Researched Photographers - Alexander Khokhlov

About this photographerAlexander Khokhlov is a Russian photographer whose work I have admired for some time now. He started photography in 2007 where he looked at live, but by 2008 his interest in photography had somewhat swayed toward fashion and beauty and portrait work. Among many publications for some of the world’s most recognized magazines/newspapers he has also had two successful exhibitions in Moscow.

Why have I picked this photographer?I like Khokhlov’s innovative and contemporary approach to photography. A lot of his work is portraiture and this is what I enjoy shoot most myself, therefore I find his work very inspiring. I think the photos he takes are always very striking and really capture the attention of the audience. I feel Khokhlov’s work is something different in comparison to other photographers I have looked at due to his attention to finer details.

This first photo that I found is from Khokhlov’s series called ‘Weird Beauty’. I found everything in this series of work really interesting and this is just one of the photos that I liked. I love the high contrast present in the photo seen in the colour – only black and white have been used and therefore everything really stands out against each other. I also think this links in well with the makeup design as it looks like a strike of lightening against a dark night sky – a concept that I also find interesting to have portrayed in this way. The model has a blank expression that is hard to read and muted out even more by the single black tone that is covering her face – all attention is brought to the one eye that is open. This is the focal point of the photo and it has been accentuated more so with the lightening framing the eye. This kind of photo is similar to my own work in terms of the cropping and composition of the piece and I find it interesting to look at and link into my project.

This second photo really caught my attention for its artistic aspect and the design in the shot – it is very visually interesting and unique. I like how the face has been made to look 3D through the use of makeup and the camera angle at which this photo has been taken as this in turn has accentuated the effect.

The model almost looks like some kind of drawing and the absent expression on her face has helped to create this illusion. The colours are all very neutral and work harmoniously together, yet the sharp shapes, edges and lines in the photo have to establish detail and differences in the photo. The model is not making eye contact with the camera but because the intricate design on the face focuses around the eyes there isn’t a distraction (this is also compensated for with the sterile background). I think this particular photo from Khohklov is innovative, fresh and modern.

This next photo is a little different as it is not a portraiture shot. The photo caught my attention die to the rainbow like colours present and the creepy looking girl sitting at the end of the table. Everything in the photo is very clinical and clean, and the colours have provided a messy, chaotic contrast. I like the wide angle of the photo and the way it has been emphasized with all the colors in the foreground stemming from the girl in the background. The model herself looks creepy and ‘weird’ – she is completely white and there is no expression on her face which is again another contrast in the shot in comparison to the happy colours. The colours really stand out against the white but since the girl is in focus (and the colours aren’t) and given she looks so striking she is the

main focus in the photo. Her lips and eyes are the only thing that have been made prominent on her face and this in again helps draw the eye here as it stands out against the white.

This final photo is one of Khohklov’s fashion shots. I thought something like this could link in well with my project as it suggests recycling and it is being represented on the human body. I really like how the black bags (or the similar material) that the model is wearing has caught the light and added highlights in the photo. As there is so much black in the shot this has broken it up and provide more shape. I like the pose of the model as she looks like she emerging from within the dress and this strong look has compensated for the fact that she is not making eye contact with the camera. There is a contrast in texture with the gloss hair, the shine on the dress and matte look skin and eye makeup. The eye makeup in the photo has helped

to accentuate the models eyes more so she is not lost in the shot. I think that this photo has a nice concept in linking what think is fashion and recycling together as these are two things that are not commonly thought about together but this photo unites the idea and has turned it into a visual piece of art.

InfluenceI find myself really inspired by Alexander Khokhlov’s work as I can see reflected a lot of my own maturing style that I want to expand upon in my unit four project. I particularly liked the first two photos that I looked at due to the artistic makeup design present in them (seeing as makeup is something I really like to think about and bring forward into my own work). I like the ideas and concepts and his work has influence to start to think about work as an entire body and not just individual shoots/photos. I would like to start expanding more upon one shoot or idea and perhaps making a series of work from any one concept, a bit like the ‘Weird Beauty’ series.

SummaryOverall I am happy that I chose to research this photograph further as I feel I have really gained an insight that I bring forward to my own project. Although there were some elements of Khokholv’s work that I did not find as inspiring and interesting (such as his fashion work) I loved his portraiture beauty work and found it contemporary and fresh.