SPOTLIGHT AWARDS 2024 Oct 2024

Title: 'Red' from the 'Seconds' Campaign

Location: Buenos Aires

"This is one of three images from the Alma Alzheimer campaign called 'Seconds.' We shot this beautiful campaign with Republica Havas, with production by La Perla.

The concept was to portray the struggle of people dealing with Alzheimer’s, bringing awareness to the fact that they have only a few seconds of knowing where they are before they become disoriented again.

We wanted this to feel authentic, so we thoroughly scouted locations throughout the city, looking for spots where sunlight would gently hit while the surroundings remained in shadow. We had only a few minutes to capture each image in these precise conditions.

It was a really challenging project because we wanted to achieve the exact mood with natural light and use almost no post-production.

I want to extend my deepest thanks to the team that worked on this beautiful campaign: Republica Havas Miami, CCO Tony Waissman, Creative Director Martin Stuart, production company La Perla Buenos Aires, and their fantastic team. And special thanks to Alma Alzheimer for trusting all of us."

Title: 'Morning Commute'.

"The image is part of a larger series exploring the surreal and absurd nature of overcrowded subway commutes, transforming an everyday activity into a visual commentary on urban life. My AI work deals with the absurdity found in mundane situations, viewed through the lens of an alternate 1980s New York City. While I can't remember who said it, the idea that humour is "logic applied to the absurd" serves as a kind of guiding principle for me — a mantra that quietly informs much of my creative process.

The image was made using Midjourney AI and Photoshop. People talk a lot about AI hallucinations, most notably with "AI hands", but in my case, I try to lean into the hallucinations, which I feel add a certain something to my work. After all, AI is unlike other mediums, and I feel like the approach should be different, too.

Whether I'm trying to communicate something profound or simply embrace the absurd for its own sake, at the core of every series is an attempt to find humour. Sometimes, I’m trying to make a statement; other times, there’s not much to say. Ultimately, I’m just trying to make myself laugh, and if that resonates with others, all the better!"

Title:  'Reflecting you, reflecting me'.

Location: Paris,  Bourse de Commerce; 'To Breathe - Constellation' by Kimsooja.

"I always go back to Paris for inspiration, to get lost in the city with camera in my hand. This time I flew from Canada only to see Kimsooja’s work in Bourse de Commerce.

I have been there many times as a big admirer of Tadao Ando, who designed and restored the building. The mirrored installation in conjunction with his work made you almost enter another world. A world in which you reflect yourself. A world that I quietly observed with my camera. You find yourself in moments like this."

Title: 'FLOW'Z'

Location: Studio.

"Together with Christian Olivier Merz, the makeup artist who conceived the idea of incorporating flowers and petals, we developed an editorial that includes this image. The model featured is the wonderful Faith, represented by M4 Models.

My image is about contrast, texture and minimalism. I aimed to create visual tension by incorporating selective coloring and using black and white as the primary element, contrasting it with a vibrant orange of the petals. This contrast draws immediate attention to the organic elements placed on the skin, symbolising a connection between nature and human identity. The texture of the skin, captured in detail with its subtle imperfections and matte finish, contrasts with the soft, delicate quality of the petals.

For me, this interaction between the natural and human forms suggests themes of fragility and resilience, where softness meets strength."

Title: Part of a series called: 'Lucky's fast paced chase!'

Location: Navarra, Spain

"I have often wondered whether a later production model 911, or the previous prototype of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS would win a race.

At the racetrack in Navarra, I had the opportunity to find this out photographically. Initially, the day started out rainy with unfavorable weather. However, it proved to be just right for this powerful duel in which the 1036HP Porsche's battled for pole position, lap after lap. The Erlkönig won by a narrow margin.

Adam Cowie, our pro driver and model, was in the Porsche GT3 RS, and was clearly in the fight.
Many thanks to Anja Ziegler who made this possible and to Trey Digital Studio who helped to 'develop' this wonderful look. Film rules!

Thanks to everyone involved to make this happen. Special thanks to Max @treydigitalstudio."

Title: The Workshop of No.8 Wire Mentatlity.

"The workshop on our farm is five generations old. In New Zealand, Kiwi farmers pride themselves on being able to fix, modify or create anything with a piece of No.8 wire. It's called 'the No.8 wire mentality'. And this workshop space is full of it. It never needs cleared out, for there is always something that's useful in here.

This image is taken from my 'Workshop' series, photographing people in their creative spaces. I am fascinated by the direct reflection of the space in their owner's personality."

Title: Part of an editorial titled 'Merry Me', for Viva Monaco Magazine.

Location: The Dolder Grand, Zurich.

"The Dolder Grand in Zurich is known for its extraordinary art collection. Some of these art pieces were used as background or location, but we mixed it with other more common spots in and around the hotel.

Our intention was to make these 'regular' spots look like they were art as well, simply by how we orchestrated the model around them.

This image is one of those self-created art pieces."

Title: ‘Sticky Taste 2’

Location: Shot in studio, Sydney.

‘Sticky Taste 2’ was shot as a personal project with food stylist Sharon Kennedy.

We were looking to explore and creatively push ideas with no restrictions. The concept behind ‘Stick Taste 2’ was to create flavour for your eyes so the viewer could visually taste the image.

Each ingredient was styled to its flavour characteristic: sweet and sticky honey, sharp textural cracker, creamy earthy cheese, elegant prosciutto and the subtle sweet notes of the fig.

Technically we elevated and arranged the ingredients to give life in a sculptural way, adding shape and contrast through studio lighting."

Title: 'The Scream'.

Location: Arroyo Grande, CA.

"I love this shot because it is a powerful image that beautifully captures the raw intensity of childhood.

It showcases not only the emotion of my amazing daughter, but also hints at the complexities of human expression. Kids are so intense, so much of the time, and I love to view the world through their perspective."

Title: 'Dancers Delilah and Richy at Picolandia'.

Location: Pico Rivera, Los Angeles, CA

"Delilah and Richy, photographed here, are two dancers who are a part of a project I've been working on over the last year. The project focuses on a handful of dancers who are all friends and is a celebration of the 'Baile' (dance) scene in California. If 'Norteño' or 'Banda' music is being played, young people will be dancing to it.

The scene has its roots in northern Mexico. But fuelled recently by TikTok and Instagram, these young dancers have developed their own style of dance and fashion. The project will be a short film and a photo series.

Being able to shoot these young dancers and be accepted into their scene has been one of the highlights of my professional career."

Title: 'Drag ft. Elektra Shock'.

Location: Kingsize Studios.

"For this particular shoot, I wanted to create an introspective portrait that captures a moment mid de-drag—a transitional phase often overlooked in the spectacle of performance.

This image embodies the aftermath of a show, where the facade drops, revealing the intricate layers of identity beneath. The smudged makeup, the visible ripped wig cap, and glimmering earrings in this unvarnished moment reflect the duality of the performer: both the dazzling persona that captivates audiences and the authentic individual who exists beyond the stage lights.

Having collaborated with Elektra previously, I was keenly aware of her multifaceted talent as a performer and her ability to infuse raw emotion into every moment. Elektra is known for her brilliant performances on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under', and having an illustrious career both as a dancer, choreographer and creative director. Elektra has the ability to seamlessly blend artistry with truth, making her ideal for this project.

While we captured multiple compelling images that I loved, this one particular shot kept pulling me back. It was one of the first shots we took, it has an unguarded quality that drew me in. This moody, enigmatic photograph stirs curiosity about what she could possibly be thinking while she sits in the silence of it all."

Title: 'Phantom'.

Location: Calvert Studios.

"Walid Saleh is who the project is about. Walid's life took a transformative turn when, at 14, he was tragically shot on his way home from school, resulting in the amputation of his leg. The aftermath brought not only the challenge of adapting to life with a prosthetic limb, but also the onset of 'Phantom Limb Pain'.

As a portrait photographer, I was deeply drawn to the inspirational narrative of Walid's journey. From the heart-wrenching adversity of his injury to his resilience as a refugee adapting to a new country and language, his story is nothing short of remarkable.

Today, Walid is not just overcoming his physical challenges, but also channeling his experiences into something positive. He has embarked on a path as a Paralympic sprinter, harnessing his mental strength and determination. Additionally, his firsthand understanding of prosthetic limbs and PLP has fueled his pursuit of medical training as a prosthetist, making him uniquely qualified to empathise with and assist others facing similar challenges.

My project delves into the multifaceted aspects of Walid's life - capturing the nuances of his Phantom Limb Pain, his transition from being a refugee to a Paralympic hopeful and aspiring prosthetist. I directed a film & shot photography side by side. Dovetailing the two meant we could tell this story in a super efficient and cohesive way."

Title: 'Eden Roc Diving Between Minerals'.

Location: "My studio in Düsseldorf, Germany. The entire underwater scene was a controlled studio setup using artificial strobe lighting to create the illusion of natural light and gentle waves.

The perfume flacon is unobtrusively positioned among various rock minerals, all in subtle colors and illuminated by backlighting and streaks of sunlight. Gentle waves ripple across the underwater scene, slightly distorting the details and creating a mystical, dreamlike and vibrant atmosphere.

The image is part of a fragrance series featuring Christian Dior’s oceanic Eden Roc scent, which includes eight main images inspired by the fragrance's key ingredients: sea salt and minerals. Each image in the series, along with its effects and lighting characteristics, was captured entirely in-camera. Either the images were taken in one shot, like the winning image, or I used techniques such as motion, long exposures, or multiple exposures.

Two things all the images in this fragrance series have in common: no filters and no post-production."

Title: 'Thriller' from the 'At the movies' series.

Location: Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, this specific photograph was taken in Culver City.

"We all love going to the movies, and we all have our favourite genre - whether it is a heartwarming Christmas romance, a captivating historical drama, or an adrenaline-filled action movie.

What's fascinating is that most genres can be identified by their distinct features, like lighting or colour mood, from a single still image. Per Schorn’s series, 'At the movies', plays with these typical visual worlds of various film genres.

Each motif embodies a different genre while sharing a common protagonist: a solitary street lantern, giving a sense of quiet isolation throughout the series.

This specific motif would be the 'Thriller' genre, capturing an old car under a blanket. The tension is palpable - you can almost feel that something is about to happen in the very next cut."