Jimmy Chew

Here's my latest project, fashion meets food (for Foodprint 2012). With thanks to Angelique from Petit Gateau for the eatable shoe. (click on the picture for a larger version)

We're all artists...

Instagram, Hipstamatic, Incredibooth!

Retro, grain, bad exposure, burned corners, polaroid frames, I love it, it's fun, everybody looks great is their grainy, mysterious, artsy representation...

It's strange to think that we're sort of going back to the beginning of photography as far as look & feel is concerned though. Since it's invention, it evolved to be the best replica of what the eye could see. Photography captures everything, the smallest details, the unflattering pores & scars included.

Photoshop came next to solve all those beauty problems, and nowadays, almost every session people ask me: "You can fix this in Photoshop, right?"

Now the trend is quite obvious, all the apps out there simulate old cameras with all their defects: brilliant!

How does this reflect on fashion photography though? Are there two schools of photographers? Those who try to capture the truth (to be Photoshopped later on) and those who choose the grain, the flou, the less obvious lighting and tell a story? I usually find the first in high end fashion magazine editorials, polished, detailed, touched up... And the second in more underground, less known artistic fashion magazines where maybe the production budget was not as high.

Is one better than the other though? Will the trend given by consumers (of apps) follow in magazines as well? In Corporate communications? In recruitment?

I guess I've always put myself in the first category. Maybe it's time to try the other side?

Shoot @Stuckens

This morning in Diest: cookies, cakes & gingerbread... oh nom
Nice place for a warm drink, delicious hot chocolate (yes, it's the season again :-)

Biscuiterie Stuckens - Zoutstraat 5 - 3290 Diest

Evelien

Last shoot of the year for the VP Flyers and once again before my lens: Evelien

Model Evelien
MUA Daisy Vermandel

  

Valerie

A little bit of Christmas, a dash of apocalypse and an axe... For the zombies, of course. Thank you Valerie, you're one hell of an enthousiastic model!

 

 

Lynn & Kelly

Slightly inspired by Suckerpunch (more for the styling than for the story), I turned the non-identical twins Lynn & Kelly against each other... 

Models: Lynn and Kelly
MUA: Daisy Vermandel

Maarten

 I shot these back in June, in the "Felix Pakhuis" in Antwerp. It was terribly hot so I was glad I had some very portable lights. I tested my Ranger Quadra for the first time that day... Since then we're inseparable!
And Maarten did a great job for a first-timer.

Model: Maarten
MUA: Daisy Vermandel

Margot & Niels

Look at these lovebirds :-)
Shot in Antwerp last Sunday.
(click on pics for large version)

MUA Daisy Vermandel & Margot
Models Margot & Niels

An awesome gift...

Received last year for Christmas, a wonderful treat for me and for my mac...  Thank you Thomas!
This is a post to remind me to use it more often :-)

Liberty London 15" Ianthe Embossed Leather Sleeve

Foodprint 1011

Some time ago I did a serie of pictures for Foodprint 1011 with Floriane and a marzipan, sponge cake Longchamps handbag lookalike... It was great fun and now Foodprint is out.

Read the session's blog post here
More about Foodprint: http://www.foodprint.be

Snapshot or not?

One upon a time, there were no 5,5MP cell phones, no digital camera's.
No Polaroids, or pocket-sized insta-matics.

There was a time when there were normally no snapshots, no slice of life, no "I had too much to drink last night please don't put that picture of me on Facebook" photos.

And yet, when I look at these, I am wondering. Was there a back timing to these images? Were they planned, premeditated? Or did "the moment" happen, followed by an enthousiastic "Don't move an inch, I'm going to get my Daguerreotype"?

Snapshot vs Mise en scene... Or harder yet, a mise en scene that can be mistaken for a snapshot.
This could lead to some interesting images where the scene is very likely to be seen as a snapshot except for a few elements that betray the mise en scene. Of course, some fashion editorials are spot on with that sort of photographic essay but they are maybe still too polished for this exercise. And on the other hand, how far does someone like The Sartorialist sets a scene?

With these thoughts in mind, I feel a new project emerging.

These images come from here. An amazing post of 50 unexplainable Black and White photos.

VP shoot: Benjamin

This is Benjamin, solo and in duo with Naomi.

VP shoot: Hanne

This is Hanne, and she has amazing almond shaped eyes...

Model Hanne
MUA Daisy Vermandel

VP shoot: Naomi

The pole was shined (by David), the floor scrubbed (well, sprayed, by Luc), two enthusiastic little helpers waved the green background around the fan (Daisy & Benjamin) while Naomi balanced on her killer heels with style. Thank you all!

Fraikin's Friday Fashion Photo Booth (13) - The Burberry aviator

My Burberry aviator: rich shearling, oversize collar, cinched at the waist and pretty rare... I love it!

Burberry aviator jacket, Aldo brown high heeled hiker boots and shorts from Mango.

VP shoot: Inge

The last of the VP outdoor shoots of December, Inge.
Inge was also featured in my Hexad serie.

MUA Daisy Vermandel

Model Inge

Fraikin's Friday Fashion Photo Booth (12) - College stripes & dagger

SuperDry College jacket, Gestuz black silk shorts, Belstaff boots, black snood & Cesare Paciotti bracelet

VP shoot: Lexy

It was freezing, but Lexy did a great job.
I love her outfit: it's military but still very fashion...

 

MUA Daisy Vermandel

Model Lexy