sports illustrated: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

A Sense of Occasion

Many of the most iconic fashion images of all-time, feature models photographed in groupings by the likes of photographers; Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier and Irving Penn. During the nineties the emergence of the supermodel phenomenon was greatly influenced by the photographs taken of a select group of women who would eventually be referred to as the "Supes." When I think of the term "supermodel", the classic Peter Lindbergh January 1990 British Vogue cover shot of Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington instantly springs to mind. More than 20 years have passed since I first laid eyes on this image and still, I am enthralled by its beauty, so much so that I have a print of it framed and taking pride of position in my hallway.

I love analysing the dynamic and composition of various images featuring grouped models. The first thing I look for is the suitability of the selection of models. Do their individual looks compliment each other? Are the models working in unison to achieve that singular shot which encapsulates the photographer's vision? How are the model's bodies positioned in relation to one another and in relation to the image frame. I also look for elegance of the positioning of the model's limbs and the energy which transpires between the model's themselves.

The images featured below are amongst my favourites and all project a momentous sense of occasion. One gets an inkling that there is an acknowledgement of pride and appreciation amongst the models at having been selected as one of the chosen few. I only hope that today's generation of photographers will continue to follow in the ilk of Avedon, Lindbergh et al. by allowing top-tier models the opportunity to shine in equally, beautifully composed group portraits.

Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz,
Christy Turlington & Cindy Crawford
British Vogue - January 1990
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh
Source - thefashionspot.com

Wild at Heart
US Vogue - September 1991
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh
Source - thefashionspot.com

Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington,
Tatjana Patitz & Naomi Campbell
Photographer - Herb Ritts
Source - artnet.com

Estelle LeFebure, Karen Alexander, Rachel Williams,
Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitiz & Christy Turlington
British Vogue - August 1988
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh
Source - bellazon.com

Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista & Christy Turlington
Vogue Italia - December 1989
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot.com

Nadja Auermann, Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour,
Claudia Schiffer & Christy Turlington
Photographer - Richard Avedon
Source - thefashionspot.com

Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington,
Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz,
Niki Taylor, Yasmeen Ghauri, Karen Mulder & Elaine Irwin
US Vogue - April 1992
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - thefashionspot.com

Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Raquel Zimmerman, Liya Kebede,
Karen Elson, Sasha Pivovarova, Natalia Vodianova, Lara Stone,
Coco Rocha & Caroline Trentini
US Vogue - May 2009
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Linda Evangelista, Nadja Auermann, Naomi Campbell,
Shalom Harlow, Christy Turlington, Amber Valetta, &
Kristen McMenamy
Vogue Italia - May 1993
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot.com

Stephanie Seymour, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer
& Christy Turlington
US Vogue - September 1993
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot

Vogue Italia - October 1994
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot.com

Gail O'Neill, Kadra Ahmed Omar, Karen Alexander, Kara Young,
Shakara Ledard, Oluchi Onweagba, Katouche, Cynthia Bailey,
Clara Benjamin,Tyra Banks, Adia, Noemie Lenoir, Liya Kebede,
Naomi Campbell, Iman Abdulmajid & Beverly Johnson
Vanity Fair - September 2001
Photographer - Annie Leibovitz
Source - vanityfair.com

Caroline Ribeiro, Isabeli Fontana, Gracie Carvalho,
Fernanda Tavares, Aline Weber, Izabeli Goulart,
Ana Claudia Michels, Emanuela de Paula, Barbara Berger
Vogue Brasil - May 2010
Photographer - Gui Paganini
Source - models.com

Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn
& Arlenis Sosa
i-D Magazine - September 2009
Photographer - Emma Summerton
Source - models.com

Liya Kebede, Caroline Ribeiro, Colette, Carmen Kass,
Malgosia Bela, Karen Elson, Maggie Rizer & Missy Rayder
US Vogue - July 2000
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - bellazon.com

Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington & Cindy Crawford
British Vogue - June 1991
Photographer - Herb Ritts
Source - thefashionspot.com

Christy Turlington, Nadja Auermann, Cindy Crawford,
Stephanie Seymour & Claudia Schiffer
Photographer - Richard Avedon
Source - thefashionspot.com

Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista,
Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford & Naomi Campbell
Vanity Fair - September 2008
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models.com

Kate Moss, Lauren Hutton, Iman Abdulmajid, Naomi Campbell,
Stephanie Seymour, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Lisa Taylor,
Paulina Porizkova, Patti Hansen, Carolyn Murphy, Amber Valetta & Gisele Bundchen
US Vogue - November 1999
Photographer - Annie Leibowitz
Source - nymag.com

Gisele Bundchen, Isabeli Fontana, Daria Werbowry, Karolina Kurkova,
Hana Soukupova, Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova, Liya Kebede & Gemma Ward
US Vogue - September 2004
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman,
Anais Mali, Jourdan Dunn & Sessilee Lopez
US Vogue - February 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models.com

Eva Herzigova, Beverly Peele, Petra Linblad,
Claudia Mason & Nadja Auermann
British Vogue - January 1992
Photographer - Unknown
Source - bellazon.com

Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell,
Christy Turlington & Stephanie Seymour
US Vogue - April 1993
Photographer - Herb Ritts
Source - nymag.com

Kirsty Hume, Nadja Auermann, Nadege Dubospertus,
Claudia Schiffer, Shalom Harlow, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell,
Linda Evangelista, Carla Bruni & Brandi Quinones
Vogue Italia - Unknown
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - thefashionspot.com

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Super Natural Love

Love Magazine strikes editorial gold yet again in it's Supernatural issue. Lara Stone, Maria Carla Boscono, Daphne Groeneveld and Kristen McMenamy pose alongside stunning new face of the moment Nyasha Matonhodze in this riveting beauty portfolio. Photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott team up with the styling genius of Katie Grand and Panos Yiapanis for this mesmerising editorial. The natural beauty of Stone, Matonhodze, McMenamy, Groeneveld and Boscono's tear streaked visages are enhanced by the minimalist make-up and visually arresting head pieces adorning each model's head. The incandescent beauty, raw emotion and vulnerability conveyed by Matonhodze et al. resonates with each turn of the page.

Nyasha Matonhodze

Lara Stone

Maria Carla Boscono

Daphne Groeneveld

Nyasha Matonhodze

Lara Stone

Daphne Groeneveld
LOVE Magazine - Issue 6
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Metamorphosis

A true test of a model's skill is her ability to portray and embody a wide range of emotions and looks. I'll admit that I had at one point categorised model Alessandra Ambrosio as being capable of a singular solitary trademark Victoria's Secret sexy look. The following images from an upcoming editorial for LOVE Magazine, blow my assumptions completely out of the water. The editorial lensed by Boo George captures Ambrosio at her most beautiful, without relying on the model's obvious physical attributes and instead allowing her to display an intensity and character that delivers true editorial punch. Ambrosio loses herself in the character role of naval officer and in turn finds a newly converted fan in me.

LOVE Magazine - Issue 6
Photographer - Boo George
Source - models.com

At First Glance

Estonian born Karmen Pedaru began modelling in 2005 after being scouted whilst at a theatre performance in her hometown of Tallinn. Pedaru was formerly an elite athlete competing for the Estonian national soccer team prior to being discovered. Pedaru has since hung up her soccer training boots for the equally rigorous runway circuit where she is now a permanent fixture. Pedaru's modelling career has been gradually building momentum and following more than six years in the industry, is set to hit overdrive. Pedaru is a firm favourite with Paris Vogue and British Vogue, and recently landed her first Vogue covers for the Portuguese and Greek editions of the publication. Pedaru also starred recently alongside Joan Smalls in Gucci's Spring/Summer 2011 campaign lensed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott and appears in the current Fall/Winter 2011 campaign for Michael Kors shot by Mario Testino.

Photographer - Unknown
Source - bellazon.com

As a former athlete, Karmen compares her career to sport; stating that, "Modelling is kind of like a sport. You need a lot of endurance and focus." In an interview with Michal Figurski for reserved-fashion.blogspot, Pedaru elaborates "In this business you can't afford to be tired. It's really hard work. I fly about three times a week, yesterday I was in NYC, today I'm in Poland, tomorrow I'm flying to Paris. If I don't keep my energy and enthusiasm, I'll drop out. There's no work for tired models." Pedaru's sporting background puts her in good stead, "I played as a goal keeper for 6 years. I was well-built back then. You can still see my muscles here and there. I'm still quite fit, I play basket ball and roller skate."

As one of the most industrious and down-to-earth models in the industry, I am delighted to see Pedaru's strong work ethic paying dividends. Represented by Ford Models in New York, this statuesque 178 cm tall, olive green eyed beauty remains grounded in spite of her success. In the same interview for reserved-fashion.blogspot, Figurski poses the question; "Does being beautiful make life easier?", to which Pedaru replies, "It's a question of personality. If you're beautiful on the inside, then yes. Being beautiful only on the outside, you're nobody. I sense such people at first glance. There are many people like this in every business."