White Lights And Dark Knights, Le Magazine Editorial

White Lights And Dark Knights, one of the three editorials I shot for issue 3 of Le Magazine / Le Black Book. Rhiannon and I worked quite intensively on all the shoots, concepts, planning, how what where when. This one was initially conceived as a shoot that would use patterns either projected or dropped in using Photoshop. Unfortunately that concept went out the window & I started thinking about the Russian Constructivists and their use of geometric shapes and primary colours as a possible alternative to the type of pattern idea we had started with.

However, while doing my research on the constructivists I started falling in love with the portraits I was seeing of them , shots of the pavilions they built for exhibitions and the posters they produced for their shows. By this time we had already shot the images with model Sammy Raine against a basic white background and, thinking 'Constructivistly' I had dug out some night shots of the super structure of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that I had shot with my trusty (now dead, I dropped it) Canon Pro1 back in 2006!

The beams and girders of the bridge seemed to form a perfect constructivist vision of the future and I have always loved the Art Deco nature of the bridges concrete approaches.

The vintage inspired garments from Mrs Press combined with the slightly crazy Vivien Westwood shoes, stole from Coco Collectables.. Well lets just say, Rhiannon, the stylist knows her stuff. It all works perfectly against Sydney’s largest Art Deco structure the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

After pulling our model Sammy off the white background and dropping her over the night scenes of the bridge, post was mostly about blending B&W layers to deliver our Constructivist; now a little bit Film Noir feeling final images. 

Model, Sammy Raine
Styling, Rhiannon Bulley
Hair & Make Up, Lisa Sciberras
Photography Assistant, Harry Perlich
Shot at, The Photo Studio Sydney
and on the Harbour Bridge

Thanks to Kath & Rhiannon at Le Black Book/Le Magazine and all the crew.

Le Black Book, Le Magazine Issue 3 AW10

Le Magazine Issue 3 AW10
L'hiver Mode, Title Page.

I have about 20 pages across three editorials, Art Collaboration and two portrait shoots, you can see it all here, Le Magazine, AW10 Fashion Editorial





Thanks to Kath, & Rhiannon at Le Black Book/Le Magazine for their fantastic efforts in delivering such a great issue, and everyone who helped in the production of the shots.

Alice's Dreamtime; Winter Fashion Editorial

Alice's Dreamtime;

My first full editorial shoot with stylist and fashion editor Rhiannon Bulley. We shot this in December 2009 as an editorial submission that very very nearly ran.  We drew our inspiration from Peter Weir's classic Australian, period mystery drama film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'; and extended our visual vocabulary by looking at the works of Julia Margaret Cameron and he of 'Alice' fame, the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson AKA Lewis Carol.  Both Dodgson & Cameron photographed Alice Liddell so this provided us with even more  visual pointers for our story.


View Large
Hannah Macleod Fields of Love dress worn over stylists own dress, 
Stylists own hat Luker Limited Crystal cameo neckpiece with ribbon,
Luker Limited Black and silver cameo neckpiece. 


Strummer Jaipur Dress
Mrs. Press Vintage Bib worn on top
Stylists own shoes in hair.




Stretsis Forget Me Not Dress and Stylists own bib worn on top
Dollhouse furniture from Just white part of set.
Shoes Strummer Old Timer Platform BLACK AND GREY worn throughout.



An Ode to No One top worn underneath Strummer Painter Blouse
 and Vintage top from the Darnell Collection, Bloomers from the Darnell Collection
Furniture from Just White part of set.
Rock and Royalty necklace.




Vintage underwear from the Darnell Collection worn underneath
Konstantina Mittas Playsuit, Hat stylists own.
Luker Limited Black cameo neckpiece with grosgrain ribbon ruff. 



The Stolen Girlfriend Club Maria Lace Dress, Stylists own Bonnet worn as necklace.
Rock and Royalty Charelston Necklace Black worn on top
Stylists own hat, Stylists own vintage parasol.



Vintage top from the Darnell Collection worn under
Hannah Macleod World Peace dress and Rachael Cassar top.




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Konstantina Mittas French Cotton Lace top and Organza Tutu,Mrs. Press Vintage lace top worn as jacket, Rock and Royalty shine necklace. 

Stylist, Rhiannon Bulley
H&MU, Kaori
Model, Melise @ Platform Sydney
Photography, Kent Johnson
Assistants, Harry Perlich, Guy Woolrych

Production Notes
After a couple of meetings and emails back and forth Rhiannon & I settled on the idea of simply trying to shoot the essence of what we thought 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' was about.  A dreamy school girl mystery where nothing seems real (a bit like Alice in Wonderland really)! My job then was to find a suitable location that would lend itself to an ethereal pictorial plot. Fortunately I hit pay dirt at my second location which has been a Sydney favorite of mine for many years. As this shoot was a complete return to my old 80s style of shooting, using full manual focus; (not so easy in the digital age) I did a complete shoot of the location working as I intended shooting on the day. These shots (quite lovely and dreamy landscapes in their own right) became our location book for, and the guide to our story about Alice.

On the day of the shoot Kaori did the hair & make up for the first shot at The Photo Studio in Glebe then we all headed out to the Eastern Suburbs for our shoot. With our location book in hand we smoothly and efficiently worked our way through the shots. Melise who was just back from shooting in New Zealand was having a great time, loving Rhiannon's styling and Kaori's fabulous hair-dos. Harry and later Guy providing me with much appreciated support with the trusty reflector and card changes. Thanks everyone for a great day.

As a result of the slightly off-beat in-camera shooting process most of this shoot is quite literally 'developed' in photoshop. I then applied a watercolour wash also in photoshop to finalise the antique feel of the shots in our edit. As part of the process of pitching the shoot we made a very beautiful set of A4 Giclée prints on mat watercolour paper further enhancing the vintage feel of the shoot. If the idea of an archival  Giclée folio of this shoot appeals to you or; if you would like to publish these images, please feel free to drop me a line.

Finally, two of the shots of Alice Liddell the helped shape our shoot. I hope you enjoy it as much we do.

Alice Liddell photographed by the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.

Alice Liddell photographed by Julia Margaret Cameron.

Fashion Photography Sydney

Fashion Photography Sydney; or anywhere else you may have in mind.

My new web site is now up on-line. Its a complete redesign with horizontal scrolling pages that finally allows me to show the work the way it was shot-to-be-seen. I am quite excited by the result and some of the stories (the individual stories are now viewable on single pages) that perhaps left some scratching their heads thinking "what the...?" now make visual sense in the way they were intended to.

Fashion Photography Sydney.


Fashion Photography.

Beauty and Fashion, Beauty  Photography Gallery.


New Personal Work Gallery.

Portrait Photography Gallery.

Kent Johnson Photography 0433 706 863

Fashion & Beauty Photography, In The Studio

My first full 'Fashion & Beauty' story photographed in the studio.











Photography, Kent Johnson
Hair & Make Up, lisa Sciberras using MAC Cosmetics
Stylist, Lucinda Petroeschevsky-Mayer
Photography Assistant, Harry Perlich
Models,
Adele Thiel
Stacey Monaghan @ Chadwicks
Hats by Helen Kaminski
Shot at The Photo Studio


Adele Thiel

Dress's by Lulu in Chains
Green BG. Reckless White, With Vintage Helen Kaminski Hat
Blue BG. endless Fascination, Zatana Hat
Red BG. Undaunted, Liana Hat

Stacey Monaghan

Red/Brown BG, Silk Dress by Sami and Sita, Brella Hat
Pink BG. French Silk Chiffon Top by Sylvia Chan. Brown Hat, Aldo. Black Hat, Jobi

www.chadwickmodels.com/
www.helenkaminski.com/
www.sylviachan.com.au/
www.samiandsita.com/
www.luluinchains.com/
www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au/

Midnight Cowboy - Night Fashion

Our second Unpublished Fashion Editorial from last December.
Click images to view Large.

All garments are from the 2008 Graduate show
Ultimo TAFE Fashion Design Studio.

















Fashion Designers
Top to bottom.

Bianca Linton
Christopher Morro
Seema Pun
Ryoko Watanabe
Melinda Johns
Kathryn Beeson
Melanie Dumble
Sarah Starkey

Model Alli V @ Chadwicks
H&MU Kaori
Stylist, Lucinda Petroeschevsky - Mayer
Assistants, Guy Woolrych & William Siauw

If anyone would like to publish this story please contact me.
I am also on the look-out for a Sydney fashion stylist to assist me in putting together some more fashion stories for editorial submission.

Thanks to the great designers and my wonderful team who helped make this rather tricky George Street Sydney shoot happen.

Kent Johnson 0433 796 863

The Girls Who Fell To Earth.

Unpublished Fashion Editorial.
Click images to view Large.

All garments are from the 2008 Graduate show
Ultimo TAFE Fashion Design Studio.


Bianca Linton, Melinda Johns


Elizabeth Di Marco


Sarah Starkey


Melinda Johns


louise Maniscalco


Lisa Catanea, Bianca Linton


Christopher Morro


Sarah Starkey, Ryoko Watanabe


Kathryn Beeson

Click images to view Large.
Hair & Make Up, Kathleen Hendry
Stylist, Lucinda Petroeschevsky - Mayer
Assisted by Melinda Johns
Models, Sarah Crawford & Anna Hill @ Platform.
Photography by Kent Johnson, 0433 796 863
Assisted by, Harry Perlich
Shot on Location at Kurnell National Park Sydney Australia.
December 14 2008.

Fashion Designers
Left to right, top to bottom.

Bianca Linton, Melinda Johns
Elizabeth Di Marco
Sarah Starkey
Melinda Johns
louise Maniscalco
Lisa Catanea, Bianca Linton
Christopher Morro
Sarah Starkey; Ryoko Watanabe
Kathryn Beeson

A European Location - in Sydney.

“I want to shoot on location but I want it to look European.”

No that is not an exasperating request it’s an inspiring one and it’s the sort of request I love to hear. And it’s not really surprising to hear it. I was often asked if my black and white shots from the 80s had been taken in Europe. At the time I found it an odd question as those shots had been taken at landmark Sydney locations; but that said much of the identifiable ‘Sydney’ bits had been removed by careful choice of framing and I suppose I had a something
of an informed(?) European take on photography.

But finding the right spot can be tricky. On this occasion the client gave me a bit of a lead, however I thought it sounded a bit too Sydney and a bit too clean for Europe. I decided to take the camera out and have a look around. Using the suggested location as a conceptual starting point and my own perception of what might lend itself to being European, I made a series of shots I thought would fit the bill.

And its not just the location; it’s also the light! I love Sydney light but it can be oh-so-strong and unforgiving. I remember the French Fashion Photographer Denis Jobron remarking to me one day that the light in Sydney was like being in a microwave oven! So the European/Sydney location needs something like a Euro lighting feel as well.

Checking light and location is all about good preparation so things go smoothly on the day. The more complex the shoot, the more preparation that may be required. What will work in post-production can also be addressed before the shoot as well. Last December I finally managed to put together a Night Fashion shoot, an Editorial Submission. It was based around an idea I had been working on for quite a while, the big problem was just how to pull it off?

Initially I simply looked out for the shots I wanted and made location pictures on my point-and-shoot. But I also needed to know how the camera and lenses would work with a real model in situ on location. My friend Julia was kind enough to stand in(twice) for these location tests which were invaluable. A new lens was found to be required to allow for shooting at the best ISO and the all important mix of lighting was tested and put through its paces.

The preparation paid off and on the night of the shoot the team and I were able to put 10 shots in the can in just three hours, but more about that shoot when I am able to show it online.

Sydney as a European location? Why not!

Editorial Fashion, Fashion Advertising & Model Folios Too.

Well I may have already blogged some of the shots from various shoots over the last few months but the Web site itself was looking a little tired and in need of some new images. For the last four days I have been working on editing, re-processing, re-sizing, re-ordering and finally replacing quite a lot of pictures on the Fashion Pages of the web site.



Its always a daunting task but one that is very worthwhile. Both the Fashion Editorial and Fashion Advertising galleries on the website have never looked better and are showing my vision for fashion photography much more clearly.

There are a couple of projects that have been in the planing stages for quite a while that are about to 'come off' so now is a good time to check out the web site before some of the old favorites disappear back into the archive.



The Beauty Photography gallery has had a bit of a make over with some lovely new images that have not been on the site or the Blog before. I have also added some of the Notorious; yes these shots do seem to be gaining some notoriety... Frankie's Nightclub Campsie shots. For those of you who are not aware, there is no Frankie's! So please, stop emailing me for the address :~)) Its an Art Project, a kind of myspace thing, but there will be more about that later. Frankie's lovers might like to check out the Modelling Portfolios pages; just because you can.



So if you have only been following the blog, please click the links and take a tour of the site, there is much more wonderful photography to be seen. And of course; the whole point of the exercise is to entice you to commission me to shoot your Fashion for you. Great shots make for great web-sites, catalogues, look-books, promotions and lots of sales!

Please call or email for a quote.

Kent Johnson

Sydney Australia 0433 796 863, kent@artcommunication.com.au