Thursday, August 26, 2010

Latest Photoshoot: A different kind of Beauty

This week I have had the great honor and pleasure of assisting Dubai's premier Makeup Artists Dennie Pasion and Kat Sumners in a Bareface production for Emirates Airlines aboard the legendary A-380 airplane, and returned home yesterday evening only to find the finalised images in my inbox from a previous Test shoot with the incredible photographer Martin Beck. What a great day!


When Martin and I first met in preparation for this shoot it was clear that we both wanted to shoot Beauty ... but ... a somehow different kind of Beauty. We both wanted something edgy & fun ... but moreover certainly different.


Our model was french Femme Fatale Alexandra P from Bareface who I just love to work with. Over and over Alex's breathtaking beauty just blows me away.



I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome! Thank you Martin for these ever so beautiful images!! Thank you Alex for your great expressions and poses ... and being this "perfect little human being".








Risking to rob the male population of the illusion that girls like our gorgeous model Alex hang out near insect laboratories, here some Behind The Scenes images infusing reality.





Photo Credits: Martin Beck @ Bareface

Int'l Photography Awards - 2 Dubai based photographers achieve winning entries



The IPA International Photography Awards conducts an annual competition for professional photographers on a global scale, creating one of the most ambitions and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today.


This year's competition jury was comprised of a selection of gallerists, photo editors and directors, art collectors and other photography luminaries. Magnum Photo, National Geographics, Saatchi & Saatchi, Pop Photo Magazine, Wallpaper Magazine, Esquire Magazine, Tate Britain, BBC were all part of the panel deciding over 15000 entries from more than 103 countries.


Amongst those who submitted entries were also the ever so talented Dubai based photographers Belinda Billie Muller and Toufic Araman.




HONORABLE MENTION in category PEOPLE - BILLIE MULLER


As I found out only yesterday, Billie submitted a photo from her "Girly Story", which we had shot earlier this year with the beautiful New Face Cecily Graham from Bareface and myself doing Makeup & Hair. Billie was awarded an Honorable Mention in People - Other category for this winning entry. I am ever so happy for her!!! Congratulations cheeky girl!






HONORABLE MENTION in category ADVERTISING FASHION PRO - TOUFIC ARAMAN


Toufic Araman submitted his Fashion Editorial for the Qatar Airways Inflight Oryx Magazine titled "Fashion Field: In the Game" in celebration of the Football World Cup and won an Honorable Mention in Advertising Fashion Pro category for this winning entry.
The incredible Makeup & Hair was done by the ever so inspirational and incredibly sweet Makeup Queen extra-ordinaire Dennie Pasion from Bareface.






Congratulations to these two amazing Dubai based photographers for achieving winning entries with their team of models and creatives!!!




photo credits: Toufic Araman, Billie Muller, IPA International Photography Awards

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Makeup Artist Watch & How To : Golden Goddess Look by Illamasqua's Creative Director Alex Box

Makeup brand's Illamasqua's creative mind Alex Box is without a doubt a makeup artist extra-ordinaire. She has collaborated with some of the best of the industry creating a continuous streak of breathtaking images and products.

This month she keyed a team of makeup artists at the Myer Fashion Parade in Sydney, Australia, designing the looks for the show including the beautiful Golden Goddess look for the 10 models opening the show.


Sneak a peak into Alex's box of secrets ... check out the behind the scenes photos from the show as well as the How To Makeup Breakdown authored by the master herself.





Alex Box on the Gold Goddess SKIN

Illamasqua Satin Primer was used all over the face for a dewy, fresh base. As all the girls had had spray tans prior to the show, a Illamasqua Cream Foundation in a shade a couple of shades darker than their natural skin tone was used and blended and buffed to perfection using an Illamasqua Highlighter Brush.

After dusting off any shine using Loose Powder, contour the face using Illamasqua Powder Blusher in 'Rumour', 'Spite' and 'Disobey' depending on the model's skin tone. This was applied using Illamasquas Blusher Brush II, using the tapered edge to smooth color under the cheekbones, down the sides of the nose and from the eye lids up to the temples to create an architectured face.
Next, use a small amount of Bronzing Duo, using the darker shade to enhance the contour and the lighter shade to add a touch of creamy highlight to the top of the cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and across the hairline.
Revert to an old trick and apply soap to the eyebrows to flatten them against the skin until they seem to disappear to keep the focus on the smokiness of the eyes.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess EYES

To define the eye shape, Powder Eye Shadow in 'Wolf' re-exaggerated the shape initially created using Powder Blusher in 'Disobey'. Alex used an Illamasqua Eye Shadow brush to press on the color and blend it high up beyond the crease using Blending Brush I.

A Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' was used for an inky black smudge along the waterline and under the lashline, and Powder Eye Shadow in 'Gimp' used on top to build color intensity and to allow for a gentle fade out to deep grey.
'Gimp' was also used on top of 'Wolf' on the top eye lid, almost up until the brow and blended out again. The lid and outer third of the eye should be the most intense areas.
Spatter Liquid Metal in 'Solstice' into the inner corner of the eye and roughly blended into the eye color not further than 1/3 of the way onto the eye lid, with the concentration of color being at the inner corner. Alex used her fingers and an Illamasqua Lip Brush for a more defined shape to apply the 'Solstice'.

A sprinkling of Pure Pigment in 'Marvel' adds a shimmering yellow tone to the gold and is also used with Blusher Brush I to dab the color onto the temples and on the upper third of the cheekbones.

After using a coat of Volume Mascara in 'Harness', False Eyelashes No. 13 were used for a kitten look, and fastened to the natural lashes using another coat of Volume Mascara.
For a final shot of glimmer, add a touch of Pure Pigment in 'Android' to the outer corners and along the lash line to blend the line of the lashes and the smoky eye color.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess LIPS

For a gentle, dewy highlight, a 50/50 mixture of Liquid Metal in 'Solstice' and Satin Primer was applied to the top of the lip.
The lips were blended out, to keep the focus on the super-smoky eyes, using a touch of the Cream Foundation used for the skin and a touch of Sheer Lipgloss in 'Brilliant' to the centre of the lips.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess FINAL TOUCHES

Gold glitter (for example from Mac) was pressed onto the skin for a bold look, like the modles had been rolling about in gold sand.


It is impossible to keep anything in relation to Alex Box short and sweet ... her creativity is so far reaching and her mind never seems to rest from seeking inspiration, hence a couple more of her legendary works to enjoy.



Photo Credits: http://illamasqua.blogspot.com and www.sassisamblog.com
Video Credit: www.youtube.com


Sunday, August 8, 2010

Makeup Artist Watch: Kabuki



Kabuki, must be one of the most courageous and inventive makeup artist in the fashion industry. With a little spirit gum, wax and a bald cap this artist continuously transforms models into beings from another planet ... inhabited by only the most beautiful creatures.


Originally from the north of England, he landed his first job in New York as a textile designer, where his unique flair for outlandish dress and makeup led him to the then-flourishing New York City club scene. It was here where he was noticed by editors for his crazy makeup, who then asked him to transform their models during fashion shoots to similar unreal & unusual beauties.

In this video Kabuki is working with Swiss photographer Patrizio Di Renzo on the Swiss Jewelry brand Majo Fruithof's advertising campaign.



Enjoy some more of Kabuki's beautifully creative mind, take a peek at some of his earlier work. I think, like many other makeup artists I have spent many an hour staring at Kabuki's work trying to figure out how it was done ...


Video Credit: www.youtube.com
Photo credit: www.kabukimagic.com and narcissist anatomy