10 Things You Wouldn’t Know About This Photo (Unless We Told You)

Photographic team Markus Klinko and Indrani made the image here in 2006 for V magazine, which invited a number of noted photographers to shoot their own interpretations of a V cover. “Mostly, I love it because when we were shooting it we had no idea if we were getting anything good,” says Klinko, the half of the team who takes the pictures. For Indrani, who helps create the mise-en-scène for the team’s images and does post-production work, the photo “brings back memories of happy chaos.” Sometimes, that is the recipe for creativity.

1. Apocalypse Wow

“The idea was to visualize a post-apocalyptic world where young people reassert their individuality by putting together pieces of clothing and making it chic,” says Indrani. “It really came together when we saw the location we were shooting at.”

2. Heavy Metal

That big steel object is not a flying saucer, but a piece of machinery at an abandoned military base near Palm Springs, California. “The movie studios often use this place as a location for science-fiction films,” says Klinko.

3. Deadline, EOD

The team spent most of the day shooting actor Jason Statham for another magazine, then made this shot at the end of the day. “We had 45 minutes from start to finish before the sun went down,” says Indrani.

4. Girl Models

The team spent the previous day casting at various Los Angeles agencies. “Most were very young, like 15, so that meant their mothers were also there,” says Klinko.

5. Boy Model

The lone boy in the shot was found shopping at a Palm Springs supermarket prior to the session.

6. Dust in the Wind

The clothes were styled to look haphazard, but cool. Just before Klinko began shooting, he asked the models to rub dust in their hair to look authentically disheveled.

7. Light Show

“We put a ton of light inside the big metal thing,” says Klinko. “We had lamp heads and battery packs all over the place.”

8. Camera Trick

This is really two photos. Klinko shot with a Fujifilm GX680 medium-format SLR with a special adapter that allowed him to shoot two separate images—one of the scene’s right half by sliding the back to the left, the other of the left half by sliding the back to the right—without repositioning or pivoting his camera. The two perfectly aligned frames were then stitched together in post-production. “That gave me a single image with a huge amount of visual quality,” says Klinko.

9. Teamwork Matters

Klinko and Indrani were once romantically linked but are no longer; nevertheless they have managed to maintain a fruitful professional partnership. “But we argue all the time,” says Klinko. “She hates it when I use complicated cameras. She wants me to keep everything simple.”

10. Editing Is Hard

While Klinko and Indrani loved this image, V chose a different one by them. “So it’s published here for the first time,” says Klinko.

—David Schonauer

Comments

[Stupid Photographer]

I know one thing right off the bat: it's a marginal, forgettable photo that will never, ever make me look twice, let along go out and shop. Two stupid thumbs way down!

[mahuya]

Really Nice Post!! Thanks friend! I am happy to see this. Any way, I know a fantastic site www.uploaded.tv where you may earn money by uploading your own photos, music and videos. Its really nice and I wish it would be helpful for you.

[samir sinha]

Nothing to write home about !

In future please do not waste precious news print on trash.

[Chris]

I don't see what the problem is. Whether or not you like the photo or think it's "marginal" or "trash," there are some interesting elements that went into creating it.

Thanks for posting this.

[photography]

Thanks for your info.

[retoque fotografico]

A great post and a really interesting fashion photo!

[פסיכיאטר מומחה]

I liked the photo. Especially the styling

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ד"ר חיים שם דוד,פסיכיאטר מומחה,איבחון וטיפול פסיכיאטרי. חוות דעת פסיכיאטרית

[percival]

“The idea was to visualize a post-apocalyptic world where young people reassert their individuality by putting together pieces of clothing and making it chic,” the nonsense that comes out of people's mouths...I bust out laughing on this one...

[richs]

This is a useful web page for links & RSS Feeds to photography blogs site. As my interest is in photography. And I like to find website's and blogsite's on photography online.

[Hapahaole]

I agree with percival. “When we were shooting it we had no idea if we were getting anything good,” says Klinko. “We argue all the time.” “She hates it when I use complicated cameras. She wants me to keep everything simple.” It might be hard to inspire confidence in clients if you come across as "poser" rather than professional. The photographers liked this image, the magazine chose another. That says it all.

[A different Chris]

I can't help but notice, people are mocking internationally renown photographers shooting for gigantic magazines, whether the images are good or not, but I don't see the photographers mocking your work. Probably because they're mocking internationally renown photographers shooting for gigantic magazines and you're a bunch of dummy wannabes.

Hmmm...

[kathramirez]

Cool pic and interpretation. I like the way it was presented Deep and meaningful. At first, you wouldn't notice it but you'll learn to appreciate the photo upon reading this post. Thanks

[janisviksna]

hmm..interesting meaning and true..
..
www.janisviksna.com

[JohnnyG]

Uninteresting and forgettable!

[antoinej]

I just want to know where this location at so i can shoot there

[Rick in North Carolina]

A lot of you folks are losing site of the fact that this is offered as a free lesson by extremely successful photographers. Anyone that has made serious attempts at shoots like this knows that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. It may not be an unforgettable image but it is an excellent opportunity to learn from other photographers. You should spend less time and energy being critical and more time showing appreciation for the free advice. Thanks for another good lesson.

[Joe]

Would be far more appropriately titled, "10 Things Non photographers Wouldn’t Know About This Photo (Unless We Told them)"

Know your audience or at least try to be less condescending to them.

PS

Post apocalyptic teens will likely be neither freshly showered nor concerned with fashion. :)