Against The Sky

Its not that I have stopped shooting fashion! I just like to try out ideas when they hit me. This is taken in my back garden this morning & I suspect very soon we will be seeing some sort of fashion shots and portraits based on this technique. Perhaps even the night shoot we blogged about last time. I hope you like the soft dreamy feeling of 'Against The Sky'.



Kent Johnson Photography

A Fashion Editorial Without Any Fashion..

So that means I need some help. Because lets face it, you can't really have a fashion editorial or even a fashion test for that matter without having some fashion. This series stems from a few inspirations but it really all fell (mostly) into place when I saw Manning Cartell's Summer 2010/11 range while perusing the RAFW shows online about 10 days ago.

Suddeny I saw fashion that I knew I could work into the Marrickville Urban Landscape and do it right at night. Really I think the only time it can work is at night. But it wasn't just the MC range, a few days earlier I had been talking with my friend and mentor Brett Hilder and had been thinking about Brett's love of Tina Mondotti, Mexico and his own take on all that is beautiful.













I think the moody light and Hacienda, Art Deco, Breeze Block and re-made Federation architectural mash-up lends itself to a kind of David Lynch, Mullholland Drive mystery narrative. Film Noir, Hollywood glamour and the ingénue!

So to pull it all off I need some help. I need a stylist who can help pull it all together on the fashion front. Or some designers who have the garments that fit the bill. Or both. I think its a great project so rather than put it in a draw and wait... I am putting it out on the net, seeing what the great god Google can rustle up for me. So lets add some keywords. Fashion Stylist, Sydney, Editorial. Fashion Photography; and see if that helps. If you like the look of the shoot, please email me or give me a call. Lets do it.

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.


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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.

Lulu in Chains AW10, Photographers Edit

My own take on the Lulu in Chains AW10 shoot that we shot in the Rocks, Sydney a couple of weeks ago. I am continuing to develop my B&W in-camera & post production techniques.















We had a great time on this shoot and it was the first time I have shot at this very popular location in the rocks.

Model, Victoria from Chadwicks
Assistant, Harry Perlich
Lulu in Chains AW10 campaign shots. Photographers edit.

Fashion Catalogue on Location, Annandale Sydney.

Whenever I do a shoot I like to make my own selection of shots and 'do my own' post processing on the shots. Yes its time consuming but it is rewarding as its nice to see the story as you feel it looks at its best (for the photographer). I have gone just a little crazy here by nudging the RGB layers of the pictures giving a slight 3D appearance to the shots, those strange coloured lines along the edges! The client went with a more straight forward version of the shoot.

Here's my take on our day of shooting in a Grand Annandale homes grounds.













Model, Natalie
H&MU by Kaori
Shot on Location, Annandale Sydney

Model Test, Anna Z @ Scene Modelling Agency, Sydney

A very simple studio & location model test. Anna did her own hair & make-up. The gown is by Anna's friend Anna Shin. (Revised with larger images 20-10-2026)

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Agency Model Test - Studio Photoshoot

I am quite keen on doing these simple tests as time allows in 2010 2026!!! (Yes I'm still testing and shooting portfolios.) Its great to just try out ideas, poses and techniques without needing to put together a big team. And the shots still look great! 

Like what you see? Please consider booking me.

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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