Gabrielle CHANEL was a precursor proposing the attributes of male clothing to women to free their movement and participate in their emancipation. Yes, fashion is always one step ahead in the setting of trends.
However, Karl Lagerfeld is taking everyone on this time. The current global warming is provoking the disappearance of the Gulf Stream which seems to be directly leading us in to a new ice age. CHANEL is preparing us to face up to this new reality for next season.
White bears and seals are back on the ice packs and will only have to fear the Orcinus orca, as fantasy fur is a must at CHANEL for next season.
Before the cold hits us all, we sheltered in a cozy ice cave with the musical instrument furniture-sculptures of Pierre Arman presented in the Arman Suite at the Hôtel Lutetia. Brazilian Model Luana Teifke is showcased as the sophisticated CHANEL Yeti-Woman playing a Symphony on Ice.
Photography and Co-Creative Direction by Benjamin Kanarek Co-Creative Direction & Video Direction by Frédérique Renaut
Fashion Editor: Giovanni Frasson
Model: Luana Teifke @ Marilyn Agency, Paris & One Model Management NY
Make Up by Topolino @ Calliste Agency, Paris
Hair by Jean- Luc Amarin @ Airport, Paris
Manicure by Typhaine Kersual @ Jed Root, Paris
Digital Retouching by Freddy Baby, Paris
Digital Montage and Comping by Andrew Matusik at DigitalRetouch, New York
Ghislain Taschini 1st Photo Assistant
Charlotte Fuhr Miller 2nd Photo Assistant
Mustapha Hamma Benjamin Kanarek’s Assistant
Massako Jean-Luc Amarin’s Assistant
It is rare that I do photo shoots without an assistant and or intern. The Photographers Assistant is an important and often under appreciated individual, that I consider the unsung hero.
I cannot tell you how often one of the many assistants with whom I have had the honor to work with, were instrumental to my growth in many areas. Being able to bounce idea’s off of an assistant and gain valuable knowledge on the fly is often key to a successful production. Assistants do a lot more than aid in setting up your lights or loading the SD card or images in to your computer. Many assistants I have worked with are amenable to sharing their idea’s with you about lighting, concept etc. when you are in a tight spot and perhaps are running a bit low in the idea’s bag.
It can happen to anyone. Where you have a concept and it isn’t working as well as you thought and you start freaking out and thinking “Think, think,what can I do to get out of this conundrum…?”
Some assistants may feel uncomfortable or reluctant to share idea’s with you in fear of invading or stepping on your creative space. They would love to but won’t unless you openly and sincerely invite them to do so. Openly invite them to share their idea’s with you if they feel so inclined. I always make sure to give my photo assistants credit in any job I do and they will always appear in the credit of the Fashion or Beauty story being published.
I won’t go in to the technical knowledge attributes that are required from an assistant, as that will depend on what your own requirements are for a specific job. But I do know that most assistants I have worked with are quick learners and are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty when called upon.
My only suggestion, is if you are using a first time apprentice, you might want to use him/her with a more experienced 1st assistant. You should also be open to answering questions at appropriate times that you can set out with the assistant in your morning briefing with the entire team.
As to finding a good assistant, I find that quite easy, in that I am solicited frequently by Photography School students. If you need an assistant, you might consider School Photography Clubs, dedicated Photography Schools or Photography Clubs.
An assistant can learn more in one day doing a hands on session than what they can learn in a month or more by only attending classes.
So the next time you are approached by an enthusiastic assistant, give them a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.
PS: Would love to hear from anyone on either side of this topic regarding your impressions and thoughts.
I have had several requests to see more Making Of Video’s. Unfortunately, before I can post these films, I have to wait for the magazine to either be published in hard copy or to get permission from the magazine to post. That usually coincides with their own posting of the shoot as a teaser on their website or blog or other social networking page.
Shortly we will be posting several different Harper’s BAZAAR shoots and a Special Feature CHANEL shoot done for VOGUE Brazil.
If you want to make any suggestions about what you might want to see, just write to us and give us your feedback.
The Importance of Cultural and Intellectual Diversity in the Team
I have had an opportunity to observe many different works by many photographers and what has struck me of late is the diversity in dimension of this microcosm of society . Of course this is a mirroring of the range of characteristics in the society as a whole. But my reasons for bringing this observation forward has more to do with the demands I make on myself to grow and enrich my life experience by associating with individuals who might enrich the value of our projects with their input.
Am I doing some sort of subliminal profiling? I think I am. I was watching an LA Fashion Photographer who has her own blog state during one of her making of video’s that she didn’t want her shoot to look too “LA”. Although she is a native Angeleno she wanted to distance herself from that stigma. I understand her reasoning, but felt that the results did not really reflect that desire. If you haven’t the necessary culture, it is a rather daunting task when you haven’t the cultural vocabulary for doing so.
I find that surrounding myself with highly educated and culturally rich individuals add a wonderfully profound layer to what I am seeking to accomplish and I have been pleasantly surprised on many occasions by the outcome of my shoots due to this aspect of a production.
As has been said often, “The greater the vocabulary the richer your life…” and I don’t necessarily mean financially. This applies to all of the Arts as can be witnessed to a greater degree in cinema and literature.
So the next time you are putting a theme together for that important editorial of yours, consider all of the components of your team.
In 1990, the US Space Shuttle put the Hubble in to orbit. It carried the most accurate and clearest ever telescope. Gradually it has unveiled the secrets of the Universe.
On the 20th anniversary of Hubble’s launching, Harper’s BAZAAR has invited photographer Benjamin Kanarek to lead an International team of outstanding on-camera and off-camera talent to replicate the dream-like and miraculous experience of reaching the moon and to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the boundless universe together with the anniversary of Harper’s BAZAAR China.
Digital Retouching by Freddy Baby, Paris
Digital Montage and Comping by Andrew Matusik at DigitalRetouch, New York
Fashion Editor’s Assistants: Ronan Pecher & Olivier Pichou
Photographer 1st Assistant: Audrey Saulem
Photographer 2nd Assistant: Timothée D’Arco
Set Designer and Prop Assistant: Anne Chevallier
Shot at LaPlateform Studio
Special Thanks to “La Cité de L’Espace“, Toulouse, France Photos taken at “La Cité de L’Espace” by Stéphane Renaut
The whole editorial is on line on the Harper’s BAZAAR site. You will be able to find the August issue of Harper’s BAZAAR China on the news-stands July 10th.
We are really excited to share the Harper’s BAZAAR, “Fly me to the Moon” Making of Video Preview… You will have to wait till July 10th to see the hard copy version of the magazine fashion spread. But, the Good News is, that in a few days, we will post the web version of the entire story and the making of video as well… But until then, just use your imagination and enjoy the appetizer…
In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into its orbit around the Earth. Over the past two decades, the world has followed Hubble’s saga, watching as image after image revealed another part of the cosmos that would otherwise be invisible to our eyes. We absorbed the discoveries that the pictures sparked and witnessed the astronaut missions that brought the telescope new technology and extended its life.
This year Hubble achieves its 20th anniversary, renewed and equipped by the latest servicing mission for many more years of astronomy. More than 30,000 objects have come under the telescope’s gaze, each observation slotting another piece into the cosmic puzzle of the universe. Join us as we celebrate one of the world’s most successful observatories, even now changing the face of astronomy, its final legacy still in the making.
Just wanted to share with you that I am in Pre-Production for several Harper’s BAZAAR’s coming out in September and October of this year. Harper’s BAZAAR China is coming out July 10th for the August Issue. Look out for the Video Teaser of the Making of Harper’s BAZAAR China… Stay Tuned.
At the crossroads of Manchuria and Siberia, in the grassy fields of Mongolia, in the “Khavriin Khavsraga” the wind chill of spring reddens the faces of the nomadic shepherds living in their yurts.
Rosy cheekbones and noses, the look of lips cracked from the cold. A powdery foundation from the dusty steppes, wild-flower nails, folk hats, head pieces, rustic jewellery and magnificent colourful tops.
Here we are, with Pernille, in Genghis Khan’s Kingdom, in the Steppes of Ulan Bator… Out now in the June Issue of VOGUE Brazil.
Today I had the opportunity to speak with Regen Chen, who won our first Benjamin Kanarek Blog Fashion Photography Contest. It was a pleasure speaking with him and as with most interactions, it was a very illuminating experience for me. I appreciated that he was well prepared for the call and laid out a panoply of questions that covered a very wide scope pertaining to the “Biz”.
I asked that he share some information about himself, as well as some other samples of his work. To listen to the interview just scroll down to the media player.
Short Bio
Regen Chen is a 23 year Toronto based photographer, who has studied three years of Graphic Design at George Brown College, and two years at Seneca College in digital photography. In that time he has managed to publish several of his works in local life style magazines. Recently Regen has developed a passion for fashion photography by combining his distinct technique of lighting and post processing. Regen believes that fashion photography is about expressing a concept, telling a story, and creating desire.
About the submission
The piece I submitted was a school assignment which required me to do an on location portrait with one lighting. I wanted to take it a step further than just a portrait shoot by adding some style and flare. I asked friends to model, do the makeup, hair, and styling for this project. My idea was a night out in downtown.
For equipments I had one ring flash attached onto my camera plugged into a battery pack. The technique I used was slow-sync with 1-2 seconds exposure to capture the city ambient light, and also have the flash to stop the motion of the model. I intentionally shifted my camera each shot in order to blend the ambient lights on the model; meanwhile I asked my model to move around slowly.
One problem I had was focusing and framing the model because modeling light from the strobe was restricted when plugged into a battery pack. I ended up using the light from a cell phone as a replacement to help me focus. Other than that the shoot went smooth.
In post-production, I increased the contrast and clarity, with a touch of HDR. I wanted to keep intact elements such as colour and movement, but still focus on the garment. I played with the layout a lot, trying to find the right composition. I ended up with something that not only shows these elements but also maintains the edgy look I was going for.
My feeling about the industry I am pursuing
Advertising is where I want to go. I believe it will allow me to continue to express my point of view while still making my works sell able. I feel that photographers are usually underrated, because often people don’t see the whole process behind each photo taken. With today’s growing technology, it’s harder to have a sense of stability because photography is becoming more accessible to people. At this point it comes down to who I am as an artist, and I often find myself thinking, “Do I have enough good ideas?”
Since I posted “Recalling Pierre Cardin”, there have been several requests to post some of my earlier work from my archives.
I have always had the greatest respect for French Designer Guy Laroche’s work and found a couple of advertorials I did for him that appeared in VOGUE Paris and L’ Officiel magazines from the late 80′s. Again all of the lighting was a mix of diffused and mixed sources and all shot with Fujichrome 50 iso Slide Film. No Photoshop… As usual. So there you have it, another blast from the past. Being that the 80′s are coming back with a vengeance, these Guy Laroche images might inspire those of you wishing to get “That” look, to get “That Look…”
Gabrielle CHANEL was a precursor proposing the attributes of male clothing to women to free their movement and participate in their emancipation. Yes, fashion is always one step ahead in the setting of trends.
