you?

One of the most important things for me is that I can convert an idea in my head as close as possible into an image through photography. Most of the time I’m not able to do that but I’m happy when it works. The second important aspect for me when I shoot people is that they feel comfortable in front of the camera. This is not always easy but most of the time they’re still talking with me after the shoot. And of course having fun in what I’m doing.

How do you build a relationship with the subjects you are photographing?

Often I have to go to the place I would like to shoot two or three times before I feel comfortable shooting it. With people it’s quite the same. You meet them by chance and then you have to tell them you would like to shoot them within your own idea. You show them your work and hope that they say ok and feel comfortable with it. Most of the time I have to wait two or three months for the images I really want. Because you have to find the right location and sometimes you need also the permission. The people don’t always have time or the weather is not good. But in fact I like the process of building a relationship with the subject.

Commercial VS Artistic photography?

I’m not a big fan of commercial photography. I don’t really know everything about it but I find that sometimes it’s really not that creative. On the other hand it’s hard to live from personal projects alone. So you have to mix it up. Nonetheless I’ve had lots of fun with some commercial projects and often you can work in a team with cool people. But I’m definitely trying to do as much of my own work as possible.

Digital / Manual ?

It’s similar to commercial and artistic photography. If you shoot analog you need time and you don’t see the result immediately after you shoot. For me, I enjoy the process of shooting analog.  But I wouldn’t say that analog photography is better than digital. It depends on what you do with your images and what you use them for. It might be that the best way of shooting something is with a mobile phone or the cheapest camera on the market. And sometimes the best way of shooting something is just not to shoot it.

Hasleblad.

Personally some of my favorite cameras. Can be pretty big monsters, and sharp as hell. The good thing about them right now is that they’re much less expensive than they were ten years ago.

What role does digital retouching play in your work?

At the moment it’s really common to retouch images. I’m not a big fan of it. I try to shoot an image in its entirety, to be honest retouching isn’t what makes a good image, and hours of retouching isn’t what makes the difference between a good photo and a bad one. If you have a good source and you have to do some minor retouch, it’s definitely a good thing.

Where do you see in the future of photography?

I’m trying to work hard on my photography series and hope I love what I do for as long as possible.

Words: Frederic Bourgoin

Images: Carol Burri

23.08.10

Meet Lanky Larry

Born and bred in Croydon, 19-year-old photographer, Larry Bau isn’t exactly an average Joe. Well over 6 foot tall and rarely seen without a pair of round, Lennon-like sunglasses his colourful wardrobe has seen him featured on many street-style blogs including Face Hunter.

We first met Larry when he visited Sketchbook’s Kingly Court studio and turned every one of our heads with his head-to-toe black outfit. After leaving school, he went on to a local college in South London and spent a year working in the town’s JD-Sports, self admittedly a ‘wannabe gangster’. However, he soon realised that fashion was the place for him resulting in a new look which can only be described as something between ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ and Gareth Pugh.

Going on to do a photography course at Central Saint Martin’s he dabbled in styling and design, but ultimately settled on photography and launching his fashion blog ‘I’m the only one on my Street’, which follows his fashion quanders and journeys.

As Sketchbook’s newest menswear writer, we asked Larry to photograph himself every day for a week, resulting in an interesting mix of his father’s African garments, his sister’s skinny red satin trousers and some of his own designs.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Words: OSMAN AHMED

Photos: LARRY BAU

13.07.10

Close up: Under the light of Elias Wessel

There is a famous quote by the legendary Canadian photographer Ted Grant that prays “When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes, but when you photograph people in black and white, your photograph their souls”. Elias Wessel however, is a magician of colour and light, elements that he combines to tell a story that could have been inspired by a life time revelation, a novel, or banal episodes of quotidian life. And there is a lot of soul to all of them.

Born and raised and educated in Germany, Elias Wessel developed a passion for visual art from his early teens. In 2005 he moved to New York where he has been based ever since. His photos, have been featured in numerous publications including H-Magazine, Fused Magazine and Italian Vogue. One of his most and powerful series, “Falling Up”, inspired by the ups and downs of his own personal and professional life, has been featured in the latest issue of Sketchbook Magazine.

Elias has recently teamed with supermodel Lydia Hearst for Vixen Magazine. The project, inspired by Inra Levin’s novel “The Stepford Wives” is a hypnotic explosion of colour, sensuality and whimsical awkwardness that can only be defined as a masterpiece. We spoke with Elias about this wonderful series and the inspiration that makes him one of the rising stars of fashion photography.

 

Tell us about you project with Vixen Magazine. Why did you choose Lydia for this project, and how did Inra Levin’s novel The Stepford Wives came into the equation?

It was a magnificent experience. We didn’t choose the grandiose Lydia for this eye-candy project. We created this project for her. Ira Levin’s Stepford Wives inspired me because of its glamour and perfection along with its subliminal satirical critique of trying to be perfect, denoting servility or blind conformity and giving up oneself for someone or something else. All these colour-exploding surreal fairytale pictures tell a real story. There are so many pictures in the pictures. About Lydia, about me, about things I have seen and learned in my life so far. About poisoned apples. Sometimes just very little details. I think that it is very important for the photographer to bring his/her own point of view into the proceedings. Much like a conversation with a friend: you don’t just want a story to be retold as he/she heard it, but also his/her personal opinion about it.

 

Your pictures explode with colour and light. Is that your trade mark? Can you commit to black and white in the same way?

I like to believe that I’m not just a photographer. I quite like the idea of the intersection between art and commerce. A job as fashion photographer can be done very commercially or very artistically. However at the end it’s all about the purpose of the pictures. The way I use colour and light absolutely focuses on the purpose of my images. That’s what determines if I use a lot of colour or black and white. As a trademark I rather like the idea that my pictures tell a story. As it was written lately: “…maybe without middle, a beginning or an end, but they tell something.”

I read on an interview you gave, that in order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. How do you recreate yourself?

Go for a walk. Sit in a sidewalk cafe watching people go by. Do serious research. Get out of the city. Read a lot. Have interest in as many things as possible. Go out a lot. Look at art. Get influenced by things outside the field of art and photography. Travelling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life and having guts always works out for me.

 

I’ve read a lot about what does inspire you… and I would love you to share that with our readers. I’m also interested in knowing with such wide range of sources for inspiration, is there anything that kills it? Is there anything that puts you off doing what you love?

 

Here are the things that inspire me: Life. Dreaming. A hotel room. A museum. Music. Emotions. The grapevine. Things that surprise me. Looking at a blank paper thinking of what could be on there. Anything that evokes memories and gives me goosebumps. Anything or anyone I like to look at and listen to over and over again. A wonderful song I hear 3 days in a row. A painting which tickles me pink.

 

Here are the things I love: Thinking about ideas and content freely, with the deadline far away. Working without interruption on a single project. Using a wide variety of tools and techniques. Travelling to new places. Working on projects that matter to me. Having things come back from the printer well done.

What puts me off: Boredom. The Anxiety. Uninteresting content. Unorganized clients. To work with people who don’t share the same love and passion.

 

What cannot be left out in a photo session with you? Despite the obvious equipment, of course.

Feeling absolutely wonderful and the triggers for experiences.

 

As a fashion photographer, where do you stand in the Size 0 models debate?

I am often asked how far I would go with my work and if I have any taboos. Having taboos would limit myself but there is always moral, ethic and sense. I am trying to capture the women I photograph at their happiest. That is when they look their most beautiful.

 

You have recently collaborated with Sketchbook Magazine and I’m sure your talent is often requested. What makes you prioritise the publications you’re working with? What catches your eye from a publication?

I love seeing my work in a beautiful magazine and I like making a difference in how people see something. I want to make work that people can read. Of course fashion and magazines as a vehicle to reach a broader audience is wonderful but that might not last forever. I want to be able to touch someone’s life. I do think it’s possible and I do think it’s very hard. But people have to fall in love with you and your work and that is what has to happen to me as well. There has to be the same love and passion between me and everyone who is involved in a production. It’s like meeting up with friends who are thrilled by an idea to create something very special.

 

What’s your view on the street fashion photographers the like of Face Hunter or The Sartorialist?

I do find beauty interesting. Beauty is a good idea well executed.

 

What has been your greatest achievement so far and what would be the greatest project you could be given to do?

About 10 years ago I sold my first painting on my first exhibition my sister and I organized at a gallery in Germany. Last year I sold one of my photographs here in New York for 10 times the price of what I got for my first sold painting. People travelled more than 10 hours to come to my “Falling In Love” exhibition in Germany. Betsey Johnson used the portrait I took of her for her personal Christmas card. Aaron Basha used pictures which were shot as an editorial for their worldwide advertising campaign and placed it in W Magazine and Italian Vogue. My personal project “Falling Up” made more than one thousand people email me how much they like it. I saw people taking pictures of my picture which was showcased at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. Lydia Hearst was writing in her diary about me. I gave one of my photographs to my closest friend before moving to New York. It is exhibited in his apartment and he tells everyone proudly where it’s coming from. You are interviewing me because you have seen my photographs… However it can look like: Highlights of my career are when I honestly feel someone truly appreciates my work.

 

What is in your sketchbook? What’s coming next?

My sketchbook is like a diary wonderfully silent and elegant pure black on the outside. It’s livelily inside contains things I saw, like to remember or should look at and listen too. I just don’t want to open it in public because it’s my diary and talking about future projects actually robs me of the desire to actually do them.

 

Text & Interview: Mariana Moyano

 Photos: Elias Wessel http://www.eliaswessel.com

 

Model – Lydia Hearst - Wilhelmina Models
Stylist – Storm Pedersen
Art Direction – Sophy Holland
Hair – Charley Brown
Make Up – Yadim
Manicurist – Kris Kiss for Red Stylists
Photo Assistant – Heinrich Zimmermann
Styling Assistant – Adrian Diaz

26.06.10

Interview with photographer Alex Prager

After having heard about the solo show the LA based photographer Alex Prager had in London and seen it ourselves, SKETCHBOOK could not miss the chance to ask her a few questions about her inspirations and work.

What interested you in art?

I like the idea of an artist being able to infuse life into inanimate objects.

Is there anyone that has influenced you?

I don’t know that I would have ever picked up a camera if I hadn’t come across William Eggleston’s photographs back in 2000.

What inspired you to become a photographer? Any photographer you like, and/or dislike?

I like Weegee, Brassai, Arbus, Bourdin, DiCorcia, Sternfeld, Eggleston… all the greats.

You taught yourself photography, was it intentionally? Do you feel like you would be more skilled if you studied it?

I taught myself for two reasons. First being that I couldn’t really afford to put myself through school while working full-time supporting myself. Secondly, I was so anxious to get started being a photographer, I didn’t have the patience to do all the exercises I would be required to do in school. I wanted to get straight to it and start making my own pictures. 4 years of school before I could really start doing that wasn’t very appealing, it seemed more like a detour to me. I’m sure I could have learned a lot had I gone to school, but I also might have lost steam in the process.

You contributed to a number of publications, which work was the most interesting to do?

New York Times Magazine. They commissioned me to make pictures to illustrate a story about women going through menopause. I had full creative freedom so it didn’t feel like a commercial piece at all.

For this show, we can see some references to the 1970s and old Hollywood heroines from Hitchcock’s movies. What were your (other) inspirations?

Fellini, Godard…

And for this exhibition, you’ve debuted in a short film ‘Despair’, what is your idea behind it?

The idea was to show the before, during and after of one of my still photographs. Basically, to bring one of my photographs to life for a few minutes.

What do you think of London, and its art scene?

I love London. I think people here, as a whole, understand the value of art in their culture more than other cities I’ve been to in America. They seem to know that it is a necessity and not a luxury.

What are your future plans after this solo show? Is there any collaborations coming soon? Or show?

I’m going to be in a show at MOMA in September called “New Photography”. Her show is still on at the Michael Hoppen Gallery, go and check her work.

‘Week End’  opens at Michael Hoppen Gallery from 10th of June and ends on the 10th of August.

Michael Hoppen Gallery: 3 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TD

Interview: LAURA SAM

Images: COURTESY OF THE MICHAEL HOPPEN GALLERY

18.06.10

Alex Prager’s solo show in London

ALEX PRAGER’S photographs have been selected to feature in MOMA’s forthcoming exhibition, New Photography 2010. So when Sketchbook heard that the Michael Hoppen Gallery is showcasing the photographer’s first solo show and film in London, we had to check her work.

Alex Prager was born in Los Angeles and got interested in art from her teenage years. But it was in her early twenties that she really focused on photography and taught herself the art of lighting and taking photographs. Her career has landed her in the pages of Tank, I-D and Elle Japan among others.

Inspired by DAVID LYNCH and the photographs of WILLIAM EGGLESTON, Prager presented a real quality series called ‘Week-end’. The ‘Week-end’ series reminds you of the old Technicolor movies – which seems to be the aim, women wearing wigs and dressed in 70s glamour. The series revives Hitchock’s movies, and The Birds in particular. Five new pieces were added to the show with older women being shot, following the direction of her story.

This latest show is a continuation of Prager’s previous work and love affair with 50s styling and unconventional beauties, with great use of colors and representation of American’s culture through the models’ theatrical positions and expressions of alienation, fear, anger, longing, and lust.

And each shot tells its own story but it also seems to form a bigger picture and story altogether. This is where her movie comes in. ‘Despair”, the movie, embraces the theme of her show – retro in the styling, but modern in its execution.

It was her first short film, and hopefully not the last one to come.

Week End opens at Michael Hoppen Gallery from 10th of June and ends on the 10th of August.

Michael Hoppen Gallery: 3 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TD

Text: LAURA SAM

Pictures: COURTESY OF MICHAEL HOPPEN GALLERY

31.05.10

Live Twitter Interview

There are hundreds of millions of Twitter users in the world, and around 300.000 join in daily, according to Chirp, the last Twitter Development Conference held last April. 

I became one of them not so long ago, and it’s not a secret to anyone that I’m totally addicted to it. It is not only for the sake of socialising, as I still believe in the good old times of having friends one can see and touch and have a drink with; but what I did find is a world of information, innovation, art, fashion and a constant exchange of ideas and opinions that I doubt will ever cease to amaze me.  Among many wonderful things, I found Sketchbook Magazine there. To cut a long story short, I wouldn’t be writing these words if it weren’t for Twitter. 

It is in that spirit, and with the aim of sharing the wonderful and yet immeasurable reach of this tool, that we started the Live Twitter Interview space; where we will feature interviews all our readers can follow and participate in, by following us on twitter (@Sketchbookmag ) or searching  #SBLIVETWINTERVIEW. 

 

The first guest of these series of interviews is American music photographer and visual artist Derek Brad. The reason why he was chosen to be a part of this space has a lot to do with the way Derek uses Twitter to promote his work. His daily features on Twitter include the “Pic of the day” which most probably would be an extract of the latest gig he photographed, and I’ve been hooked on more than one insomniac night to his live tweets from rock and roll gigs I just wish I could’ve attended.

We’ve transcribed the interview in case you missed it, or want to read it again. Many of the questions in this interview where sent by twitter users who were quoted on the live interview. We thank them all for your interest in being part of it, and hope you stay a part of it..

(And please keep in mind readers, being constrained to 140 characters takes a toll on spelling/grammar!)

 

SB: Where are u from and what you do?

DB: I am from Philadelphia, PA and I am a music concert and conceptual photographer/ artist

SB: How did u discover your passion for photography? 

DB: When I was young I use to always draw and take photos with my little blue Fisher Price camera,

SB: Are there any artists or photographers in your family?

DB: Actually no, there are no other artists in my family, although my younger sister used to be a singer.

SB: What influences did you have as a child then in order to become an artist?

DB: My influences were music, movies and great artists I admire like Salvador Dali.

SB: How did you train to acquire these skills?

DB: I am totally self trained. I believe art can’t be taught because it is what is in you. You just need to let that creativity out.

SB: Remember your first gig as a photographer? Who was the artist?

DB: The first time I was paid for photos was Katie Melua when she toured the US, but the first time that I knew I could do this, for life, was at Raphael Saadiq gig. I got a great classic looking shot of him.

SB: Was it very different from attending a gig as a fan? Did u change your attitude towards a gig?

DB: Not at all I still love going to gigs the only thing about them is I don’t get to bring my friends along

SB: Do you allow yourself to have a “fan” moment if you really like the band?

DB: No I never have a “fan” moment when I am in the photo pit and I have yet to be star struck

SB: You really like music and that shows in your photos. Have you ever thought about becoming a musician?

DB: No I have never really thought about becoming a musician. I love creating visual art that’s what I do. Tho I have to admit it would be pretty awesome to stand on stage just once in front of thousands.

SB: Your photos depict certain intimacy & connections with the bands. How do you achieve that?

DB: I guess it just naturally comes to me. I feel the music and the energy as I am photographing

SB: Is it difficult to achieve that graphic effect if you don’t like the band?

DB: Good question. Yes it is difficult to achieve the effect and it has been very rare that it has happened. I usually get to shoot the first three songs and there have been times where I have walked before they were over

SB: If you could resume your passion & art in one shot, what would that picture show?

DB: it would show what I feel about people and the world. Good and evil

SB: Nowadays with high definition digital cameras everyone can be a photographer. What do you think makes your work different?

DB: People tell me my work is different because of my passion and because I have the “eye” for it. I justlike to just think I see the world a little differently.

SB: What else -besides music- could you dedicate yourself to photograph?

DB: I currently do conceptual portraits, besides music. I like that as well.

SB: What is your biggest dream as a photographer/artist? What would you like to achieve?

DB: As a music photographer I would like to do an album cover, publication covers and world tour with a band. In terms of my conceptual art, I want to create at least a couple photos to change the mindset of the world. Even if just for a moment of awe

SB: Is music photography a very competitive market? How do you connect with the bands?

DB: Yes very, very competitive. Look at all the cameras you see at a show! I usually connect with bands by showing them my portfolio or sometimes if they open for another band I get to shoot them and I send some of the photographs to the band or management and I get to work with them more in the future

SB: So which has been your favourite band to photograph so far? I know you are closer to some bands more than others

DB: Lately shows have been so great I keep thinking the last show I did was the best! Energy plus great music is always the best. It would be way too hard to chose just one.

SB: As an avid gig goer, have u noticed an evolution in the music showbiz? Are gigs any better now?

DB: I would not say they are better or worse. There are more of them since bands tour now much more than before

SB: How did you find out this is what you wanted to do? What makes you sure of it?

DB: I am sure I wanted to be a photographer simply because I love it.

SB: Can you see the final product as you are shooting? Is there any “good luck” involved in a good shot?

DB: I shoot completely manual and never look at the image on the screen during shooting but I can see the final product as I am capturing a moment. I love it when I know I got the shot I saw.  I don’t ever rely on good luck, but of course it has occasionally happened

SB: You get paid to go to gigs, hang with the bands… is there any downside to your profession?

DB: A couple downsides would be waiting in between bands (unless I meet some amazing fans) and all the emails and administrative work it takes to get the gigs. Also I never get to bring my friends or family along.

SB: What would you advise to someone who wants to be a music photographer?

DB: Start by shooting local bands, put together a portfolio and most importantly Never Give Up and save your ears by buying yourself a good pair of earplugs.

SB: Last but not least: What’s in your sketchbook? What’s coming ahead?

DB: Oh I have a number of things in my sketchbook (yes I carry one around as well as a camera) but one exciting project I have coming has to do with Lady Gaga and mostly with her fans. I cannot speak to much about it I will be focusing on it in September

SB: Sure the little monsters will be excited to know about it… anything u can tell?

DB: I will be releasing more info about it within the next couple months once I get the final approval. Watch this space…

 

 

 

Text & interview Mariana Moyano (Twitter user @Emmes11)

Photos by Derek Brad  (Twitter user @Derekbrad)

Check out more of Derek’s work  http://www.derekbrad.com/

17.05.10

Anni Leppala & Susanna Majuri at Purdy Hicks

Photographers ANNI LEPPALA and SUSANNA MAJURI who both studied at the HELSINKI SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN are both showing in an exhibition at the PURDY HICKS GALLERY. 

SUSANNA MAJURI, a photographer whose work is based around the concept of ‘observing reality in an unconventional manner.’ Winner of the Gras Savoye Award, says of her work, which has a conematic sense of narrative the she aims to “narrate feelings like in novels.”

ANNI LEPPALA’s explains that “When you try to conserve or protect a moment by stopping it, photographing it, you inevitabley lose it at the same time” which explains her work which looks into the relationship between past and present; working on the idea of freezing time and capturing the small glimpses of larger tales.

Both artists have seperate exhibitions, however are sowing together at the PURDY HICKS GALLERY until May 22nd

thepurdyhicksgallery.com

Text NATALIE MILLER
Images Courtesy of THE PURDY HICKS GALLERY  

08.05.10

FIVE MINUTES WITH PHOTOGRAPHER HOLLY FALCONER AT THE LIVE ISSUE LAUNCH

Who are you?

Holly Falconer. I’m a photographer and mostly shoot fashion, fashion events, lots of backstage fashion like at LFW, bands and things I just like. I also have a blog called, “People in London”. I’ve been a professional photographer for about two years and before that I used to be a picture editor.

What made you want to become a photographer?

From the tender age of 13 I was inspired by street style books like Fruits. And, although it sounds a bit typical, the people in London. Here, in the city, people are their own work of art. I love photography and expressing myself visually. I get a real hit when everything combines.

What made you want to move to London?

London fashion is fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. I like how people can be who they are.

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I use my blog as a sort of scrap book for things I like, things that couldn’t really go up on my portfolio site (www.hollyfalconer.com). I’ll put up unusual street style and events I find interesting.

What’s inspiring you at the moment?

I know it’s come off as a bit controversial, but I think MIA’s new music video for ‘Born Free’ (the one banned from Youtube.com) is really groundbreaking.

Who are your idols?

Nan Goldin, Christopher Kane, MIA and Bjork.

What got you into fashion?

Isabella Blow lived in my village, and she was just this crazy fashion presence in a really dull, rural area. I found it really inspiring and have since always wanted to be a fashion photographer.

What else do you do besides photography?

I run a website for gay girls called The Most Cake. It’s sort of a community where we discuss things people are in to. We’ve featured The Gossip and I’ve recently shot music artist, Uffie, for the website. We’ve got lots of photographers and writers involved, it’s doing well and we’ve been running it for nearly a year.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is a way of escaping the rigidity of society and the way everything can be so controlling. It’s an expression of freedom. 

What will you be doing over the next couple of months?

I’m going to be doing lots of shoots. I’m traveling to Barcelona which I’m really excited about because I’ve never been, and maybe Berlin.

www.hollyfalconer.com

peopleinlondon.wordpress.com

Interview: FIONA DAVIES