Guest Post | Photographer Benjamin Kanarek | “Infinite Creation” for Harper’s Bazaar

About Benjamin Kanarek

Born in Toronto, Canada, where he grew up, Benjamin Kanarek fell in to many things by accident. Photography, Web Concept development and Creative Direction are just a few examples.

He played drums in a few punk rock groups, one of which was the “Existers” with the single “Telex Love”. Another, “the Poles” with Canadian Fine Artist Michaele Jordana. In the subsequent time frame, he entered Carleton University in Ottawa, where he studied Architecture and went on to work in several companies including WZMH Architects who were best known for designing the CN Tower in Toronto and Ron Thom who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright.

After a serious accident where he fell from a five meter mezzanine, he literally fell in to photography. Benjamin was never an assistant to another photographer, his second ever shoot was an advertising campaign in Toronto. He moved to Los Angeles and stayed there for just over a year and moved to New York. In New York, he shot quite a few campaigns for Macy’s, The May Company, Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as the Dayton Hudson Christmas book with Andie MacDowell, Elle MacPherson, Bitten Knudsen, Brooke Shields. He also shot several covers for VOGUE South America and VOGUE Mexico. He was the first Canadian photographer to ever shoot Kim Alexis for the cover of Chatelaine magazine.

He moved to Milan where he shot for Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. He came back to Toronto where he shot for Sears and got back to Europe. After six weeks in Paris, he was given an opportunity to shoot the Haute Couture for L’Officiel Paris. Since then he has shot for several prestigious magazines and advertising clients.

Benjamin has worked with some of the classic Super Models like Kim Alexis, Elle MacPherson, Bitten Knudsen, Brooke Shields and also Angie Everhart, Laetitia Firmin-Didot, Kelly Lebrock, Roberta Chirko, Carol Alt, Helena Christensen, Kirsten Owen, Karen Mulder, Adriana Sklenarikova Karembeu, Janice Dickinson and recently with Du Juan, Alexandra Richards, Lydia Hearst, Irina Lazareanu, Daisy Lowe and Actresses, Andie MacDowell, Carole Bouquet, Vahina Giocante, Joséphine de la Baume, James Bond Girl Bérénice Marlohe…

Benjamin collaborates with Video and Co-Creative Director, Frédérique Renaut and shares his time between Paris and North America.

He has consulted as a Creative Director for world-wide agencies and clients.

In 2009, he launched “The BK Blog” with Frédérique Renaut as a response to a need expressed by more and more fans and photographers asking him advice about the inner field of the fashion photography business. (source: http://benjaminkanarek.com)

Model Dovile Virsilaite dons Haute Couture for... by benjaminkanarekblog

Dovile Virsilaite in “Infinite Creation” video directed by Frédérique Renaut 

Dovile Virsilaite dons Haute Couture in “Infinite Creation” for Harper’s BAZAAR by Benjamin Kanarek 

For the complete editorial, click HERE to visit Ben’s official site, click HERE

The Team Photographer: Benjamin Kanarek Model: Dovile Virsilaite at Oui Management Video Direction by Frédérique Renaut Styling by Vanessa Naudin Hair by Tié Toyama, at Calliste Make-Up by Carole Lasnier, at B-Agency Manicure by Lucia Cheptene, at B4-Agency Photo Assistants: Paul-Antoine Goutal, Claudia Waldmann at Studio Daguerre Stylist Assistants: Coline Peyrot Shot at the Studio Daguerre in Paris Post-Production: Ashish Arora

 

Tweet

Interview with Michael Labica | Absynth Photographic

Absyth Photographic’s vision is certainly unique... The creative duo of Michael Labica and Sandrine Dulermo work hard to capture the magic a camera can summon under the brightness of light, or hidden deep in shadow. For over a decade, they have been experimenting to reach a certain perspective, to show a deep appreciation and concern for what is and what could be… beautiful. Even more so, they strive to make each feeling palpable... tangible.

The artists they work with must place their trust in them, for the duo fancy an ever-changing approach, setting out to capture the not-so-natural expressions… the unusual, all the while avoiding the mundane. Challenging talent with unusual styling, poses and designing sets often askew and off kilter. One must enter a world of momentary fantasy. Take risks… and play a game. Michael and Sandrine encourage the artists to challenge the norm and themselves… to reach for something more.

Practicing photography like craftsmen, treating the studio more like a laboratory, they challenge perspective, experiment and continuously seek new techniques to enhance their creative vision.

About Michael and Sandrine

By age 13, Sandrine was already smitten with photography. Preferring to skip school so she could run off to shoot her little brothers with her Zenith in the woods. By 18, she had her first campaign for a perfume company, which in turn, then led to her very first exhibition.

Michael, a former student from Louis Lumière, Paris, was first enticed by cinema but instead found him self learning the ropes as a creative working in the advertising world. Despite the fact he was never a model student, he learned his lessons quite well and soon developed and expanded an extensive list of corporate clients, but even in success, there was something missing.

Then Michael met Sandrine… a moment when everything seemed to fall into place and together they found expression through a lens, as a team their creativity sparked to new heights. London became their cradle of creativity and home. Their work and family life all take place in the heart of their beloved photo “laboratory,” Coconut Studios, which is located in West London.

Jonathan: A hypothetical... Harper's calls... has an exclusive preview of McQueen's 2014 Fall Collection, Sarah Burton wants... say Codie Young for the spread, the rest is up to you and Sandrine. What happens next? Could you tell us a little of the process going into a project from start to finish?

Michael: We will have a happy moment to start as we love Alexander McQueen.

I would imagine the idea would come quickly. We would start by creating the main character of the story and place it within the scene (i.e. where she would come from, how does she looks like, etc.). Inspiration comes from many sources (art, locations, movie, music, dreams, etc.). We would then draw a storyboard and source the suitable location.

If we decide to do a set build, we would design/make the entire scenery by working closely with our much-loved scenic painter/set builder, Jude Singleton. As we have our own studio, we have also the capacity to create, do the work on a specific set until we are completely happy.

On the day of the shoot, Sandrine would be behind the camera and I would be myself sorting out all the lights and ensure the set up is as originally envisioned. Our photo shoots always tend to be very hectic and ambitious, so it's normally a long day for us. After the shoot, we usually take a little bit of time before previewing at the images, we then do an editing and select our favourite images and then do our own post-production during our spare time.

Pre-Raphaelite | Amica
Model: Bianca O’Brien
Stylist: Marie-Louise Von Haselberg
Hair: Gerard Hawe
MUA: Jo Frost @ CLM

 Jonathan: The colour sense of your work is wonderful... playful and vibrant, what are your thoughts on colour and the importance it plays?

Michael: We both very much love black and white images so unconsciously, our use of colours is always full on. A very colourful image makes an amazing black and white.

In our minds, the extended use of colours bring our images somewhere between surrealism, exoticism and poetry. Surely not what you see in our everyday lives, the main idea is to create harmony, we mostly do a coloured fill light to create an artificial atmosphere.

Viva La Vida | Amica
Model: Agnes Sokolowska @ Modelwerk
Stylist: Laurent Dombrowicz
Hair: Keiichiro Hirano @ DWM
MUA: Marco Antonio @ DWM

Jonathan: As a professional can you tell us what was your big "AHA!!!" or possibly "Eureka!!" moment? The point where, maybe you weren't there yet but just knew you were on your way.

Michael: Our "big AHA" moment is probably when Sandrine and I originally met in a south-of-France photo lab. We both were on our way for a good life doing something we both loved doing… We can't however really say we've had our "Eureka" yet. We are still searching…

I envy Paolo Roversi, Sara Moon, Helmut Newton and few others for their distinctive styles!

Lily in the Sky with Diamonds | Plastic Dream
Model: Lily Cole @ Storm
Fashion Director: Neil Stuart
Hair: Garry Gill
MUA: Julie Jacobs @ One Makeup

Jonathan: Professionally, what is your camera of choice?

Michael: We own a Hasselblad H2, 80mm lens with and phase one digital back. Very basic, we like it for its simplicity and technically, there is no limitation, like on a SLR with shutter speed. Saying that, we are now very interested by the new Canon/Nikon as they are very flexible with the ISO.

Orient Express | Amica
Model: Hilda Lee @ Modelwerk
Stylist: Laurent Dombrowicz
Hair: Keiichiro Hirano @ DWM
MUA: Emma Miles @ Emma Davies

Jonathan: What was the most hysterically funny thing to ever happen on a shoot?

Michael: Well, I can't really think of anything specific to be honest, it's more about crying with us. They are so many stories I could come up with but they are always more dramas than hysterically funny moments on a shooting day.

Omaggio Cocteau | Italian Amica
Model: Luize Salmgrieze @ Elite Stockholm & Dave Norwell @ BMA
Stylist: Laurent Dombrowicz
Hair Christos Kallaniotis
Make Up: Phyllis Cohen @DWM

Jonathan: If you had a pick a favourite shoot so far, which would it have been? Why?

Michael: The one shoot I loved the most - not only for the images we created but also for the fun we had on the day was, in fact, a test shoot we did with actress Anna Friel.

We met Anna via our favourite make-up artist, Karen Alder. It was a summer evening at Anna’s house in Windsor. We started by a bottle of wine and end up drinking all night, David Thewlis singing Johnny Cash songs in his guitar.

From this moment, we end up shooting a "Gothic" themed story. Few months after, we found ourselves in the middle of the winter with freezing temperatures, shooting Anna in various locations from Oxfordshire to Windsor without any budget. Anna is a talented actress and we loved this experience. The images of this shoot, taken 7 years ago, never were published yet.

Gothic | Test Shoot
Model: Anna Friel

Jonathan: Okay, I am pretending to be a young photographer with more talent than sense (business sense for sure), what advice could you give me, something you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?

Michael: I would probably recommend becoming an assistant to the best photographer around you, it is the best way in. It might take a few years for you to fly on your own but you will be able to connect with so many people; from stylists to make-up artists, from models to publishing people, etc. Doing so, you may even end up testing with top assistant stylists.

Alessandra Ambrosio | Plastic Dream
Model: Alessandra Ambrosio @ DNA NYC
Fashion Director: Neil Stuart
Hair: Eamonn Hughes @ Premier
Make up: Kenny Campbell @ Premier

Jonathan: Thanks so very much, Michael, and thank you, Sandrine for spending a little time sharing your world and thoughts with us. Wish you much happiness and continued success. Cheers!

Michael: Thank you, Jonathan, it was a real pleasure to meet you.

To check out Michael and Sandrine's Coconut Studios click HERE
To see more of their amazing work, click HERE

Tweet

Interview with Magdalena Frackowiak

After interviewing some really incredible designers, stylists, and photographers, I couldn’t wait to finally interview a model. Never imagined it would be Magdalena Frackowiak, one of the best in the world. Magdalena’s career reads like a Fashion Who’s Who list that could go on forever. From the runways of Paris, Milan, New York and London to gracing the lenses of the world’s best fashion photographers, her work is simply amazing. According to her friend, model Edita Vilkeviciute, “She’s the perfect girl.”

Born in Poland, Magdalena got her start when he mother sent her photos to model competition in Warsaw. No big deal, right? Then, the news came… she’d won!!! At 16 years old, she was quickly signed by the agency and appeared on her first magazine cover and her life would never be the same.

In her own words

“I never imagined to be a model, I didn't really want to do it at the beginning because I didn’t think I was very feminine, but my family was always telling me to try and they were very supportive. And now, I'm so happy with my life, my job and everything…I thank God for this!”

Jonathan: Modeling is such a demanding career. What is the most difficult part for you? What is the most fun?

Magdalena: The most difficult part is that you never sleep. You get so tired, you also have to be very strong mentally to handle so much pressure. But the most fun is to travel all around the world with some very good people… like other models, photographers, etc.

Jonathan: If you had a dream editorial shoot, who would you choose for your photographer, stylist, make up and hair?

Magdalena: If I had a dream shoot editorial, I'll choose Terry Richardson as the photographer because he's very funny, I love too many stylists to choose. it's too hard… haha, but for the make up and the hair I would choose Pat McGrath.

Jonathan: What was the funniest thing that ever happened to you while working?

Magdalena: The funniest thing happened to me while shooting was shooting with my best friend.  

Jonathan: What was your proudest moment so far as a model?

Magdalena: My proudest moment as a model was to walk for the Victoria's Secret fashion show, every girl dreams about it.

Jonathan: What advice would you give a girl who dreams of being a top model?

Magdalena: Believe in your dream, stay strong and stay professional :) xx

Jonathan: Thank you, Magdalena xx

Tweet

Storytelling | Interview with stylist Hannah Teare

Hannah Teare, former Fashion Director of Tatler UK
and current fashion stylist and brand consultant

For London-based Hannah Teare, clothing is all about telling stories, creating modern and elegant images using fashion as her medium. 2012 was an incredible year for Hannah as she shot for American Vogue, Vanity Fair and Town and Country, travelling the globe with trunks full of exquisite dresses. 

Hannah draws a lot on her roots in Art History which lends a oft theatrical and lovely dramatic flare to her work. Recent projects include one with Vivienne Westwood, a play at the National Theatre, and an elaborate fairytale collaboration with Annie Leibovitz. Up coming adventures include a trip to Cuba and more tales to tell....

Model: Olga Sherer
Photographer: Cathleen Naundorf
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Federico Ghezzi
Make Up: Lynsey Alexander
Magazine: Harper’s Bazaar UK

Jonathan: When a new project comes in, can you share some of your creative process? How do you decide on a look or direction for a product?

Hannah: Each project is unique and my approach can vary depending on the the scale and brief of the styling required. I tend to have ideas fizzing and buzzing in my mind as well as stories being led by the seasons designs. If it is an advertising job then potentially there is a very specific brief which I work to and perhaps tweak a little. 

Model: Olga Serova

Photographers: Luis Monteiro & Saakshi Mathur

Hair: Joseph Pujalte

MUA: Serge Hodonou

Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare

Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: Editing in any creative project is essential. It is one of the most difficult parts of the process. Knowing when to pull back or push an idea further critical. What makes a great editor in your book?

Hannah: Confidence in decisions makes a great editor. Some editors/stylists are elaborators i.e.. add accessories and layers..others style purely with their edit using total looks. Both take skill - and the courage of conviction is the key. 

Model: Jennifer Pugh
Photographers: Luis Monteiro and Saakshi Mathur
Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare
Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: Who are your heroes? Was there anyone in your life that helped or inspired you to get to where you are today? 

Hannah: My heros include Cecil Beaton, Isabelle Allende, Irving Penn, Freda Kahlo, Elizabeth I, Emily Pankhurst. Madonna also amazes me - she is the queen of reinvention and in my pre-teens and teens (i.e.. the 80s and 90s) she could do no wrong! The movie My Fair Lady was a great fashion inspiration for me as a little girl - for a couple of years I drew bows on everything I designed. In my early twenties it was the fantastical work of David La Chapelle and post impressionist artists. My parents always encouraged me to travel and enjoy foreign cultures and traditions. I find switching countries and era's very inspiring both in life and my work.  

Models: Coco Rocha and dancer Roberto Bolle
Photographer: Annie Leibovitz
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Grace Coddington
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Julien d’Ys
MUA: Gucci Westman
Set Designer: Mary Howard
Magazine: US Vogue

Jonathan: Hannah, could you share one of your favourite moments in your career so far? Who are some of your favourite people to work with? 

Hannah: My first editorial shoot for American Vogue was a big Romeo and Juliet extravaganza with Annie Leibovitz. Grace Coddington was styling Coco Rocha as Juliet and I was styling the male characters for the shoot plus Juliet's nurse. I sourced vintage pieces from costume houses in the UK and packed them all up in to 10 trunks and flew solo to NY for fittings a run though and the shoot. It was a very busy few days, and an inspiration to be on set with amazing talents such as Grace and Annie. I don't think I exhaled until I was on the plane back to the UK.

Model: Olga Serova
Photographers: Luis Monteiro and Saakshi Mathur
Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare
Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: What advice would give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion as a stylist or in magazines?  

Hannah: Hands on experience is the best way to learn the trade, also to follow your passions outside of the fashion industry even if fashion is your first and foremost  - be it art/theatre/fencing/etc - whatever you love,  it will also bring inspiration to your work. Surround yourself with others who inspire you and that you will learn from. Dare to take a few risks, they will expand your experience and it is unlikely you will regret whatever they may be.

Models: Ella Kandyba & Maria Loks
Photographer: Cathleen Naundorf
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Thierry Degrave
MUA: Caroline Saulnier
Magazine: Harper’s Bazaar UK

Jonathan: Just want to thank Hannah for sharing some time with us and wish her many moreadventures across the globe with trunks full of exquisite dresses. Look forward to her stories.

Model: Amanda Seyfried

Photographer: Simon Emmett

Stylist: Hannah Teare

Magazine: Vanity Fair 

Photographer: Ruven Afanador 
Model: Olga Serova
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Christian Lacroix, Fall 2008 Couture 
Magazine: Tatler UK

One more... it was so hard to choose :)

Model: Katie McGrath
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Photographer: Luis Montiero
Magazine: Tatler UK

You can see more of Hannah's work at her site, HERE
and follow her adventures on Twitter @hannahteare.

Tweet