Photograph of the Day > Lara Stone by Mert & Marcus

This photo was published in Interview magazine Sept 2010 issue and though it may be mid Nov you may think I'm slow at blogging this editorial. However this photo has been in my mind all morning and thought I'd blog as my 'Photograph of the Day'. This was the photo that influenced me to spend my last fiver on a magazine (which is imported from the US so therefore a little more expensive to buy in UK) rather than spend on lunch at the Tate Modern in Sept. Fashion over food is a rare occurance for me but recently I've been splurging so much on magazine, I can't get enough of them!

Mert & Marcus are amazing photographers and I featured the duo as my first 'Artist of the Week'. I must admit Lara Stone has an unusual beauty with a sexual appeal like no other. When I first saw her in magazines and ad campaigns, I wasn't blown away however over time she's become an amazing supermodel and is like a chameleon adapting whatver style and story thrown at her. This photo is very liberating and the colours are stunning. I like how you cannot see her face and its more of a sihouette. This pose looks like she's a comic book hero and is about to jump off the building with her 'cape' but the soft colours in the sky and the translucent coat creates a serene setting which is beautiful. This editorial is called 'The Chronicles of Lara'. I love Mert & Marcus!

Source: Touchpuppet & Interview Magazine

(NSFW) To see uncensored click on the source links above

See mores from this shoot:

The Naked Violence by Mert & Marcus ft. Naomi Campbell

So I had posted this entry before however I accidentally deleted this, so I'm posting again. :(

I love these photos by talented duo, Mert & Marcus of Naomi Campbell. I'm not too keen on Campbell however she looks stunning here. The storyline is also very intriguing, brutal yet strangely sexy. This is something you would see from Steven Klein however M&M have embraced sex & violence into fashion. The concept was Russian-Mafia inspired and you can see positions of torture but also sensuality. Like the photo below, a naked bloody man looks like his neck is dislocated but between Campbell's legs. The setting is also amazing and the dark teal/turquoise tones adds to the atmosphere. The angles are very interesting and would be one of the best editorials from Interview Magazine this year.

Source: Homotography

Read More: Naomi Campbell, Interview Magazine

DSquared2 F/W 2010 Campaigns

I love these new ad campaigns for DSquared2 F/W 2010, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot (http://models.com/people/Mert-Alas-and-Marcus-Piggott) and published in June 2010. I had featured the pair of photographers for last week's Artist of the Week (http://mashthings.blogspot.com/2010/07/artist-of-day-mert-marcus.html). I love the teal/blue background colour, it reminds me of a cooling freezer and the vibrant red that appears in each photo makes the photos come to life more; from red dresses, lipstick, gloves. I also like the dark romantic theme and the fact that the models are in glass boxes suggests sexual desires which is seen throughout many fashion editorials and campaigns today. The crimson/maroon and black colours adds to the dark/ gothic/ rock feel plus using blood dripping from bodies adds to that element. I think these photos would certainly stop you in the street and demand your attention. They're bold, provocative and mystic.

Love how he's intently looking through glass box and the model's erotic pose.

I'm not too keen on the model's hair but alternative hair styles are certainly in at the moments especially from the 80's/90's.

This is very high fashion, futuristic goth. The jet black hair and bold red lipstick is a strong look at the moment.

The garments in this is spectacular. I'm lovin DSquared2 new collection. 

I love the blood dripping from the model's torso and the levitating man in the far right. This is both creepy but arousing to some.

The levitating man looks amazing in this photo and using mirrors creates the illusion there are two models levitating. Mert and Marcus certainly know how to capture the viewers attention and have us in awe.

I love the styling in this.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott - Photographer

Chanel Iman - Model

Iris Strubegger - Model

Tyler Kenyon - Model

Alla Kostromichova - Model

Thomas Hoefnagels - Model

Jordan Coulter - Model

Camilla Nickerson - Fashion Editor/Stylist

Charlotte Tilbury - Makeup Artist

Garren - Hair Stylist

Giovanni Bianco - Art Director

Gerard Santos - Set Designer

see more: http://models.com/work/dsquared-dsquared2-fw-10

DSquared2: http://www.dsquared2.com/index.asp?tskay=A18F62AF

Artist of the Week > Mert & Marcus

I've decided to feature an artist of the week, whether it be a photographer, model, music artist, fashion designer, graphic designer..features all fields of art. This week's feature is on marvellous fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott who work as a team.

I often buy fashion magazines and have admired much of their work without realizing it, especially their ad campaigns! Today I've learnt the people behind the camera and they have certainly made an impression on me. It's amazing how they can manage to work as a team and create such mind-blowing beautiful photographs. Their style changes from picture to picture depending on the client but I certainly know that the words 'extravagant' and 'awesome' can be described for every photo they do. I especially love their vibrant works of art such like the Dsquared2 S/S 10 campaign however they do create beautiful monochrome portraits like the Georgio Armani F/W 09 & S/S 10 (see below).

Ad campaigns they've done include:

Georgio Armani, (Cristiano Ronaldo, David & Victoria Beckham)

Mui Mui, 

Dsaquared2, (Daria Werbowy)

Gucci, 

They've worked with models the likes of Eva Mendes, Madonna, Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Daria Werbowy, Natalia Vodianova ,Julianne Moore, David & Victoria Beckham, Gisele Bündchen, Björk, 

Demi Moore,

Lindsay Lohan,

Scarlett Johansson, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Naomi Campbell.. to name a few. 

And their client list is pretty impressive working for magazines such as W,

Love, (Kate Moss, Nami Campbell, Kristen Mcmenamy, Amber Valletta, Natalia Vodianova, Daria Werbowy, Jeneil Williams, Lara Stone)

I-D, Vogue Paris, Vogue Italia, Vogue USA, Vogue Russia, Numero, Arena Homme Plus, Vanity Fair, V...

All in all, it looks like they're dominating the fashion industry with their images plastered on giant billboards and gracing many fashion magazines whilst working with top models, it's a wonder how I haven't heard of them until today!

I shall certainly be getting inspiration from Mert & Marcus for future fashion shoots.
Thank you, you're awesome photographers!!