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Photo: Luciano Ruiz

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Luciano Ruiz

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Photography is the medium by which one creates art through visual observation and careful deliberation. Over time it has allowed us to see the world in a different way by recreating images that are often overlooked by the naked eye. Being able to explore this contemporary form of expression over the past months has dramatically changed the way in which I interpret the environment around me. Throughout the course of this semester I have learned to make sense of every situation that surrounds me in order to produce frames that are both innovative and captivating. For this individual project I have decided to explore fashion and its relation to this flexible medium.

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Photo: Luciano Ruiz

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……….Fashion and photography have been evolving side-by-side for decades. Photographers are essential in capturing novel tendencies, while their images at the same time create trends themselves. It is this interplay of novelty and creativity that inspired me to create a fashion project. The subject’s exotic traits were my main inspiration. The subtlety of her skin along with the fine features of her face presented me with a blank slate from which to produce unique photographs.

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I was quickly moved by the subject’s reminiscence of the casual interplay between texture and color that characterize the Incas, native peoples of her home country Peru. For that reason I decided to use opposing colors and fabrics in order to create the perfect contrast between the subject and the setting surrounding her. By layering different clothing pieces and accessories I was also able to create this contrasting effect.

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Photo: Luciano Ruiz

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I soon realized that fashion shoots do not only entail good styling, but also require detailed preparation of the setting in which the subject will be placed. As stated above, the model’s subtle facial features were one of my main inspirations. In order to create that contrast I was trying to achieve throughout the shoot, I decided to place her in a setting with rough lines and strong textures. The presence of concrete walls and stainless steel elements fit perfectly with the subject. This allowed me to manipulate her and draw attention towards the aspects that I found most intriguing. As soon as I took out my camera I began to see with different eyes the environment around me. I set my imagination free and naturally captured what caught my attention. Allowing my creativity to wonder not only yielded results that were amazing, but that were also in tune with own personal beliefs and pleasures.

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Photo: Luciano Ruiz

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As I look back to the progress I’ve made throughout this course, I cannot help but feel proud of what I have achieved. I was able to produce amazing results by positively incorporating feedback into every subsequent project I undertook. The fact that I was able to integrate a setting and adapt it to the needs of this project is a vast improvement from previous assignments. Additionally, I kept true to my interests and desires throughout each project. Individually, they reflect different facets of our daily environment, but as a whole they mirror my own creative, social and political agenda as an aspiring photographer.

About The Author: Luciano Ruiz is a Candidate for Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania – Class of 2013
Photographs by Luciano Ruiz – Copyright 2012

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Editor’s Note: To access additional articles by Luciano Ruiz, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Upenn: Photography $ Fashion

Posted on February 8, 2012

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The Walk: What is the best piece of advice you would give someone who wants to go into the fashion photography industry?
TW: Study Art and Photographic History, Politics, Business and current events. It is also very important to be driven by an unrelenting passion/obsession: to become the very best in the field. As the great Alexey Brodovitch used to say: “astonish me”!

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Bonnie Arbittier

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The Walk: Which designers have been most inspirational to your work? What about these designers resonates most with you and your personal voice?
TW: The first designer that was most inspirational early on was Emilio Pucci. He was one of the first artist that I recognized that became a master of his craft and the art of branding – by the application of his signature to has textile designs. I loved his sense of style, his choice of fabric and palette. His scarves for women and ties for men were commonplace in my parent’s wardrobes. In recent times, Calvin Klein has always impressed me for pushing the envelope of eroticism and fashion. Sam Shahid, the man behind CK’s sexy ad campaigns – designed the original lay out for my second book, Tableaux Vivants.

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Renata Siruckova

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The Walk: What does the word “fetish” mean to you? How do you encourage a student to incorporate the concept of fetish into their fashion photographs?
TW:Fetish means a penchant or obsessive interest in a particular thing, often related to sexual desire. Any student that endeavors to incorporate the concept of a particular fetish in a body of work are encouraged to understand the law: as it applies to what is commonly referred to as the censorship of obscene material. Working within the framework of the law, is important for the production of any photograph that may be considered lewd or lascivious in nature.

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Tara McConachie

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The Walk: At what point do you believe that nudity in art crosses the line into pornography? Is there such a distinction?
TW: I don’t believe there is a distinction. Nudity in art is about context and sometimes the subject area of the artists oeuvre has a very compelling erotic component. Pornography is primarily defined by politicians and legislators.

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Clare Din

Editor’s Note: The Walk is a student run fashion magazine, published by the University of Pennsylvania. Cover Photograph: Erica Sasche – Copyright 2012

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Photographs to accompany the interview were produced by TW’s Photography & Fashion students at Penn. The next course offering, Fall of 2012.

www.ClareDin.com

Copyright 2012

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About The Photographer: Clare Din is enrolled in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and is also an alumni of Penn Engineering, Class of 1991.

Clare Din

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Clare Din

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Can someone
Truly be in love
With more than one person
At the same time?

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Do I have so much love
In my heart
That there’s room
For two people…
Or am I being selfish?

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Whatever it is,
I am torn between two,
A man with whom I built a life
And a woman who adores me.

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Clare Din

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The wisdom and success
That come with experience.
The imagination and energy
That is marked by youth.

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When I am with one,
I feel a warm feeling in my belly
That he or she is the center of my universe
And nothing else really matters,
But the good feeling subsides eventually
And turns into cravings for the other
And I feel my heart being pulled apart.

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Clare Din

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Do I really know what love is
Or do I use the word too lightly,
Not really knowing its true meaning?
Not really caring?

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Is it fair to each of them?
Would they understand?
Would they both hate me?
Would they both leave me?

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What would I do if they did?

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What I do makes sense to me
And keeps me happy
And yet sad
At the same time.

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So I think about what it would be like
To be with just one person.
And I think about how the world sees me.
And I wish things were just a little different
And yet the same.
And I know that the world
Just isn’t that way, never was, never will be.
Because the world doesn’t yet understand me
And probably never will.

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Clare Din

Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Clare Din is enrolled in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and is also an alumni of Penn Engineering, Class of 1991.

Photo: Carolina Ernst

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Carolina Ernst

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You want her; you crave her, but don’t know if she’ll have you. Her confidence intimidates you, but there’s something about her that intrigues you. You want to know her, but don’t know if she wants to know you. She is modest, and won’t show you too much, which makes you want to see more.

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Photo: Carolina Ernst

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She is one of the most beautiful, confident women I know. She doesn’t care what people think of her, and will do whatever she wants when she wants. She plays by her own rules. You never know what to expect from her. I never know what to expect from her.

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Photo: Carolina Ernst

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These photographs are about sugar and spice. They are about seducing the viewer within a familiar mise-en-scene. He has been there before, but not with her. It is about his relationship with her and his vulnerability.

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Photo: Carolina Ernst

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She is so much more than the girl next door. She has secrets: dirty little secrets.

Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Carolina Ernst is enrolled at The Wharton School of business, University of Pennsylvania – Class of 2012

Campaign

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Renata Siruckova

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When a woman is happy, confident, and feels good about herself, she is sometimes described as ‘glowing’. This glow, this radiant feeling of beauty and incandescent happiness is evoked when a woman feels truly sexy, comfortable, and beautiful in what she is wearing. Whether it’s a simple dress or an irresistible piece of lingerie, a woman wants to put it on and glow.

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Light Me Up

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This emotion is the basis of my fashion ad campaign. My brand isn’t just about selling the clothing; it takes it a step further. It’s meant to inspire warmth and create emotion. Clothes aren’t just meant to be worn; they are meant to be experienced.

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Feel Me Shine

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I enjoyed the photoshoot with the couple. They were very comfortable with me, and let me take a peak inside their strong love for each other. I loved the way their movements were coordinated to fit together, I had to do very little directing. I would explain what I was going for in a shot, and they would find a way to fit together perfectly for it.

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Radiate Your Inner Light

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My challenge was producing enough light to freeze the couple and the surroundings, while also using a slower shutter speed to blur the Christmas lights and make them glow. I learned a lot over the course of the shoot.

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Bathe Me In Beauty

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I also designed a logo and some slogans for the pictures I chose. Try as I might, some of the placements still seem a little awkward to me, but then again this is a learning process. I suppose it would be ridiculous for me to expect to get it perfectly right – the first time I try to do something like this.

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Feel My Spark

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Make Me Glow

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Fuel My Fire

About The Author: Renata Siruckova is enrolled in the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2014.

Try To Stop Me

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Carolina Ernst

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TRY TO STOP ME. I WILL RESIST. I WON’T WAIT. I WILL DECEIVE YOU. I WON’T NEED YOU. I DO WHAT I WANT.

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……….These photographs are about glitz and glam, mixing and matching, throwing everything together. Silver, gold, gems, diamonds, mustaches, watches, beads, … She loves it all.

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I Won't Need You

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She creates art with her jewelry: masterpieces that cannot be replicated because of their complexity. She is a party girl. She knows exactly what she wants: she wants everything. She loves excess. She will throw everything together, because she wants to. She is independent and doesn’t care what you think, which is why you won’t forget her. The decisions that she made aren’t calculated or formulated. They are spontaneous and depend on her mood. She makes the rules, and you can’t keep up. She won’t make excuses. She is who she is.

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I Will Resist

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I Won't Wait

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She is a contemporary Marie Antoinette.

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My brand is about beauty and the imperfections of beauty. Beauty isn’t about being perfect and planned and structured and put together. Perfection is a concept that unrealistic, unoriginal, and boring. Perfection is not beautiful: far from it.

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I Will Deceive You

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you are the beholder. My brand is about being yourself, and finding the beauty in who you are. My photographs show you my interpretation of beautiful: my tastes and preferences, and the decisions that I have made as an artist to influence how you perceive me.

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I Do What I Want

About The Author: Carolina Ernst is enrolled at The Wharton School of business, University of Pennsylvania – Class of 2012

Gorgeous Girl

Posted on December 17th, by Clare Din

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“Honey, call me,” my lover text-messaged me on my phone.

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“Hi, babe, what’s up?” I said with giddy enthusiasm. I had only been with him for a month, but it seemed like more than that.

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“I want you to wear that black dress I love on you. We’re going out to celebrate!” he said.

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Gorgeous Girl

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Gorgeous Girl

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Every day is a celebration when you’re a gorgeous girl. If clothes make the man, fashions make the woman and fashions excite me. From couture designed by local Philadelphia designers, such as Tor’East and LELE, to well-known designer labels, such as Prada and Armani, looking fashionable to me is not about looking like everyone else, but looking good, looking unique, looking me, and that’s what a photo shoot with me as a model is like. It’s all about me and what I look like when I’m talking, smiling, laughing, and even making funny faces. There’s nobody in the world who loves me more than I do. If I had a twin, I’d love her, too.

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Gorgeous Girl

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I’ve lived in Philadelphia for over twenty years and it’s simply a fantastic city with so many possibilities but none of the craziness of New York City where I grew up. I love the 30th Street Station and Art Museum areas so I now live in a condo apartment overlooking both.

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Gorgeous Girl

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I love going out with any man who is willing to treat me to dinner at a nice restaurant and drinks at a posh lounge. I love to see and be seen. That’s my mantra. A Sunday stroll in the rain, a night at a black tie affair, and an evening my man won’t soon forget. This is my life as a gorgeous girl, the life of a Queen bee.

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Gorgeous Girl

About The Author: Clare Din is enrolled in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and is also an alumni of Penn Engineering, Class of 1991.

Raven Willis

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Raven Willis

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………..In this editorial, I played with the ideas of contradiction and paradox. I met with a Penn student and designer, to pick out the looks for the photo shoot. Once seeing the mostly gown and dressy looks that we chose, I decided to go a different route than the usual clean-cut, polished style of an editorial you might see with this style of clothing. I found our unconventional model, Amanda via Craigslist and liked the idea of her fiery, red hair and tattooed arms – against the formal evening wear. For the location of the shoot, I picked out a place with city backdrops but not just the city landscape and skyline that you’d expect to see. I also picked a location underneath railroad tracks and amongst freight trains.

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Raven Willis

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This editorial continues to explore my views and beliefs on gender norms and stereotypes. I elaborated on the idea of photographing a woman who is “not what you expect” through the styling elements of the shoot. I photographed a woman who can’t be placed in a box and a woman who challenges the assumptions made of her. She is a woman who, as Nikki Giovanni said, “cannot be comprehended, except by her permission.”

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Raven Willis

About The Author: is a candidate for B.A. in Economics, Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2012 – Copyright 2011

Bonnie Arbittier

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Bonnie Arbittier

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……….This shoot is about interweaving, movement, dancing, elation, joy, mystery, interaction, and, of course, colors and textures. I picked two models because, with one, the interaction is not apparent. The connection between the boy and the girl; the awkward, yet flowing, movements; the stripes on the shirt and the stripes in the background: they are the goals of this editorial shoot. They are what define pattern and culture and texture, and they are what create my definition of fashion.

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Bonnie Arbittier

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Bonnie Arbittier

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Bonnie Arbittier

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Bonnie Arbittier

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Bonnie Arbittier

About The Author: Bonnie Arbittier is a sophomore enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2013 – Copyright 2011