I have always been in awe of Nadav Kander. Repped by Bill Stockland at Stockland-Martel, Kander was always a name that crept-up when you wanted to take a subject everyone was familiar with and make an unexpected picture: “If I see another picture of Tom Cruise with tousled hair, white shirt and a megawatt grin I will stab my eyes out with a pica pole, effing hell, someone call Kandar”—if you actually got Nadav past the publicist of an A-List celebrity I would give you gold in the Photo Editor Olympics.
It all started for me with the book entitled, Beauty’s Nothing (read about it here) where his photographic style was so distinct and arresting I figured I had to try and land him for an assignment. After the book he continued to surprise me with his creative directional use of gels (normally I can’t stand gels) and dark, moody, unsettled portraiture and landscapes for which he is now known.
After many attempts to try and land him I finally did to shoot an athlete portfolio in London that combined lots of creativity and plenty of room to run the results in the magazine. When the assignments unexpectedly turned into a cover and time with the subject plus space in the magazine suddenly shrunk I knew I had lost my opportunity and needed to change to a more conventional photographer. The last thing I wanted was a shoot with Nadav loaded with art direction intended to strip away his distinct style (”can you make it bright and tack sharp focus?”) and no pages to run any photos.
So, I walked away.
I don’t want to hire a great photographer and then hack the shit out of their work in the magazine… at least not on the first encounter.
Comments 10
He’s my favourite photog as I know I could never take photo’s like that. Inspirational.
Posted 22 Jan 2008 at 8:52 am ¶A true artist and inspiration.
Posted 22 Jan 2008 at 10:12 am ¶In another league.
Posted 22 Jan 2008 at 11:12 am ¶As I have been lucky enough to assist him, besides being a great photographer, he is also a really nice person. It was so fun to watch him shoot. One of the best shoots, I have ever been on.
Posted 22 Jan 2008 at 12:58 pm ¶the best
Posted 22 Jan 2008 at 11:27 pm ¶One of my Art Director fantasises in wanting to use him for one of your mags! Hah!! I laugh at his naive enthusiasm in trying to hire a genius for a job that the pay we offer would be embarrassing to mention!
Posted 23 Jan 2008 at 7:28 am ¶I am a fan also, and LOVE that shot of david lynch. I think a lot of photographers would try to overcomplicate it to make it more “lynchian”, but it’s pretty perf as is.
Posted 23 Jan 2008 at 1:15 pm ¶love him! he did an amazing shot of Kissinger for us when I was at Details.. AMAZING!
Posted 23 Jan 2008 at 1:40 pm ¶Has anyone got a copy of his book? interested in selling? I’ve been after a copy for a while but they’re hideously expensive! I WANT one!
Posted 23 Jan 2008 at 3:04 pm ¶being in school still has perks
Posted 24 Jan 2008 at 5:15 pm ¶found a copy at the library
might be smart to keep it and pay the fine
i kid…i think
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