Stefan Gesell joins us

Stefan Gesell

"Blaster"
Art Model Madlen

"Urban"

Art Model Rassamee

"Hommage"

" Full of talent, outstanding work, impressive gallery, awesome, unbelievable, I'm totally impressed, great stuff, I'm speachless, really stunning and breathtaking photos, powerful work, stunning, very unique style, fabulous gallery, exceptional..."


The comments about the work of Stefan Gesell are extatic and unanimous. And they're right.

From Munich, Germany, woldwide renowned and multi-awarded photographer at various international photographic competitions, Stefan Gesell composes his pictures like a Director : scripts, decorations, locations, lights, casting, make-up, poses, post-processing, nothing seems to be left to chance. I tell "seem" because we'll know more about his outstanding creativity after his interview.

To make short, I've too many (french) words in my mind, must I tell you how much I'm happy to feature him ? No, isn't it ?... So, let's him talk. And enjoy the work of this fantastic artist !

"Dust"
Art Model Madlen

An extract of his short interview with Harald Heim for The Plugin Site :

" German photographer Stefan Gesell creates photos that have a very special touch.

He usually does portraits and full size photos of half dressed or nude women that convey a very dark and dramatic mood.

Some of his images contain horror elements like screaming mouths, gas masks and decayed rooms while others have a more romantic touch that is emphasized with flower bouquets, glowing skin and gleams of light."

"Aqualove"

Art Model Jovita

Harald Heim : Can you please tell us something about yourself ?

I was born in 1959 in Markschorgast near Kulmbach, Germany, and visited the "Gymnasium." In 1977, I passed the entrance exam of the police. Since 2003, I have dedicated myself to photography.


Harald Heim : What do you think makes your photos different from those of other photographers ?

I think it is the different approach and stage-managing that makes my pictures look different.

For me the impact of my images is of high importance.
I want to make them memorable to the viewer.

That's why I experiment a lot with light and the resulting mood.

"Masked"
Art Model Rassamee

"Forms"
Art Model Rassamee

Harald Heim : How do you get ideas for new photos ?

My ideas come to me while sleeping, so to speak. I dream of them and try to translate the memory of the dream into photos.

"Watching..."

From fine art TV :

" His creations are unsettling, sometimes violent, he draws from imaginations of the masters of comics who so often found a life much more real via the cinema.

Stefan transforms his model, whether it is a man or a woman. He pushes them so that they have to be expressive in their glances, in the distorsions of their bodies. The movement has importance, and it is also the force of his photography."

"Birdy"
Art Model Madlen

"Trans"
Art Model Rassamee

"Ultimate"
Art Model Emy

"Celsius"
Art Model Rassamee

Breakfast at Tiffany with Alexey Aloisov

Alexey Aloisov

Member since 2007

Alexey Aloisov is 54 years old and lives in Saint Petersburg, Russia. And that's it, dear reader ! His talent is as amazing as his discretion about himself. I contacted him for an interview. He answered me :

- Well, you may write about me, if you already know what you can say about me.

I told him :

- Fabulous ! But I really need to know more about you... I didn't find any bio ?... Even in russian. Do you have one, even a short one ?

End of the story... I'm still waiting but I don't lose hope.

Breakfast at Tiffany Series
Art Model Olga Malysheva

" It has been rumored that the film's on-location opening sequence, in which Holly gazes into a Tiffany’s display window, was extremely difficult for director Blake Edwards to film. Although it was simple in concept, crowd control, Hepburn's dislike for pastries, and an accident that nearly resulted in the electrocution of a crew member are all said to have made capturing the scene a challenge. However, Edwards, in an interview given for the 45th anniversary DVD, said that the sequence was captured rather quickly due to the good fortune of an unexpected traffic lull despite the location in the heart of Manhattan."

And :

"Utiva"

"To me not it is cold"

"Corridor"





"Prospectus of the peace 2"

"Uninvited guest"
Art Model Julia

The "soft geometry" of Pavel Kiselev

Pavel Kiselev
"Soft Geometry Series"
With Art Model Nadya

"Naked Ambition" Series, David LeBeck and St Merrique

"Naked Ambition" Series 

David LeBeck, in memory
 Art Model St Merrique

2009
David, what do you see in your series ?

I guess the message is the sensuality of the creative act made manifest by her nudity and her body language.

The concept was something we came up with together, She wanted to be photographed with her type writer and I felt that a "Film Noir" look fit her looks, and the age of the typewriter

How did you create it ?

Well She lugged the type writer over the night before and we talked about the interest she herself has in Film Noir, at least the look. She's never seen any of the great films. I do have to educate her o that score. Maybe a double feature of "The Big Sleep" and either "Out of the Past" or "Double Indemnity" !
























I bought her the hat she wears in the set the second time I met her when we were out looking for a spanish shawl for a set we wanted to do in homage to Alfred Cheney Johnston, the great photographer famous for photographing Ziegfeld Girls and other broadway stars nude and Hollywood stars in the nude when they were still showgirls in New York City. Well we never found that shawl.

I thought the concept of her sitting nude at her table writing with her masculine clothes (actually some of my clothes) thrown down to the side as she doffed them was a cool and interesting concept. The tie was her idea and it works to conceal and to reveal her femininity.

The blossoming of her womanly sensuality as she expresses the sensual feelings that she is writing about.

So we waited until the sun Had gone down and I made up the set using my art deco table lamp and my art deco sofa. The table is IKEA but it works. I wish I had a proper chair.

I lit it using the table lamp on the table and another table lamp for fill to the left of the camera in front of me. I had to use a tripod as even though I set the exposure index at 400 I wanted to shoot at F.8. Later I bit the bullet and went whole hog to EI: 3200 and wide open, F.2.8 so I could hand hold the rest of the set. I had a hell of a time focusing though.



What is your favourite photo in the series ?

My favourite is actually two. First is St Merrique 3, Naked Ambition 422. I love the look she gives the camera as if she was the narrator, a sort of naked female Phillip Marlowe about to take us into a world sordid and sexual. Dark and mysterious !











Then I love this one : St Merrique 3, Naked Ambition 397. The sensuality of her body language, the subtlety of her explicit nudity, her expression of near ecstasy !

Anca Cernoschi's interview

" I like indoors, like an improvised movie scene in an empty room with just some pieces of furniture, something comfortable and not too professional."  

Anca Cernoschi

"Dora - contest"






"Purple"

In a world where images spread like an epidemic, a confusion between the real and imaginary arises. I work with natural light almost exclusively, I prefer domestic interiors because they give a feeling of authenticity to the image. I photograph things the way I'd like them to be seen by the others, strongly believing that in the moment they are exposed to the world, they don't belong to me anymore, that is why I find very important where and how it's seen, who has access to them and what are the responses. These images are storytelling portraits, like a memory about the past or maybe the future. They are almost classical eastern-european portraits with romantic overtones, with a timeless element.

Anca, could you tell us how did your passion for photography begin ?

I was studying art for about three years when I started to take pictures.

First just landscapes but soon I realized that photography gave me more possibilities to obtain the result I wanted than painting (or maybe I wasn't talented enough !)


A revelation... How lucky you are ! I noted that you're still a student. In an art school ?

Yes, I study graphic design for a few months now. I studied decorative arts for about 4 years before that.

"xX"

And do you feel it's your way ?

Yes, I would like to work in photography or design. I can't see myself doing something else.

Of course your style is evolving at every shot, and we can see your curiosity in your tries, indoors, outdoors, BW and color, but is there a genre that attracts you more than another ?

I prefer BW film photography (indoors usually, like a movie scene) but I am not yet at the level where I want to be in that genre (or any other), so I keep experimenting.


As the majority of the contributing artists of this site, experienced or not... Who are your favorite photographers ? Do they have an influence on your style ?

There are many classic and beginners I like but the classics influenced me the most. I'm not that open to modern approaches in photography but I admire many young photographers for their courage to try very different things.










Model Delia





You make part of the digital generation. What about film ?...

I'd like to say I enjoy film but for now both, even more digital.


What locations do you prefer to use mainly ?

Indoors the most but not studios, more like a corner of the model's home, an improvised studio in an empty room with just some pieces of furniture and the lights, something comfortable and not too 'professional'.


Some words about your models ? With who are you dreaming to work ?

I usually look for a model to fit one idea I have, or some interesting personalities because I'm curious if I can capture their personalities.

I don't want to work with someone in particular, I can tell you if I find someone interesting but for now everyone I asked agreed to pose for me (lucky me !).

"Dora 8"









"Dora 10"

"MMll"

What is your own favorite photo ? Could you choose one ?

I like one picture for about 2-3 weeks after I made it. Usually I don't like my work that much after such a long time. Probably I get used to it, I don't know. It's the only one I still like after almost 2 years since I made it. It is my first nude.

"Room 1"

"T"

Again bravo Anca. Your work is impressive and we'll follow you with a great pleasure !