Page 57 - Demo

MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 78 57MOSTMAGAZINE YOUR WORK HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN OVER 35 GALLERY SHOWS%u2014HOW DOES YOUR APPROACH DIFFER WHEN SHOOTING FOR FINE ART VERSUS FASHION AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS?Initially, fine art is about fulfilling my own vision and dreams, while commercial work is about fulfilling the client%u2019s wishes. However, over time, long after a commercial assignment is completed, certain images take on a transcendence and can be reinterpreted in a fine art context. Interestingly, while shooting, there%u2019s no way to predict which images will evolve this way%u2014I operate on what I call auto-pilot. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING FOR MARIE CLAIRE IN PARIS? HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY?Working for France%u2019s oldest and most respected women%u2019s magazine was both a privilege and an honor. The art directors welcomed me like a long-lost uncles. My assignments involved photographing successful women in a male-dominated society. To achieve this, I created portraits that were both strong and soft%u2014images that would stand out as memorable and iconic. YOUR PORTFOLIO INCLUDES NAMES LIKE ANDY WARHOL, NAOMI CAMPBELL, AND YVES SAINT LAURENT. DO YOU FIND THAT ICONIC PERSONALITIES BRING A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENERGY TO A SHOOT?Absolutely. Since they are in high demand, their time is usually limited. I come to the shoot prepared, with a clear concept, and I choose lighting and backdrops that isolate the figure while creating a flattering and unique portrait. Then, I leave it to the viewer to interpret the meaning behind their gestures and expressions. THE WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY WITH THE RISE OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE INDUSTRY?Being a traditionalist from the start and deeply influenced by the history of fashion, film, and art, I was initially reluctant%u2014to say the least. However, just as color photography naturally emerged from a black-andwhite world, digital eventually overtook analog due to commercial demand. In time, I came to embrace the beauty of the new. IS THERE A DREAM SUBJECT%u2014SOMEONE PAST OR PRESENT%u2014YOU WOULD LOVE TO HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED?Elizabeth Taylor comes to mind%u2014both iconic and luminous. PALM BEACH IS NOW HOME FOR YOU. HOW DOES LIVING THERE INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND WORK?Florida offers fantastic and lush locations, which naturally become my settings. As it was once said, %u201cThere is nothing lovelier than the privileged class enjoying its privileges. WHAT%u2019S YOUR SECRET TO CAPTURING AN IMAGE THAT FEELS BOTH TIMELESS AND POWERFUL?Again, I draw from my background in the history of art, fashion, and film. I recall the images that left an impression on me and then reinterpret those emotions in my work%u2014essentially, an homage to the past.