ALL

ART

KRISTIAN SCHMIDT: THE PHOTO-ARTIST WHO BLENDS FASHION WITH WILDLIFE FOR A GOOD REASON

KRISTIAN SCHMIDT THE PHOTO ARTIST

PHOTOGRAPHY

KRISTIAN SCHMIDT: THE PHOTO-ARTIST WHO BLENDS FASHION WITH WILDLIFE FOR A GOOD REASON

SHARE THE ARTICLE

Being a multicultural child Kristian Schmidt started travelling at a very young age. It’s throughout his business trips to Africa while direction the commercials that he discovered the attraction to the wildlife, its beauty but also its fragility and the absolute need to protect it. Kristian’s camera has become a perfect tool to express his convictions and raise the important environmental issues.
Perceiving life as an adventure, this confirmed globtrotter skilfully blends the explorative fashion and wild animals in one-of-a-kind shoots. His signature natural light effects and challenge of the project he sets out have brought him world wide notoriety.

Here is Kristian Schmidt exclusively for FOXYLAB New York.

Kristian, let’s start from the very beginning. What did bring you to the world of photography and the wildlife. What came first?

I was directing commercials and music videos first, allot of the productions were made in Cape Town, I always had an affinity towards wildlife so I went on many safaris. A friend said the pictures I took were quite good so I decided to exhibit them in New York; they were sold out the first night. I realised that kind of “work” was much more fun and would take me on non stop adventures so I took that direction instead. I think directing has helped me put that cinematic feeling in my pictures.

All your photos are magic. But may be you can highlight one or few of your shoots which you personally find the most incredible.

Every shoot that I do is first an adventure I want to take, if it sells it’s a bonus, all of them have had their magic: obviously whales and giant Manta rays feel like you are on a different planet; Africa has its big cats and sunsets. As long as you are doing it with the right people it’s always incredible.

There are definitely messages that you try to pass thought your artistic performance. What are these messages?

In my experience showing the gruesomeness of poaching and animals being killed doesn’t work, if you want to put a message through you have to first attract with beauty and what appeals to people and in that you can relay what is going on. If you can relate more to wild animals then you can see how important they are. I want the pictures to be able to sit on walls and be attractive but still make you think and have a message.

PHOTO GIRL WITH TIGER

I discovered your work at the Ceremony of Fashion Awards within Monaco Fashion Week. The first impression I had when your images were projected on the screen of the Opera of Monaco hall made me think of the photos of Veruschka by Franco Rubartelli shot in Africa. Did the work of Rubartelli somehow influence your imagination? Can you share with us artists who inspire you?

I think all these artists are phenomenal. In my case I try to not look too much at others work because I know I get subconsciously influenced and I’ll start slightly doing similar traits. When I went completely out of the box that is when my career took off, I’ve been doing exactly what comes to my mind and usually with wildlife I never get what I had imagined but something different that is as good, it’s allot of luck and planning. If I can attribute any of my inspiration it’s from living in Japan, their sense of aesthetics has given me allot of ideas for my work.

 
FORBES

I can guess that working with wild animals can sometimes be not just exiting but dangerous. Can you evoke some challenges of such shoots?

We work with some of most amazing professional people so we haven’t had too many issues. One challenging shoot that comes to mind was with the Manta Rays in Kona, the model was weighed down 40ft underwater at night time and we gave her oxygen in and out between each shot, there was allot of current and very cold, she was incredible and very professional but it was scary if something went wrong. Luckily the shoot came out beautiful.

Some of images look so surrealistic that one might think that they are retouched. Do you indeed use some photoshop retouch or you manage to achieve this result with the incredible light effects?

The most important to me is that everything we shoot is real, otherwise it’s no fun. It’s the experience for us that we want and I think it comes out in the pictures, we show videos of every shoot at our galleries to show it’s real. Also sales wise for my pieces I don’t think they would sell as well if they were photoshopped.

You position yourself as a fashion photographer. What does attract you in fashion most of all?

It’s always evolving, I love any type of aesthetic’s, I think it all merges in visuals. Wildlife , fashion , beauty , landscapes.

 

What is your notion of beauty?

That’s a hard one, usually it’s more of a mood and a feeling. Someone just emits it, and when it comes nature it’s always beautiful.

In 2021 you launched your first NFT collection with @cryptographco & @talastra. Can you tell us more about this experience? What is your relation with the new digital world in general?

It’s giving creators a chance to actually get income in an industry that is almost impossible to live well on, it’s very exciting and limitless. We are going to see an explosion in creativity.

Can you share with us your future projects? What comes next?

I am doing a shoot with Lava that is going to be interesting. We are playing with some weightless shoots in zero G, anything that is hard to do that seems like a good adventure I am up for. I have allot of exhibitions coming that I am trying to use projections for mixed with the physical pieces. We are also opening an adventure club that is oriented towards the luxury market where I will be taking guests on all my trips that are difficult to get to.

COMMENT

LEAVE A COMMENT

Actually, this article could
be in your email

Featured materials from FOXYLAB MAGAZINE
are available in our newsletters.
Subscribe and get a dose of inspiration!

SHARE THE ARTICLE

more articles

 

Since few seasons we have been assisting the triumphal comeback of denim. Behind this fashion trend there is mainly one man, The Perfect Designer of the Year according to Katie Granthe, Glenn Martens.

ART

This article is about his artistic path, friendship with Andy Warhol, his relationship with Madonna, the tragic addition to the “27 Club” and his current relevance to the NFT.

ART

Stress as a trigger to the emergence of the surrealistic digital collages. Spanish couple co creates art as a way to survive.

New York’s Gilder Center of American Museum of Natural History is now open. Stunning architectural wonders, fresh exhibitions, and immersive encounters…

Step into the world of Kachorovska’s Cherilyn, where unique enhancements combine style and comfort effortlessly…

logo form

want to share your story
with the world?

We're open to collaborating with creative and talented individuals like you. Leave us your email below, and let's connect for interviews, articles, and more.

don’t miss!

New drop
foxylab ny x Edward Acosta

New drop FXLB x Edward Acosta

A thin edge of seduction and the consumerism fetish is thoroughly blurred in Acosta’s art in the use of both light, and dark tones. Bold lines serve as a fashionable juxtaposition of a peaceful dream-like state and a vivid color, representing action and presence in the moment.

black tee awaken

OVERSIZED BLACK TEE

$160

white pullover dress awaken

WHITE FLEECE DRESS

$230

BLACK FLEECE DRESS

$230

black fleece pullover awaken

BLACK FLEECE PULLOVER

$260

white tee awaken

WHITE TEE

$160

 

Since few seasons we have been assisting the triumphal comeback of denim. Behind this fashion trend there is mainly one man, The Perfect Designer of the Year according to Katie Granthe, Glenn Martens.

ART

This article is about his artistic path, friendship with Andy Warhol, his relationship with Madonna, the tragic addition to the “27 Club” and his current relevance to the NFT.

ART

Stress as a trigger to the emergence of the surrealistic digital collages. Spanish couple co creates art as a way to survive.

New York’s Gilder Center of American Museum of Natural History is now open. Stunning architectural wonders, fresh exhibitions, and immersive encounters…

Step into the world of Kachorovska’s Cherilyn, where unique enhancements combine style and comfort effortlessly…