Comtemporary Photographer Prorject

Fashion Photographer

Lara Zankoul

Nigel Barker

Bios

Lara Zankoul, A self taught photographer based in Beirut of Lebanon. Her outstanding undertstanding helped her craft her work in everyday moments. In her purpose of taking photo is to use her work to display something that will apply differently on everyone, as her word stated "invite the viewers to come up with their own interpretation and understanding of the photographs and the stories behind them." She have been featured several exhibitions, they could be locally, or group exhibitions and solo exhibitions at the Ayyam Gallery and Art Lounge in Beirut. Taking it one step further, her showcases was displayed internationally, she has exhibited at the Guy Hepner Gallery in New York and the HEIST Gallery in London.

Nigel Barker, who started out in New York and have his first studio open in 1996. 23 Year from now, he has accomplished many achivenment. For xamples, throughout his career life, one of his accoumplishment could be his experience of being both the photographer and also judge for 17 seasons on the hit TV show, "America’s Next Top Model" Additional, he also directed and produced films, documentaries and commercials. Not only as the photography working in fashion field, he also has to books—The Beauty Equation, published by Abrams, and his latest book, New York Times Best Seller Models of Influence published by Harper Collins.

Compare and Contrast

Similaries

As the both of them are considered talented photographer, their work shared some of the similar elements which shaped their world in a better understanding of photos, examples that they shared on a same scale with be the use of Composition, as both of them are considered as the Fashion and Commercial photographer, they both used a lot of high and low key lighting, so both of their photo shared a alike comcept of building fashion. Other of their similaries are often composited of their background, they are both invited to perform in a national scale.

Differents

In contrast of their photos and background story, they seem to develop in a very different direction, starting from Lara, she, as photographer, she begins her career life by teaching herself, and she aims to capture everyday moment. Her development of photo prefer using rules of third to outstand the model. Compare to Nigel Barker, as a photographer he started out with his studio in New york, his photo uses a lot of selective focus and close distances, he tends to build around the whole body of the model which consturcture a commerical feeling for his portrait

Critique

In both of their work, I see a lot of skillset that is display throughout their portait, whether is composition, or changes to the color, contrast, and I can see many elements that is built within their work, it is always a timetaking process to finish a work like this, it takes time to find the composition, takes time to look for different edit, and take time to look for the right feeling.

In Lara Zankoul's work, I see a lot using of composting of background, which is important to her photo because in her photo, background made up at least 2/3 of its area, which is good because what it does is to send varities types of message by just looking at the background, what story can I dig out? All of her photo gives me a different feeling and drag me into her story. Her work is crafted beautfilly and well explained the fashion of the model, even though the picture didn't show many deatils, but as she said, it really invites me into her story.

In Nigel Barker's work, I see a strong feeling of commerical. Blowing right out of the photo, he definitely make me feel that because in his work, it is all about the model, as I pay attention to his composition, I realized his using of close distances, whole idea of his work is built around the model. Also his attention to the lights is a very important factor, because it visually displays and give different perspective to us about the model in his protratit. His work really shows me all about the model, he will be a better commerial artist compared to Lara Zankoul