Patricia Munster's Fashion & Art - interview

Patricia Munster's relationship to both fashion and photography is special and her work reflects that, whether her subject is on the catwalk, backstage or on stage. Now she's got a blog of her own: IsFashionArt. Comes from Holland, lives in Athens and is currently one of the dearest behind-the-scenes faces in town. Meet Patricia, in her own words and shots:
"Photography is a hobby since I was a little child. During highschool I developed my own photos already. I worked at a clothing store at Saturdays and school holidays to support this hobby. At 22 I graduated from fashion management and worked in the fashion industry as merchandise manager, enjoying my hobby photography. Three years ago I decided to make my hobby, my profession".
Why do you feel that something as commercial nowadays as fashion, is art?
Art is an expression of creativity to generate aesthetic pleasure, in any kind of form. So fashion can be. But who are the real artists in the fashion world is an interesting quest.
As a fashion photographer, how did the fashion blogging boom influence your work?
There are many blogs that inspire me to take better photos. But also opportunities to expose my work world wide.
Why have you started a blog of your own?
I love to photograph and share my photos. But also to do something more than just photographing, to be able to comment. I am still in the beginning and exploring the possibilities of my blog.
Special moments captured by your lens?
I loved to photograph Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane von Furstenberg, George Michael and Beyoncé when they were in Athens. A special moment for my 'Dutch' lens was photographing Pieter van Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn, two Dutch swimmers, winning each of them a golden medal in Athens during the Olympics. But most special moments captured by my lens are with friends.
How's the fashion photography profession in Greece vs other countries you've worked in?
In every country there are opportunities and challenges. Only in Greece the price you get for publishing your photo in a magazine is very low. Not to mention assignments... I do not like the attitude of some people here that think they can get photos for free and it doesn't cost you anything! And I hate when they copy my photos without even mentioning it!
Favorite Greek designer shows?
To select my favorite Greek designer show is difficult. So many shows I have captured and each one is unique in its own way. I enjoyed photographing the fashion weeks at Zappeio in the center of Athens, it had a more sophisticated ambiance than at Ethniki Asfalistiki or at Technopolis.
But the lighting is most important for me when capturing a show so the piece of art gets written well by my camera!

Give a warm welcome and check out what Patricia has been up to lately, here:
http://isfashionart.blogspot.com/
Browse Patricia's work archives, here:
http://www.patricia-styleandimage.gr/

Celebrity Skin go West Coast

CELEBRITY SKIN in fashion magazine GEN LUX, LOS ANGELES.
-holiday issue

photography: Fenia Lambropoulou
styling: Celvin Seah
make up/hair: Antonis Spathas
model: Avelyn - Ace Models

*To flick through Gen Lux, click HERE.

10 euro vintage rolling market

The child in me is having Blanos, Glyfada flash-backs at the sight of this poster. I'm so going. Let's hope it's like riding a bicycle (you never forget how to?!).

Facebook event page.
Photographer : Panteliz Photography © Arteliz.eu
*Image snatched from FB event page, mainly to promote tourism in the city of Athens - as well as the event.

H&M - Fashion Against Aids

Today is the launch of H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) collection in selected stores (Stadiou in Athens, Ag. Sofias in Thessaloniki). A special line for a very important cause, as in the past two years has raised over SEK 30 million to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness and fight the spread of the disease. This season, FAA has gone for the summer festival theme, a great choice for the young audience the brand aims to alert and with a rock-boho concert approach, lively captured by Dan Martensen's lense. The campaign illuminates concert vibes, bringing in mind flashes of famous past festival shots. I couldn't help noticing the similarities between the photo above and that below (Kate Moss & Pete Doherty, back in the days).
Whether images like this were used as inspiration I can only guess, but either way, the essence of the shoot is strong, realistic and up to date. All the better if extensive research was involved. There's also an excellent website supporting the theme online, check it out here for festival videos, fashion and survival tips. Quite a project.
Yet again, let me say it is great when a fashion brand chooses to use its popularity for such a humane matter, way beyond what we wear to look good. However, remember that a dress can only remind you to stay safe. Once that's removed, it's something else one's got to wear to actually be safe.

*Shopping Therapy was at the in-store preview of the collection last night. Check out her report here.

It was the lips

(photo: Spiros Staveris, Tachydromos Magazine, issue 532 - 08.05.10)
It was not my intention to return to posting this weekend, but today I woke up with a text message I could never ignore: "I just saw you on Tachydromos. I know those lips!". It seems that I can hide from all the people in the world, but not from the one who had spent quite a few hours photographing my lips back in 2005 (was it?) for an exhibition in London. That's MaryO and even though I never thought I'd be typing these words about being recognised, I am ever so glad I was, by her. What d'ya know, this time hiding meant staying in touch.
(photo: MaryO, about 5 years ago or so)

Sunday Shoot

In photography, I guess the ideal situation is when you have a concept and then the right objects and space to reflect it come your way. This was the case with Petros Hatzianastasiou's shoot 'CHOICE', inspired by the challenging movie quote "it is easier to put out the light within you than to enlighten the darkness around you".

Dresses: Evangelos Kavathas a/w 10
Hair Stylist: Tzako InBerlin
Make-up: Konstantina Karaouli
Model: Niki Ermi
Location: InBerlin hair salon
Hatzianastasiou explains: "I've been wanting to create a bright image with a dark character. Seeing Kavathas' pure, white dresses in his latest show I felt they were the perfect subject.

Model Niki Ermi was no random choice either. She can do the strict body lines I was looking for and at the same time a disturbed face expression with an almost evil look, directly contrasting with the semiologic innocense of the white dresses.

The basement of InBerlin hair salon has the mininal, industrial character I was looking for, with the steal staircase offering great shots opportunities for my angelic character to rise and fall, adding to the effect of whether she's spreading light or it's darkness closing in on her.

Tzako P. created the perfect hair with Eosforus' spiral horns dark connotations.

The only shot deviating from purity is the one in the burgundy red dress, where Ermi's look becomes fierce, implying that maybe it really is easier to put out the light within you than to enlighten the darkness around you". Behind the scenes preparation shots. Ermi is already practicing some strong, disturbed expressions. That was even before her brand new Prada shoes (featured in the shoot) got injured in action. To everybody's relief, they were later on rescued by a local cobbler who in a way, prevailed the evil's did of the day.

Home-studio II

Since some of you praised my inspiration in creating my own home-studio moment, let me share with you how I first got to know all about the 'curve' trick. It was during a home shoot with very talented professional photographer miss Kelly Filiou.

We had to produce a studio effect in a four-walls living-room and I was ever so surprised to see stylist Marli Aleiferi skillfully stick white pieces of carton towards the bottom part of the walls, to then have them magically erased in the final edit by Filiou. Studio effect it was:

If you fancy browsing Kelly Filiou's very inspiring selection of images, it's all here.

Yorgos Yerardos on being a photographer

You'd think that a 'fashion blogger' loves to have her picture taken. Well, not me.
(photo: Yorgos Yerardos)
Unless it's for my camera's timer, I feel uncomfortable. I was under a lot of stress when going to do the shoot for this interview. Meeting photographer Yorgos Yerardos at his studio was pure joy though. In high spirits, very friendly and patient, he made the whole experience fun like it should be.

That's most likely a result of his 18-year experience, with subjects from model Vicky Kayia to convict Rohamis, Lakis Lazopoulos to Gilbert and George, Kostantinos Rigos as well as many actors, athletes, and politicians. What blew my mind though, is his underwater photography, which he sees as a hobby. Enjoy the images as he goes on answering my questions:
How did you first get involved with photography?
It all started in my early teens, during a power black-out and whilst reading a book on photography in candlelight. You could say that the lack of light was what led me to photography.
Which is the hardest and which your favourite part in this job?
The hardest part is to find the much needed inspiration in the every day business routine . My favourite part is always having to deal with something different.
What makes an editorial successful in the eyes of a photographer?
For a photographer, the successful editorial is the one that in the end reflects his personal aesthetics' perception and style.
What is the funniest/strangest task you had to pull through?
A funny incident I recall is shooting a fashion editorial in London’s Hyde Park, without the permission of the park’s management. We were supposed to hand in the images by evening and there was no time to apply for one. Having no other choice, we shot very fast at one part of the park till the guards realised and escorted us to one of the exits and then we would go back in from a different entrance and repeat the process till the shoot was a wrap!
Which advice would you give to someone who has difficulties posing? How do you ‘save’ such a shoot?
Very often the subject finds it hard and ‘freezes’. At that point it is important that I break the ice in order to get the images I want. A joke, a short pause for a chat and exchanging roles are tricks that always succeed in making the other person relax and be himself.

(and a spontaneous one:
How on earth did you make 'Nemo' relax and look straight into the camera?!
[laughs] Well when it comes to fish, it's you who has to be relaxed and very patient.)

Yorgos Yerardos' impressive portfolio is here, including portraits, still life, food & interiors, people you know and some you'd like to meet.

I'm on 3D

I have just come back from watching the notorious 'Avatar' movie (& this post is on timer, obviously!). Whether you are a modern cinema tech fan, a nature lover or simply up for a good watch, I'd totally recommend it. Go for 3D projection. I must say that watching it like that made a whole lot of difference.

To give you an idea, today's post is in 3D format (I made this picture here). How are you gonna see me on 3D? Well, unless you have a pair of 3D glasses handy at home (because?!!), here's how to make one:



Easy peasy. Apart from checking me out and playing around with your own shots, wouldn't this be a cool gift for someone? A 3D photo of you or them complete with a set of handmade 3D glasses, now that would be different! Knock yourselves out, this is fun;)

AXDW - more...feet!

All images by lovely photographer Patricia Munster, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in between serial shooting facing the catwalk , literally owning her space having brought her very own stool. Oh you can tell a pro...

Underwater

When I discovered this shoot by Candice for fresh2o last December I couldn't wait to share. Now, almost a year later, the work of Elena Kalis has me speechless yet again. It is worth checking out. Came across it whilst browsing yatzer.com, see full interview of Kalis here.

Dans l'air...

...In the air.
This is the theme of this season's "new edition" of the Prêt-à-Porter. It welcomes the visitor through images placed at the reception of the exhibition. This shoot took place somewhere is the spanish skies, imagined by Alexandra Scenes and picturing what is referred to as "the best of this season", worn by professional parachuters. Among other statements, the press release muses:

"Dans l'air", the desire to offer a breath of fresh air and creativity in a stormy world.

"Dans l'air", a moment to capture the way the wind is turning...