Jean-Charles Debroize

Jean-Charles Debroize must have had a very disturbing childhood, or so you would assume when you look at these images.  He is an Art director and digital retouching artist for Creative Agency Kerozen based in France.  His work may not have universal appeal, but it is a unique twist in the advertising world, and after all, isn’t that what advertising is all about.  It may inspire other photographers to challenge the boundaries of their imagination.

Debroize transformed members of his campaign team into letter people. Not the cute cuddly kind from Sesame Street, but rather deformed little creatures that might haunt your dreams, but there is something endearing about these weird little letters with skin, eyes, and hair.

These images are not necessarily representative of his work generally, but designed for a specific campaign.  To create each image, Debroize shaped each letter with modeling clay, then he created flesh-based tones in Photoshop based off the design team members who agreed to have their features turned into a letter to spell out the company name. Debroize explains, “We shot pictures of the letters and of the design team’s faces. Then I made a mapping of skin textures on the letters with Photoshop and added the hair and the eyes. It was not a problem to show an unflattering image of us. We laughed a lot making this.”

Photographed by Jean-Charles Debroize

Photographed by Jean-Charles Debroize

Photographed by Jean-Charles Debroize

Photographed by Jean-Charles Debroize

Check out more brilliance from the team on Kerozen at http://www.studio-kerozen.com

Posted by Alex

Katerina Plotnikova

W.C. Fields said “Never work animals or children” and in this day and age, with the wonders of post editing, it is surprising that Russian photographer Katerina Plotnikova works with both of these to create sensual and inspiring visual fairy-tales.

In a world filled with Photoshop, these pictures are real. The mysterious Moscow-based photographer has been creating a surreal world filled with wild animals and beautiful women. The result looks like a fairy tale come to life.

The raw power and size of many of these animals, including tigers, bears, bats, giraffes and elephants contrasts strikingly with the poses of Plotnikova’s graceful models.  Each scene shows an underlying mystical quality, one that speaks of some deep spiritual communication beyond our everyday world.

If you think taking pictures with bears and tigers seems a bit dangerous, each of the images was made with the help of professional trainers, there at every moment and sensitive to the needs of the animals involved.   The set up for each photo shoot is huge.  In addition to the beautiful human models, who come with their own entourage of hair and make up artists and stylists, the animals require trainers and in addition, transport and food for these models [and hopefully a fully stocked first aid kit].  On location shoots require numerous assistants.  So it raises the question, why does Plotnikova choose to go so far to create these images when Photoshop is a cheaper [and let’s face it, safer] option?  It can be argued that for authenticity, Plotnikova chooses this option over post editing and she has obviously built up a trusted team willing to help her realize her every fantasy.  However, I am unsure of the legality of handling wildlife this way in Australia and further where you would find models who are brave enough to pose. 

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

Photographed by Katerina Plotnikova

See more images of Plotnikova and her assistants creating these impressive scenes on http://vk.com/katerina__plotnikova or see more of her work on https://www.facebook.com/KaterinaPlotnikovaPhotography and http://500px.com/katerina_plotnikova

Posted by Alex

Alberto Seveso

Alberto Seveso is an Italian born photographer whose work first appeared in the 1990s.  He currently works as a freelance photographer in Bristol, England for various agencies.  His client list includes Bacardi, ESPN magazine, Adobe and Nikon to name a few.

Initially he had a passion for graphic arts, in particular skate decks and cover art on CDs.  He merged this interest, along with the idea of how to create artwork using the computer.  He has been so successful in this endeavor, that he now produces artwork for musicians like Ice Cube and Carlos Santana.  His work appears in sport magazines like Riders, Playboy, Runner World Magazine and Popular Science.

Seveso photographs people.  However, the photograph is a small part of the overall process, it is what he does with his graphic design skill, post processing, that transforms his images into art.  His celebrity portraits include the surfer, Kelly Slater, Bill Andrews, molecular scientist and motorcycle racer, Jorge Lorenzo.  

Seveso’s images create a jigsaw puzzle of the person’s life.  The mechanics of what makes up this person and their public image.  Some are how the person operates and relate to what the public sees. 

Kelly Slater is a surfing legend.  His portrait features swirling artistically represented wave, which flow over the contours of his pectorals and biceps, in shades of the ocean.  The graphic overlays extend to the background and his trademark triple fin surfboard in his hand

Photographed by Alberto Seveso

Bill Andrews is a scientist who has researched molecular ageing.  Seveso uses some graphic overlay on Andrew’s forehead, however it is the background sketches of clocks and calibration instruments that tell the story of the scientist’s research. 

Photographed by Alberto Seveso

This image of Jorge Lorenzo has an engine superimposed on his chest, with flesh colored tubes of Lorenzo feeding into the engine mount, fueling his drive. The background is given equal attention with black and white sketches of engine parts informing us that this is in Lorenzo’s background.  Each art piece is contextualized to each individual client, the campaign and the subject.

Photographed by Alberto Seveso

Seveso’s images represent the public person and what that image is for a client.  He is not telling the story behind the person or their feelings.  Some may say this is a shallow representation, however, in terms of getting a message across about a celebrity and what makes them a public figure, he economical and precise.

There is no doubt that the images produced by Seveso capture the viewer’s attention.  However, the graphic detailing on the subject’s body, face, background and props hold the attention of anyone who looks at them.  Not only because he has photographed a celebrity but because the intricacy the swirls, flowers and images created in the overlay requires careful examination.

Seveso’s photo manipulation is dependent on the use of multiple layers.  The photographic image is enhance by the graphic art, and it is this visual imagery which changes a simple portrait to art.  One criticism is that his work depends so heavily on the graphic components that it is not longer photographic but graphic art

The images are visually pleasing with careful attention to colour selection.  He is able to maximize the use of his colour palate by choosing backgrounds, which compliment each design.  For example, using a dark monochromatic background colour scheme he makes the colours he does use seem more vibrant.  In these images, there is more complicated layering on the subject.  Images appearing on a light background are complimented with colourful splashing and more drawings and a greater emphasis on details outside the subject.

His work is used by small, medium and big businesses to promote their product.  It is advertising and to this end the images achieve that.  The persona, the product and the message being communicated to the public is not meant to convey the deepest darkest secrets of the subject, but the information available about the subject and what makes them a popular commodity.

To see more please visit http://burdu976.com

Posted by Alex