Waiting

While I take a well needed holiday in Spain, I have a few things to offer you:

1. WE ARE COLLISION IS NOW AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL!

Get your copy and a year's subscription HERE

2. We are also looking for all you talented people to show us what you're made of!

Email: submissions@wearecollision.com

3. My view while I work

Not bad, right?

Alternative Print ft. Fashion156

It's Print Week on Fashion156, and as much as i'm sure you all want me talk about my favourite print designers like Holly Fulton, Erdem and Diane Von Furstenberg, I like the alternate route that has been taken.

I am a photographer, and at heart, one that shoots on film and loves it. There is something so raw and emotional about the colours, the chemical process that goes on, and the idea that these images take such a great deal of trust in creation. Every time I put in a roll of film to be processed, my stomach fills with butterflies and I am anxious to see the results of my hardwork and trust in the lens.

I thought i'd start off by showing some of my film work, and then move onto film work by the photographers I look upto most.

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White (35mm colour and 120mm black & white) by Sophia Chemaitelli

The Wanderer (35mm colour) by Sophia Chemaitelli

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For any of you that follow fashion editorials' movers and shakers, you will have heard of Paolo Roversi, and you will know that he only shoots on film. He achieves Tim Walker's dreams through the process of his camera (and yes, some amazing set design and couture here and there). But, it is mainly the medium that he chooses to shoot photographs in, that allows him to create such etheral, breathtaking, peaceful imagery.

Natalia Vodianova for Egoiste No. 15 and Freja Beha Erichsen for Vogue Italia March 2008 (respectively) by Paolo Roversi

Sally Mann is a more unkown personality in the photography world, more known to the fine art world as one who mixes photography with her personal feelings of death, youth and her family. Using large format camera, glass plates and silver nitrate, Sally Mann's work can take a long time to produce. Her subjects sometimes have to sit/lie infront of the camera for hours to allow a solid appearance on the film to develop. The result of this patience on both sides is beautiful; you are made to question youth and death, and what both mean in family life and what they can do to a person.

Selection from 'Immediate Family' by Sally Mann

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Head over to Fashion156 to see their pick of film photographers and print extraordinaire!

Browns - Week 6

My last week at Browns followed the same template as all the others. Stock had to be shot, sorted, uploaded and returned. We had another stylist test, who again, did not have the right style to represent the Browns' woman, so there will be more trials to follow.

The past 6 weeks at Browns have taught me some interesting life lessons. I know what it takes to run a web studio for a high-end fashion retailer, and what is needed to outshine competitors to keep customers coming back to shop. I also learnt that I need to do a job that keeps me constantly moving and is not repetitive. I yearn to be creative, and bounce off my team's ideas, see new places and meet new people. I like to be challenged on a daily basis in my job. But, I am not everyone, and not everyone wants to do what I do, some people want to do graphic design and web editorial and I would never discourage that, only encourage, it just isn't right for me.

I would highly recommend interning at Browns for anyone who is trying to decide whether to apply. The staff are all lovely, within the studio, stores and dispatch. Everyone has been willing to help and made me feel at home. They all want to share their stories and have a good time, while delivering the customer service and products needed by a world-renowned fashion retailer. I will take many good things from my time at Browns, and look forward to using them in future roles.

Menswear

I have a love-hate relationship with menswear fashion and editorials; it's either too safe or too mental. Fashion156 have restored my faith in mens styling, by producing a wonderful editorial on review of the London Men Collections.

The editorial is a beautiful mix of new designers, that all seamlessly fits together. The location, a classroom allows the clothes to speak loud and clear. The clothing isn't majorly outrageous, that's not what makes it good. The tailoring is clean, the patterns are suitable, the models are cast very well, and the art direction is perfect.

The designers features have taken classic menswear and altered it in a modern and innovative way; playing with texture, proportions and print to update classic items. This is what I believe makes fashion successful; not creating a monstrousity, but simply adding your stamp to what is.

Coat, shirt and tie by E.Tautz

Shirt, trousers and jacket by Alan Taylor

Shirt, Trousers, Shoes and hate by T.Llpop

Kilt, trousers, jacket, hat and shirt by Alan Taylor

Jacket, trousers and shirt by Joesph Turvey

Shoes by Joseph Turvey for Hush Puppies

The Wanderer

I am finally very pleased to release a photoshoot that I shot in February with a great team of friends, and the wonderful Emily Jago from STORM Models.

It was a hectic shoot schedule and after a few mishaps, we finally shot on a very pleasant day down on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex. The shoot was based on nomadic dress, and the art of modern layering. 

Being a freelance photographer, it is very difficult to shoot well on location without a team supporting you. Working with a group of very talented friends and the amazing Emily J, I was able to happily and successfully shoot away on 35mm all day long. After a little bit of post-production, we are all very happy with the results, and I believe it is one of my best shoots to date.

Any photographers out there who are scared to experiment on film, don't be! It is such a liberating way to work and has really improved the way I see my images and assess my art direction. As you cannot see the images you are taking like on digital cameras, you are forced to be more careful and trust your judgement in each frame.

I also, had a lovely feature on this shoot from The Creative Book, who have been nothing but supportive with my work! They are and amazing online platform for all creatives looking to get their work out into the industry, and collaborate with other creatives. Everyone should sign up and get working! 

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Photography and Art Direction: Sophia Chemaitelli

Styling: Scarlett Giannotti and Josh Abbott

Hair & Make-up: Kitty Kinder

Photographic Assistant: Sara Nia and Sian Collinge

Model: Emily J @ STORM

Not Shooting People

It has been 2 months since I posted on here, and in this 2 months I have shot another 2 projects; one which I cannot reveal yet, and one which I will.

This month I shot a still-life editorial based on if the top fashion designers created homeware out of their S/S 13 collections. A lot of prop making, extensive studio tests and no models or clothes, saw me do something I am very not used to.

The final editorial is one that is beautiful and that I am very proud of, in a very different way to usual. It was the calmest project I have ever undertaken, but also made me feel very uncomfortable to not be working with people.

So, here is a selection:

Photography, Prop design, and Realization: Sophia Chemaitelli

Yellow fur drinking cup by CELINE

Red chiffon tablecloth by GARETH PUGH

Hand-painted enevelope (part of set) by MARY KATRANTZOU

Pink organza curtain with embellishment by CHRISTOPHER KANE 

Wood and enamel draughts board by LOUIS VUITTON

White lace and PVC umbrella by VALENTINO

Flower arrangement by ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

self service part 2

As promised, here is the editorial I produced for self service magazine as part of my final project at university. This shoot was the most fun I have ever had, playing around with wigs, make up and clothes in the studio with my stunning friend! I am so happy with how the images came out and think they look great in the traditional self service layout. Can't wait to see what 2nd year holds!

Lighten Up

Here is the final piece of work I will be presenting for my assesment next week. After days and days of editing, it is finally finished and I am really happy with how it has turned out! Now it's time to crack on with the essay that has to accompany this project...

Editorial Selection

So I said i'd post the final three images for the editorial piece of my project. After much deliberation, involving me, my sister and my mum staring at a table full of photos and analysing every aspect possible, we decided on the final ones.

I wanted two portrait images and one landscape to make things a bit more interesting, and I am really pleased with the ones we picked. Together the images look great and really drive home the atmoshphere and feel of the photoshoot. When I put all the text in and design I will post those, but for now, here they are.