Friday, January 13, 2012
Your photographs reflect a time past, yet feel modern and intimate…
It’s like tight rope walking, when I take photos; if you sway too much to one side you loose your balance and get stuck in a time period. I sketch in my mind, in silence, when taking photographs to capture the infinite point of timelessness; neither today, nor the past. It’s a fine line to realize in oneself; how to use your eyes as your ears.
How do you work with your subjects to capture their spirit and execute your vision? Do you approach objects in the same way?
I personally work with no assistants, and do not photograph any subjects immediately; I visit them and grow as a friend. If I miss a great moment, it will come again, I trust the patterns of a person. I approach objects the same way, I love the expression or word “still life”; It may be still, but it has life. The key in the end is that you have to LOVE people and understand them. My quest is to take the foundation of a person and find their joy.
Lord Snowdon must have been an influential photographer for you to bring forth such a beautiful book of his work…
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I relate to the directness of his work. One of the greatest books he did, Private View, captures the British Art scene in the 60’s—it’s a mind-blowing, cult masterpiece of a book!! His eye has no boundaries; strong and timeless while remaining raw. He’s a killer mix– a master photographer with a great sense and passion for craftsmanship.
marialundqvist.blogg.se
January 13, 2012 at 3:21 pm
love the red photo
Sandy Leonard Snaps
January 13, 2012 at 3:24 pm
All this beauty AND Twiggy. Thank you.
mystyleonthoughts
January 13, 2012 at 3:35 pm
That first sentence was a perfect descripyion of how I as well see your pictures
Marcel Da Chump
January 13, 2012 at 3:47 pm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/7368664/Lord-Snowdon-Taking-photographs-is-a-very-nasty-thing-to-do.html
They just don’t make ‘em like him anymore (Lord Snowdon).
montes Y mills
January 13, 2012 at 3:48 pm
what an interesting person. “the key… is that you have to LOVE people.” :) thanks for sharing.
montesYmills.com
RÃa
January 13, 2012 at 3:48 pm
I love the pictures!
http://www.atitelavoyacontar.blogspot.com
Meredith
January 13, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I love what he said about finding a person’s joy. It is amazing to see when something excites a person and then photograph the light in their eyes. I also like what he said about the patterns of a person. I often feel too rushed in photography feeling that I will miss the moment. But he’s right. A person has a lot of similar moments – you have just never seen them before.
- Meredith
http://www.findingsoulbalance.blogspot.com
FashionUm
January 13, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Cool article. Fun to read…I suppose these photos are yours – perfect work, as always…
http://www.fashionum.com
ADD a PHOTO!
EGOTIST
January 13, 2012 at 4:23 pm
what a beautiful workspace. the collage above the sink is amazing.
IRENE
January 13, 2012 at 4:24 pm
u have a great passion…
im followin ur work from years,
what u do is amazing
http://ontomywardrobe.blogspot.com/
http://ontomywardrobe.blogspot.com/
Yokoo
January 13, 2012 at 4:33 pm
I come to your site just about everyday but I never comment. I had to chime in here and say that I love this post. Thank you!
Anonymous
January 13, 2012 at 5:08 pm
You nailed it, Scott. EXACTLY when you wrote the key to knowing is “how to use your eyes as your ears”…I couldn’t have said it better!
Sapphire Rose Kaahu
January 13, 2012 at 5:19 pm
True Beauty x
athena
January 13, 2012 at 5:24 pm
everything looks so nostlagic.
Ophelia
January 13, 2012 at 5:24 pm
The second one is beautiful!
http://cestlavieophelia.blogspot.com/
Maite Fernández-Urquiza
January 13, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Wonderful post. Absolutely inspirating…Thanks.
MAIALA
January 13, 2012 at 5:38 pm
This just made me sigh 10 thousand times. Truly inspirational. C’est magnifique Schuman! x
MAIALA
http://www.maialathel.com
Twitter:@mai_ala
justyna
January 13, 2012 at 5:39 pm
haha, I “signed” my camera with the same sticker ;)
Stylosophism
January 13, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Interviews with famous photgraphers are always surprising: their answers are simple as just the armony of nature.
http://www.stylosophism.com
mslattery
January 13, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I love the images of his equipment – the crumbly translucent nametag on his cases is just divine.
The Fringes
January 13, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Love this piece. The photos are splendid! Things like this make me want to be a photographer.
MonMode
January 13, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I don’t think the fashion industry as we know it would be possible without photography. There’s nothing like looking at photos of the season’s fresh collections! Love it!
@HookedOnMonMode
ROXYmodae
January 13, 2012 at 7:18 pm
My fave is the one with the suitcases. *feeling inspired* : )
Check out my blog everyone! http://www.roxymodae.blogspot.com
Samina
January 13, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Love your pics…
Supal {chevrons and eclairs}
January 13, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Such a great philosophy to photography! This was so greatly written “how to use your eyes as your ears” Brilliant
Hannah Y
January 13, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Mr. Schuman, you are so inspirational! I wrote about you and your blog in one of my college application essays. Thanks so much!
wtfwhatthefashion.blogspot.com/
NY Bred
January 13, 2012 at 11:14 pm
i LOVE your photography soo much— i would love if you checked out my blog, as I’m just getting started and would love your feedback.
http://www.nybred.wordpress.com
thanks! xo
Courtenay
January 13, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Thank you for interviewing Koto. He is my greatest photographic hero. No kidding.
If you are reading this, Mr. Bolofo, you have no idea how much your photography has inspired me. Consistently so astonishingly and perfectly balanced in past and present, just as you said, only more beautifully…I’m happy to get a just a small insight into Koto’s brilliance.
Do many people know his work? Maybe only the Sartorialists…Lucky us. Could you talk about him more, please? No one seems to know who I’m talking about when I say he is my favorite photographer ever. At least here on the West Coast.
SohoBoy
January 13, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Loving the Twiggy photo!
http://riots-in-soho.tumblr.com/
ghostranchguy
January 14, 2012 at 12:26 am
i didn’t know they made style like this anymore… the young romantiks are reassuring
nicole
January 14, 2012 at 3:56 am
great post! thanks for sharing!
his work is amazing!
xx
http://nm-clindoeil.blogspot.com/
The World Is My Cuttlefish
January 14, 2012 at 4:16 am
Such intimate photos. I love the sense of story in them.
That first paragraph contains a lot. I’d love to hear more on that.
Michelle Lee
January 14, 2012 at 4:47 am
amazing
http://pinklemonincrystal.blogspot.com
lilla
January 14, 2012 at 6:00 am
very inspiring post. thanks!
http://lillasface.tumblr.com/
Custom Lanyards
January 14, 2012 at 6:43 am
Great work dude ! The photography is very nice.
Serdane
January 14, 2012 at 7:13 am
Nice Pictures, I love the all black and white one !!
http://www.younglington.wordpress.com
Nat
January 14, 2012 at 7:15 am
Agreed! If you love fashion, exotic travel, and international luxury you must absolutely check: http://blog.boxersadventures.com
Addicting!
Miiicha
January 14, 2012 at 9:04 am
I love your photos…you don’t just capture things but you also capture feelings!
J.Kane
January 14, 2012 at 9:41 am
What a beautiful workpalce…
HUgs
JK || Http://mrkanerule.blogspot.com
anonymous
January 14, 2012 at 12:50 pm
These posts are more interesting by the day. Now we get the insiders view of great photographers as well. I guess both sides of the camera have to work in a photo.
Kelly
January 14, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Is he wearing Nike dunks?! What a wonderful thing.
Rosalind
January 14, 2012 at 6:05 pm
About 6 years ago, my best friend and I went to dinner at a small, quiet restaurant next to our hotel in Milan. There was an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair at the table next to us. We struck up a conversation with him, and to our surprise it was Lord Snowdon! He was charming, down to earth, and a thrill to meet……
Vicki
January 15, 2012 at 2:23 am
Am a huge fan of Koto Bolofo’s and was lucky enough to once interview him. he made me scream with laughter for over an hour. Great post!
mak
January 15, 2012 at 4:16 am
A fabulous interview with Koto. I agree with you Vicki, he is hilarious! From first seeing him at Design Indaba ( Cape Town, South Africa) to being lucky enough to have dinner with him, his family and some friends, he had us in stiches! Surely one of my memorable moments! His exhibition at Gallery Momo Johannesburg a few years back was the best!
Sophie
January 15, 2012 at 5:53 am
I love the red photo- of Twiggy?
http://runwaygirly.blogspot.com/
Mike Carreiro
January 16, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Great choice, Koto is one of the greatest photographers of all time!!!
Amy Dowell
January 16, 2012 at 4:14 pm
The suitcases are very nice. I also love the red photo. What a great read. Thank you!
xander walker
January 17, 2012 at 11:49 pm
I have Koto’s book on the goodwood revival and its always good to hear his insights. “infinite point of timelessness” yes please
Joanna
January 20, 2012 at 10:51 am
very sorry Mr Sartorialist but first photo is awful, I mean photos of naked boy and girl. I see no point in taking photos like these.
Andrea
January 22, 2012 at 4:50 am
I agree with Joanna, I was a little shocked by the naked photos of the children. Didn’t seem quite appropriate to me