Image: © Viviane Sassen

In And Out Of Fashion is the summation of 17 years worth of work for some of fashion’s most honoured brands. Sassen’s images brush through the shelves of powerhouses like Stella McCartney, Adidas and Levi’s and onto the pages of Pop, AnOther Magazine, Purple, and Dazed & Confused. The book illustrates the visual aesthetic of Sassen’s photography as her models transform into fine art sculptures and their fashions become the threads of colour covering an artwork. Sassen portraits her subjects in unusual poses that simultaneously induce movement and the statuesque ambience of moulded sculptural art. Landscapes play as much a role in Sassen’s photography as her models, as she juxtaposes the colours and motion of her models against the shapes and hues of the backdrop. Ultimately Sassen’s work is an invigorating peek into the way in which art can re-envision fashion. Although she claims that fashion and art belong to different ends of the creative world, Sassen has seamlessly pieced together the parts of her fantastical puzzle:

Art photography doesn’t have to serve any purpose, fashion photography does, and that makes a difference. It’s a kind of puzzle that has to be solved

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Image: © Viviane Sassen

Images: ©Viviane Sassen

image: Daniel David & Christo

After studying photography over a period of four years and assisting a variety of photographers, then was no-one as significant as Jurie Potgieter when it came to mentors for Daniel.

He is most inspiring photographer working in South African media today. I started working as a young pro in 2010. I met Christo in 2011 and in November, we started just collaborating naturally. He has taught me the most. He is the single most talented individual I have ever met. (Daniel)

There is a powerful raw sense to their images; this kind of provocative fashion pushes boundaries to the typical sensitive viewer. However, there is a tone of simplicity that I feel through this fetishism that makes their work unique. It’s performative art, that tells a story. Here is the interview.

When and how did you first get into fashion photography ?

We love the opportunity to create with other creative and the freedom of expression, whilst keeping in mind what the client ultimately needs. It’s a delicate balance.

Whats the best thing about your job?

Seeing your own creatively controlled work in print. It’s always a pleasure sharing ones talents with others.

How do you feel behind a camera?

D: In control. That what either myself or Christo imagine in our minds, we can capture as well.

Tell us about Art Much? magazine, your work was on the cover for Issue 1?

D: What an amazing team there. We were so honoured to be featured on their cover and cover story.
It was exciting for us as it was our first cover we have done together.  

What have you guys been dreaming about?

D: London. It’s my happy place. No place like it. If you don’t have a good time there, you not living life.

C: Having the freedom to express ones talent and creativity, and to share that Passion with other Creative’s.

What are you working on right now? 

D: We working with a men’s fashion label launching soon named Augustine. They have a vision and will be our future trend-makers in South Africa. I have that belief in them as I see their hard work and passion poured into that brand. We collaborating more and more as time passes.

Analogue vs. Digital?

D: I wish both could coexist to be honest. Any photographer worth their salt knows the perfection of film in our craft. It always comes down to money in the end.

What other photographers have influenced your style?

D: Mostly the old favourites. Mario Testino with his fresh and classic feel to his work and Anton Corbijn with his stark visual style.

What is your best and worst things about London?

D: Best- People
Worst- Expensive!

Future project wish-list ?

D: ONE SMALL SEED! (big smily face)
One day…GQ & Marie Claire both in South Africa. Both are class acts.

What kind of future do you predict for creativity and Fashion in South Africa?

D: Bleak if South African creative’s don’t band together and stop being elitist. We need to love each other, collaborate, support each other not stab each other in the back.

image: Daniel David & Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo cover of 'Art What?' issue 1

image: Daniel & David Christo

image: Daniel & David Christo

To view more of their work check out their tumblr here
Connect with them on their www.onesmallseed.net profile here

Interview by David Plenderleith (tweeeet)

Digital photography has allowed us all to become self-proclaimed photographers. Except, the majority of our images never seem to have that lingering presence that makes an image memorable.

 
In the latest edition of one small seed, issue 23 “Cult of Self”, we showcase the work of Janine Kuschke-van derTuin, first runner-up of our Selected Creatives competition. She comments that,

…each photograph [is] a little piece of my soul.

It’s no wonder that there is more to photography than our compulsive clicking…

Photographer Akif Hakan Celebi continues his Asian cinema-inspired love affair in his newest work. His objective is to avoid all fashion photography clichés, except the usage of skinny girls, and introduce his own expressionistic point of view.

The Turkish-born, Hong Kong-based ‘photo-surrealist’ started his career in TV Production but felt the need to be more individually creative and so, embarked on hissolo photographic voyage. His work has an element of sincerity, which he produces by using alternative poses, moody lighting, contrasting tones and most importantly, the models. Celebi admits that he is likely to hunt you down and use all methods of persuasion, if you have that all intriguing element to him.

Avoiding archetypal beauty and using models that he says ‘have a natural innocence to them,’ it’s how he produces his powerful imagery. The nudity in his photography is just another technique he uses to show his female subjects in an independent and confident light.

From behind the lens, Celebi loves to improvise, believing in the power of happenstance, chemistry and reflecting life in its rawest form. He uses colour as a tool to enhance mood of the image and create various emotional responses from the viewers. His scenes are recreations from his favorite Far Eastern films and thus, the usage of exotic Asian models are prominent. Celebi’s photography is borderline fine-art but his ability to extract our emotionsis why we keep saying, ‘please sir, I want some more.’