Nowadays in the industry there is a lot of influential photographers I have chosen 5 the most influential photographers who inspire me such as Lillian Bassman, William Klein, Steven Klein, Steven Meisel, but the fashion photographer I get most of my inspiration from is Paolo Roversi.

 My main idea was to look how culture or particular period of history could influence other artists or photographers. To make everything more clear I created a Zeitgeist mind map explaining how the culture influent or what effect had on Paolo Roversi work. 

Paolo Roversi born in 1947 and he is an Italian fashion photographer who lives and works in Paris. According my Zeitgeist mind map Paolo Roversi was born when Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art start developing as a new art movement. During this time artist embraced the action in their work, for instants Jackson Pollock. Artists had their own distinct style, philosophy and personality. Artist intention was for the work wholly speaks for itself.

As a professional photographer Paolo Roversi start working in late 80’s, where the new art movement start developing – Post-modern and Deconstructivism. The demand for an open-ended concept of art and the individual work of art opens up a virtually unlimited range of possibilities, artists tried to open a window to a new world. Moreover, postmodern artist took influences from past movements applying them to modern form, embracing diversity. 

In my opinion, Paolo Roversi followed Modernist movement artists. Vivid colours, theatricality and exaggeration became dominant features in modernist movement; some of these features are reflected in Paolo Roversi work. I think for modernist artists was very important visual communication with the audience. The culture and different art movements influenced and helped Paolo Roversi to develop his own personal style in fashion photography and specific lighting techniques that he use in his photography.

In addition, I provided two photographs from his one of the first shoots for Vogue and one of the last one shoots for Vogue Italia. As you can see progress is outstanding, because years after years he is still keep improving his skills.

Sasha, Paris 1985 Photo Paolo Roversi

Kristen McMenamy photographed by Paolo Roversi – Vogue Italia: October 2010 – The Grand Couture

I decide to talk about the second image (on the right hand side) and how Paolo Rovers influent my work.

In this image appears to be well-balanced quality of colors and the clear composition. I like the way model is looking into the camera it adds to the intimate feel, because she looks straight to the camera in very feminine manner with quite provoking posing, but just in a elegant way. In this image I am very attracted to the simplicity

you can see in this image, I am guessing that P. Roversi used natural light, as one of the light sources or reflector to reflect it to make stand out model of this dark and gloomy background.

The slight blur caused by the long exposures adds a softness to the photo, so in this image Paolo Roversi achieved a great depth of field, which helps the viewer (me) to focus more on the main subject – model. I am very inspired and fascinated how Paolo Roversi uses light in his imagery, because by using his unique and skillful technique he creates such outstanding images.