Inspired by the beauty of light
Chris Nicholl's photographic style is known for its sensitive use of light and color. His work focuses primarily on fashion and portrait photography, for which he is world and industry renowned. He has won more National Magazine Awards and received more nominations than anyone else. We are delighted to have Chris share his perspective on photography and contrast with us.
- by Chris Nicholls and Alexander R?hl
I am inspired by the beauty, the quality of light and the creative uniqueness I see in many forms of art and expression. I hope I give back with my existence on this earth by adding some memorable images and inspiring others with my work.
I think it's important to have contrast in everyday life. Don't get too comfortable and don't lead a boring life. It's easy to stay away from things that scare or challenge you. The most memorable stories are not the ones where everything goes perfectly according to plan.
So by all means stabilize the most important things in your life, your family and your relationships. But leave your comfort zone and take a risk. Create a contrast in your everyday life! Feel the heat and the cold and don't isolate yourself from the world. Contrast is also very important to me visually. I love the contrast of light, color, object and environment. That doesn't mean that the most extreme contrasts produce the best results. It still requires a moderator to determine the fine line between good and bad taste. It's important to push ideas to the extremes, push boundaries and then pull back a little to find the perfect balance point: Is it weird or is it good?
"Strong and very subtle contrasts characterize the photography of Chris Nicholls"
Specifically for photography, I add a lot of contrast to my photos. I like the gravitas, look at the shoot in the heaviness of stark black and piercing white. I love the play of light. I tend to shoot the light and not the subject, if that makes sense. Pay attention to the light and don't focus exclusively on your subject. It's always important to push boundaries.
In photography, people tend to fall into a comfort zone. They are rewarded with praise for certain
types of images and there is a tendency for them not to progress. It's important to constantly stretch your creativity into uncomfortable areas. Get out of your comfort zone. You will surprise yourself!
I personally found my way into photography through my family. My grandfather was a professional photographer for a short time. My father worked in the arts and always encouraged me to explore my creativity. So I have always had contact with art, creativity and photography. In community college I took a photography course and worked as an assistant for various photographers. I initially had no interest in fashion photography, but the support of a fashion photographer at the time showed
me the fun of working with a team of like-minded people towards a common creative goal. Now my work is almost exclusively fashion oriented. I work with retailers and manufacturers to sell their goods. I also work on editorial projects for print and online magazines. Occasionally I do advertising assignments, portraits and corporate work. I've also been lucky enough to work on a book with Cirque du Soleil, among others.
"Chris loves the gravitas of stark black and a piercing white in his images"
Over the years we have had many successful shoots, and the proof is
our photos. I work with a very professional crew and we have clients that
we like and can identify with. There is a lot of money at stake and also our
reputation. The reason we get the job in the first place is because of our professionalism.
I'm often asked about my favorite stories, or at least the most memorable ones. These are
often the stories where something went wrong. Those are the stories that are the most fun
to tell and the most fun to listen to. But we don't actually want
anything to go wrong. Of course, there are always some things we have no control over. If it were possible to develop mini-dramas in every shoot, then life would
definitely be more interesting. And here we come back to my point about getting out of your comfort zone
Is it better to fail nine times out of ten, but the tenth shot is fantastic, or would it be better to shoot ten average photos? The answer is clear. By trying to take ambitious shots, I want to push the boundaries of my abilities. I want to integrate what has happened into my shots. A good example of this was recently when we were shooting in the Mojave Desert. We had torrential rain in California for most of the day. When it cleared up, we took our chances, but then a sudden wind blew our prop over the horizon. We could have done this in the studio, we could have tried something less ambitious, but that's what makes my business exciting. It was all captured in a YouTube video, thankfully! I enjoy being a photographer. For me, photography is a key to other people's lives. It's a ticket to a thousand interesting places. It's an opportunity for me to show the beauty I see in the world. It's a place where I can contribute my thoughts. And hopefully it pays for my journey here on earth.
About Chris Nicholls
Chris Nicholls, born in England and raised in Canada, lives and works from his home base in Toronto, Canada. His work focuses on fashion photography and celebrity portraiture, for which he is well known. He has received countless international awards for his work.
He is well respected in the magazine business and has won more National Magazine Awards and received more nominations than any other person or organization. The Procter & Gamble Fashion and Beauty Awards have named him Photographer of the Year for the third consecutive year. In 2014, he received the CAFA Image Maker of the Year Award.
His photographic style is known for its sensitive use of light and color. His work has taken him across Canada and around the world to many countries including China, Italy, England, France, Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean and Mexico, but mainly between New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. He has photographed many of the world's top models and celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Lana del Rey, Lorde, Courtney Love, Clare Danes, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Michael Bubl?, Taylor Schilling, Aubrey Plaza, Christina Ricci, Elizabeth Olsen, Olivia Wilde, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Elisha Cuthbert and many others.
International clients rely on Chris's vision to create campaigns for their brands.
His work can also be seen on the covers and editorials of many magazines around the world, including Elle China, Elle Russia, Seventeen Magazine, Marie Claire, Fashion Magazine, Elle Canada, Rolling Stone, Glow and enRoute.
"Schnappschuss" magazine
The Foto Koch magazine is modern, creative and unique in terms of design and content.
more information
more info and more works by the artist:
Chris Nicholls
www.chrisnicholls.live
Instagram: @chrisnichollsphotography
