Phillip Dixon

Photography Appreciation

Born in Pasadena, California, Phillip Dixon is an internationally acclaimed American fashion photographer, renowned for his unparalleled vision and mastery in capturing the essence of style and beauty. His iconic images grace the pages of esteemed publications such as Playboy, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar.

Dixon's journey into photography is a fascinating tale. After an enlightening acid trip, he had an epiphany – simplicity held great power. 

"What I realized was this: It was easy to be complicated and difficult to be simple. I got down to the simplest form of what I was good at, which I realized was arranging things. So I thought about all the things I could do to get paid for arranging things. I thought, Ah -- Halleluiah! I could arrange things and take a picture of them."

Realizing his talent lay in arranging things, he set out to find ways to monetize this skill through photography. His path began as a delivery boy for a photographer, later evolving into a photo lab technician and eventually leading him to work in pornography.

A turning point in Dixon's career came when Playboy Magazine stumbled upon his pictures of his then-girlfriend and eagerly bought and published them – an unprecedented feat for unsolicited work. Despite this initial success, his tenure at Playboy was short-lived due to creative differences, with Hugh Hefner dismissing Dixon's photography as too abstract.

"[Hugh Hefner] had put a bunch of pictures to illustrate what he didn't want in the magazine anymore... The pictures were by Helmut Newton and me. He called our pictures abstract. And I said to him, 'Come on. You think a girl on her hands and knees with her ass in the air wearing matching lingerie out is reality? Stick it where the sun don't shine Pajama Man!'"

Undeterred, Dixon went on to make his mark in advertising, capturing editorial images for Jimmy'Z. After 15 fruitful years, he decided to take a break and moved to Mexico. However, his career saw a revival in the 1990s when he joined forces with Harper's Bazaar, collaborating with fashion and Hollywood celebrities. 

Beyond fashion, Dixon ventured into architectural and interior photography, showcasing his exceptional understanding of space and light. This expertise even extended to designing his own house in 1993, a realization of his love for nature and his distinct visual approach to light.

"When I designed my house, I realized... I always photographed in nature." He added, "Architects don't understand natural or artificial light. They're mathematical. I'm visual. The house is kind of inside-out."

What sets Dixon's work apart is his ability to infuse fashion photography with a sense of authenticity and naturalness. His style is a reflection of his personal taste, a pursuit of beauty that embraces rawness, desirability, and authenticity in women, rejecting the artificial and exaggerated.

"I have one style, one point of view. Me... A lot about photography is about personal taste. Mine is about what I find beautiful. I like women to look raw, desirable and real. I don’t like them to look like plastic dolls or clowns."

The impact of Phillip Dixon's photography has earned him countless accolades and exhibitions across the globe, cementing his status as a visionary artist. From New York to Paris, his work has graced prestigious galleries, continually captivating audiences with its unique blend of fashion and art, transcending traditional boundaries.

Laetitia Casta, 1997

Brad Pitts, 1993

Daria Pleggenkuhle for Numéro China June/July 2013

Sharon Stone, 1990 

Sources:

https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/phillip-dixon-between-genius-and-hermit/

https://www.bellazon.com/main/topic/72501-phillip-dixon/

https://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/photographers/phillip-dixon/

https://models.com/people/phillip-dixon

https://www.lamag.com/theseen/party-house-of-the-month-photographers-phillip-dixon-and-veronique-vials-venice-home/

https://forums.thefashionspot.com/threads/phillip-dixon-photographer.261399/

https://www.traceymattingly.com/news/tracey-mattingly-llc-welcomes-photographer-phillip-dixon

http://wardrobetrendsfashion.com/tag/phillip-dixon/

https://fashioncow.com/2013/05/daria-pleggenkuhle-by-philip-dixon-for-numero-china-junejuly-2013/

Alex Katz

Art Appreciation

Alex Katz, the renowned American figurative artist born on July 24, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, is celebrated for his unique style and masterful depiction of life through his exceptional paintings and prints. Over the span of more than six decades, he has made a lasting impact on the art world, earning widespread admiration and recognition for his significant contributions to modern art.

His artistic journey began at the Cooper Union in New York, where he studied from 1946 to 1949, followed by a stint at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine from 1949 to 1950. It was during his time in Maine that he honed his skills as an artist, exploring plein air, figurative, and post-abstract painting.

In a serendipitous moment during a gallery opening in 1957, Alex Katz crossed paths with Ada Del Moro, a biology student at New York University, who would go on to become his muse and eventually his wife. Throughout his career, he created more than 250 portraits of Ada, immortalizing her captivating presence in his art.

During the 1960s, as the Pop Art movement surged in popularity, some saw similarities between Katz's work and the movement's focus on everyday culture. However, Katz maintained his individuality, deliberately avoiding being pigeonholed as a Pop artist. His preference for painting the human form on large canvases, with a distinct aesthetic vision, set him apart from the irony and commercial imagery typically associated with Pop Art.

In addition to his remarkable paintings, Katz left a significant impact in the world of printmaking, producing over 400 print editions using various techniques like lithography, etching, silkscreen, woodcut, and linoleum cut.

One of his notable accomplishments came in 1977 when he created a massive billboard installation above Times Square featuring 23 portrait heads of women, measuring an impressive 247 feet. Moreover, he was commissioned to craft an oil-on-canvas mural at the U.S. Attorney's Building in New York City's Foley Square.

Katz's artistic style is characterized by its boldness, simplicity, and visually striking elements. When asked about his approach to starting a painting, he revealed that he begins with small sketches and seeks to capture the sensation of images and the energy they exude on the canvas. His use of clean lines, flat color planes, and minimalist backgrounds on large-scale canvases fosters a profound sense of intimacy and immediate connection with the viewer.

Black Hat (2010)

4 PM (1959)

The Black Dress (1960)

Blue Umbrella 2 (1972)

Round Hill (1977)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.gazette-drouot.com/en/article/alex-katz-3A-a-painter-focused-on-appearance/25236

https://www.vogue.com/article/alex-katz-gathering-exhibition-guggenheim

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/20/arts/design/alex-katz-guggenheim-museum-painter.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/10/29/alex-katz-guggenheim-retrospective/

https://www.ft.com/content/ba53f8bb-7a1e-407b-bba2-11d33a70b418

https://youtu.be/sVDas_k87v8

Album Cover: The Pogues - Peace and Love

Album Cover

Album: The Pogues - Peace and Love

Released: July 23, 1989

Model: Hugh Cameron

Sleeve Designer: Simon Ryan

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/peace-and-love-the-pogues-album/

Cosplay is an Art: Dokomi Anime Expo Comic Con 2023

via mineralblu 

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: The Simpsons - Balenciaga

Creative Director: Demna Gvasalia

Premiered on October 2, 2021 during Paris Fashion Week

via Balenciaga

Virtual Reality Salesman

It's fascinating how every technological advancement sparks a desire to integrate it into sexual pleasure. Virtual reality serves as a prime illustration, originally designed to provide viewers with a stereoscopic experience; however, the adult entertainment industry quickly seized the opportunity to offer their clientele the same immersive encounter. 

Roy Raymonde, PLAYBOY (November 1994)

Travel + Leisure: Indonesia by Davide Anzimanni

If you have time to look through some amazing photography, check out Italian filmmaker and photographer Davide Anzimanni's Instagram (@davide.anzimanni).