The first in a series of creative profiles, CANVAS teams up with fashion photographer Martin Bleasdale. Martin will be working with CANVAS on our upcoming COLOUR issue, but here is a little story that I’m sure will keep you interested in the meantime…
We’ve also penned some ‘Getting to know you’ questions for Martin. We tries to avoid the obvious but for more on Martin and his work, head to www.martinbphoto.com.
CANVAS: Who are your influences?
Martin: Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Terry Richardson, Aldous Huxley, JD Salinger, Graham Greene.
How do you find the fashion community in Brisbane, in terms of accessibility, community and creativity?
There is absolutely no shortage of talent and creativity here - in any field of the industry - and that is the truth. With regards to clothing - accessibility is getting better but for my work it is less about what the shops have in stock and more about the stylist’s ability to source pre-season clothes - which invariably means having contacts in Sydney.
I think the fashion community in Brisbane is underappreciated and undervalued because the ‘industry’ dictates that in order to be considered viable and credible you must operate out of Sydney - I can’t remember the number of times I’ve listened to bright young things telling me that they are moving to Sydney to work - it is a shame but unfortunately this is the status quo.
How does your creative process work? Does it differ according to each shoot?
I work with a very close team - the core being Daisy Ferrier (Make Up Artist), Travis Balcke (Hair Stylist) and myself on drums. We bounce ideas off each other and we each bring particular skills, inspirations and motivations.
I am also quite obsessive about reading the latest national and international fashion publications - I don’t plagiarise but I freely admit that if I see a lighting style/location/pose that strikes me, I will want to know how it is done and so I will give it a go.
This is the only way to learn and grow - there are very few true innovators in this industry - Nick Knight is one of the few - and any photographers/stylists/hair stylists/make-up artists etc who want to refute this are just kidding themselves. I will be an innovator - but I firmly believe that, in order to break the rules, you must first learn them.
What is your least favourite aspect of being in the business?
Self-important nobodys, Prima donnas, Egos, Attitudes and their many sycophants. It’s an industry created of smoke and mirrors but there are plenty of real down-to-earth people too and they are the ones I want to surround myself with.
PHOTOGRAPHY Martin Bleasdale
HAIR Michael Jones
MAKEUP Desiree Vogelsang using MAC
MODEL Megan Hind @ Tamblyns
SYTLIST Catherine McPhee
