concepts- Tim Walker

Concepts is the stage of the creative process when creative interpretations become ideas.  Fashion photography is an example of a conceptional visual interpretation. Fashion is almost solely based on visuals. There are many Fashion photographers with a variety of different styles creating these important visual outcomes.

Tim Walker is one of my favorite fashion photographers as i believe he stands out in this very competitive and crowded field. We are bombarded with Fashion photography all the time, from magazines to TV adverts, to billboards and internet pop ups, so standing out is quite the task. His work is wonderfully eccentric and bizarre. He is known for his elaborate theatrical settings and heavy use of props. This is unique from the more common minimalist photographs, focusing mainly on the models and products.

His photographs are 'dream like' and surreal. They are reminiscent of a child's wild, innocent and limitless imagination. It reminds me of the aesthetic of films such as Alice in wonderland and charlie and the chocolate factory, they are pure and tangible recreations of imagination. I believe that it is  seeing the playful/ impossible things come to life, that makes his work so successful and eye catching. His work seems to re- awaken limitless imagination in people, and helps them visualize this. Much like these films, some aspects of Walkers work it can seem 'trippy' and slightly disturbing, adding to the emotional responses to the work.

His work remains modern with its constantly different and surreal qualities, however all the pieces seem to incorporate some level of tradition, that is uniquely British.

Walker is inspired by artists such as Eric Ravilous, which i think inspired his love for surrealism and almost illistrative qualities. I believe he aims to bring fine art qualities into photographs. He was also inspired by the works of Pual Nash, which i think influenced his love for bringing props into his photographs, and skewed manipulated objects and angles.

          

His lens work has been described as seductive. The images are so different and dramatic, it is as if they demand to be seen and read into. With the variety of objects and visual contrast, each image is like a feast for the eye, and a story to unravel. 

One of his most recent pieces of work featured in the autumn/winter 2017  32 page document for another man, in Gucci garments. inspired by 'modern mythologies' the arcane world of Alessandro Michele, and tarot cards.

Once again Walker did not fail to create a totally weirdly wonderful outcome, that as does all his work, had no problem standing out. I believe that it is due to this wacky shock factor approach,

 that Walker is so successful in the fashion photography world. The clothes or the model may not be the first thing you notice, however the photograph as a whole will defiantly stop you in your tracks, and its story telling affects make noticing these details inevitable.