Photography as an art form
From Ansel Adams’ photographs of romantic American landscapes to the celebrity snapshots of Herb Ritts, the art of photography has evolved for the digital age. With camera phones making the medium more accessible and filters, lighting and effects available at the touch of a button, artists are now able to manipulate a scene to tell their chosen story.
Here at Castle, we relish the opportunity to work with talented photographers. Far from tarnishing the prestige of photography, modern technology is opening up a world of opportunities. Just as Eve Arnold became a pioneer for female photojournalists in the 1950s, artists like Plume and Raphael Mazzucco are breaking new ground in the 21st century. We explain why below.
Celebrity photography
With Hollywood collectors such as Claudia Schiffer and Rod Stewart, Simon Claridge is no stranger to the celebrity world. Collaborating with Playboy and 20th Century Fox, Simon famously captures many cultural icons from fashion, film and music – including Marilyn Monroe. To add Hollywood sparkle, Simon overlays his silkscreens with his signature diamond dust, transforming the piece in different lights.
Giving photography a contemporary twist
As a celebrated fashion photographer, Raphael Mazzucco takes a modern twist on using pictures within his art. Layering photography, paint and text, each final piece tells a visual narrative.
Taking inspiration from shipping crates, Mazzucco had a vision to use one as part of his creative process. Purchasing a 2000 square foot container from New Jersey, he then transformed this into a dark room to process monoprints. During the process, the female figure of his painting was positioned, with water and vigorous brush strokes overlaid. The spontaneity of this method allows considerable freedom, painting directly onto the print. You can see more about Raphael’s artwork here.
Mixing high speed photography and sound
Using high-speed photography, sound and moving images, Plume create surreal ink-in-water pieces. Graphic designer Ernest Otoo and photographer Andy Pilsbury describe their work as “escapism through exploring”, citing Leif Podhajský, and Samuel Burgess-Johnson amongst their inspirations.
Starting with a tank of water, Ernest drops in the coloured ink, which dances gracefully under engineered lighting. As music plays in the background, Andy photographs the composition – with no certainty as to how the finished image will look.
Featured Artist
From the blog
The allure of Marilyn Monroe
01/02/2019
Some of our most popular artists - including John Myatt, Eve Arnold and James Francis Gill - have captured the screen siren. We explore her iconic status in contemporary art.Speak to a consultant
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