Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Probably my favorite fashion photographers today are the team of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Maybe this is not a word used in photography critiques, but "stunning" is my immediate reaction. The imagery is saturated -- fully saturated -- and I don't just mean colour or exposure. There is an overall richness and depth aesthetically and in the emotional impact of the photographs. Their work is not just confined to what goes on behind the camera or with their impeccable lighting -- they are equally involved in the hair and make-up room. They put their stamp on everything that goes into a shot. They live and breathe fashion.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott met in England in 1994. Alas is from Istanbul, Turkey and Piggott from Bangor, Wales. They credit Guy Bourdin's Charles Jourdan advertising campaign from the 1970s as some of their inspiration. (See my posts on Guy Bourdin.) They are the "it" photographers ... their work in fashion and portraiture has landed them large advertising campaigns and constant editorial work --they are in hot demand ... and I'm guessing that pretty much everyone wants to be photographed by them. (Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott are represented by Art Partner.)

Shakira

Natalie Portman
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Ron Cristiano for Emporio Armani Underwear, 2010

Cindy Crawford
Cameron Diaz

David and Victoria Beckham for Emporio Armani Underwear

Abbey Lee Kershaw for Versace

for Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006

Lara Stone (foreground) for Calvin Klein Jeans

Lara Stone for Paris Vogue

for DSquared2, 2009

Lara Stone in Dolce & Gabbana, Fall 2007 (not sure if they know of Jan Saudek or took any inspiration from him, but this could be influenced by his work)


Mariacarla Boscono for Loewe, Madred (this would appear to be influenced by Guy Bourdin, from whom they say they took some of their inspiration)

Jennifer Lopez for Louis Vuitton

for Gucci Spring 2010 Campaign

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

Valentine's Day Fashions

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Deborah Turbeville

Guy Bourdin

Ellen von Unwerth (of Eva Mendez)

Ellen von Unwerth (for Russian Vogue)

Helmet Newton

Miles Aldridge

Nick Knight

Steven Meisel (Tribute to Alexander McQueen for Vogue 2011)

Richard Avedon (Versace ad featuring Kelly LeBrock, circa 1980s)

The Christmas Season ...

Irving Penn

Guy Bourdin

Richard Avedon

Suggestiveness

I remember being a kid and learning about the risque television commercials that flashed the word "sex" in between frames. And I heard about the accompanying print ads with ice-cubes hiding "sex" in swirly blue letters in hopes that your parents would buy that brand of vodka. It was said that suggestion or suggestiveness was either subliminal and intentionally placed or all in your head.

Pablo Picasso by Robert Doisneau

Elliott Erwitt

Man Ray

Guy Bourdin

Guy Bourdin

My first introduction to Guy Bourdin and probably a notable reference for many photographers is that of his Charles Jourdan shoe campaign of the 1970s. Bourdin's fashion photography defined a style that I think hibernated for awhile and then reemerged to influence perhaps Fiona Apple's "Criminal" music video and maybe even Juergen Teller's current Marc Jacob ads, albeit the Marc Jacob ads seem unrelated and blatantly stark verging on mocking by comparison. But in all, the core is an almost defiant favoring of object and form versus light, and the static versus fluidity.