Emma Summerton - Photographer

[oliverhm]

Her stuff is GORGEOUS....

 

[Starry_Night]

SCOOP DU JOUR: EMMA SUMMERTON GOES STATES SIDE

The Hiss Squad slipped this into TI's tea a few weeks back but now it is looking very confirmed...Emma Summerton the fastest rising new photographer on the scene coming to a major league American magazine very very soon... ID and British Vogue covers will accelerate your market value very quickly these days! Now watch out for Emma to start eating those campaigns...starting SS 09.

The Imagist

 

[zuzulemon]

I love her stuff! She has some of my favorites!

 

[MissMagAddict]

Source | The Ones2Watch

Emma Summerton has rapidly become one of today’s most sought after photographers. Her colourful and evocative work reflects a modern spirit while also referencing iconic and vintage fashion imagery. Born in Australia and now based between New York and London, Emma is a frequent contributor to British Vogue, Italian Vogue and i-D magazines. Emma’s work embodies the new wave of creative vision.

Name: Emma Summerton
Age: Of Aquarius… isn’t it?!
Nationality: Australian
Based In: London & New York
Website: www.maximfma.com
Representation: MFA

How did you start your career?
By accident. I was studying fine arts and majored in photography. Though originally I wanted to be a painter, photography got me. Then I assisted a fashion photographer because technically art school did not cover much in that way… so the two worlds collided.

What was your first job?
First job EVER ever? Making tea and sweeping hair up at the local hairdressers on Saturdays while I was still at high school.

What do you think is your best work so far?
Oh boy, that depends on what mood I’m in! Lately I have been going through my archive which goes back 20 years starting in 1988 when I was at art school, so right now it’s really hard to say and changes everyday.. .plus it’s so multi-faceted, there is the fashion work and then my personal work and I get attached to images for all sorts of reasons that no-one else would know looking at them.

Who or what has influenced you?
My mother, my grandfather, and my boyfriend who is also a photographer and has been a huge influence and support. Also in the last few years working with Edward Enninful has had a huge influence on my fashion work.

What is your earliest recollection of noticing or being inspired by photography and/or style?
Old family photos of my mother, she had great style, and photos taken by my grandfather who shot hundreds of slides in the 60’s and 70’s. Also playing in my mother’s wardrobe and her and I making outfits for me - I would draw them and she would make them real.

What do you generally look for when selecting someone to photograph?
That I can imagine them as the character I want to create. When meeting models it’s very much about who they are and how we relate to each other. You can only manipulate someone so much, they have to bring something of themselves to the picture.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Dancing with my sister in my grandparents’ garden with flowers in our hair, wearing homemade crocheted ponchos, music playing… I remember the moment so strongly probably because I have watched it many times over the years on super 8 film my grandfather shot.

What music do you like to work to?
Many many different types, depends on the shoot, the people, where we are. I was addicted to the Jesse James soundtrack last season by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis… every shoot someone in the crew would buy it afterwards. Portishead, Angus and Julia Stone, Bowie, PJ Harvey, Cat Power, Iggy Pop, Mercury Rev… lots!

Describe your dream project?
I don’t think you have enough space on your website for me to go into it… let’s just say it has no limits.

Where do you find inspiration?
Books, movies, music, art, travel, people I meet and then having time to think so I can tumble them all around in my head.

Film you think everyone should see:
Friendship’s Death by Peter Wollen with Tilda Swinton and Bill Paterson… it’s an objective look at human beings from an alien perspective.

Best advice you have ever been given?
Was from my mother… follow your dreams.

Who do you think is one to watch?
Julia deVille, an amazing artist / jewelry maker, and Angus & Julia Stone. Also Merlin Glozier, a painter, and Kess Glozier, her son who is an illustrator, both amazing artists!

Many thanks to Emma for her time, patience and being one of the nicest photographers out there!

 

[Marvystone]

i-D December 2008

scanned by tfs member Northern Star

i-D September 2008

myspace

i-D July 2008

Scan by tfs member dieselmax

Scanned by tfs member J'ador-Dior

 

[Marvystone]

Jaeger ss09

photos taken by tfs member vogue28

 

[ad041715]

I love those surreal, desert, motel photographs of hers.

Such an inspiration.

 

[VogueGirl8910]

I-D December 2008
Star: Leona Lewis
Photographed by Emma Summerton



leona-lewis.us

 

[m.iu.miu]

Vogue Nippon June 2009
The Natural
Model: Eniko Mihalik
St: Charlotte Stockdale



maximfma.com

 

[Gloria01]

models.com

 

[Marvystone]

one love - emma summerton

Q. You've emerged quite beautifully and it seems that your pictures only ever appeared in great magazines, what was the secret to such a perfect launch? ••• Thank you honey! I think for me it has been about having a great agent and being fortunate enough to start working with Edward Enninful a few years back. The right stylist at the right time can change your career there is no doubt about it. I have a fantastic supportive network of people around me who give me great advice, like when to say no to certain things and not to spread myself thin. It's a bit cliche but I always believed in quality rather than quantity but it is also very hard when your starting out to say 'no' as you want to do everything that comes up and shoot as much as possible. But what you don't do is just as important as what you do. It's helpful to have people to remind of you of that.

Q. You once told me that it was your dream to shoot for Italian Vogue, and you are now shooting for them quite often, what's the next dream publication you wish to tackle?
••• A book of my personal work would be something I would love to do. I have a project I worked on for about 7 years, all on polaroid, all self portraits and abstracts, it's been tucked away for the last few years. I have also just started a project with Charlotte Stockdale too which we are both really excited about so we feel we might give that a good year to shoot in between fashion action but we want to exhibit the images when it's done.

Q. From following your stories I find you to have a very cinematic aesthetic, it's something I attribute to your incredible lighting, but also to the concepts you tend to execute..are you the creator of such ideas or do you find that most of the stories are a collaboration between you and the stylist your working with?
••• It's always a collaboration once you start discussing an idea with the editor your working with, whether it's something I bring or they do doesn't matter, once your 'into it' it belongs to the team. I tend to get really involved on every level but it is different with everyone and changes depending on the shoot. Collaborating is a huge part of the fun and inspiration for me. Lighting is another thing altogether and I love to light! I'm really into lighting that doesn't look labored which i guess gives a cinematic quality and i do find a lot of inspiration in cinema, the capturing of emotion, a tale to tell, to try and evoke a feeling even if it comes out abstract in the image.

Q. You live in both London as well as New York, do you find any differences in your inspiration and idea's between the two places or do you feel that your creative is without attachment to your current geographical location?
•••New Yorkfor me is about work and madness,Londonis more introspective and calm. I would have to say I think clearer inLondonbut get crazy ideas out ofNew York. It took me so long to fall forLondon, there were many years of struggling to survive here that maybe my love for it is deeper, it won me over. But hey who wants one without the other!

Q. Eva Herzigova told us after shooting with you for Vogue Italia, that you had inspired her more than any other photographer had in sometime..Some would assume that it's your fresh point of view, what would you say the reason is?
••• Wow...that's such a huge compliment! Thank you Eva! I'm kinda lost for words now actually. She was an inspiration for me too, I loved watching her , her expressions, she is a strong beautiful intelligent woman with tons of charisma! We had such a great time on our shoot, I think it was just a meeting of minds and a great energy from the start. I didn't want to control her too much, with a model like Eva you shoot her for who she is, it's like working with an actress and to reign her in too much would feel wrong to me.

Q. What do you think about the Return of the Icons and Supermodels?
••• Bring it on! There is such a need and space for powerful experienced women in the industry who know themselves and are confident about who they are in the world. These things only truly come with time. Don't get me wrong there are young new girls out there who are fantastic but it's the way forward to mix it up more and show the full spectrum of what being a woman is about.

Q. What's an Emma Summerton girl?
••• She is a little weird, sexy, a bit tough, slightly mad and appreciates another women.

Q. You've recently made a habit out of shooting Janete Friedrich, aside from the obvious allure of her almost Art like beauty..what is it that you find so inspiring about her as a model?
•••There is something so weird about shooting Janete! She speaks hardly any english so the communication between us is very much about gestures, showing her a mood, and she just gets it and it's wonderful to watch. She is very 'in her body'...very comfortable, so i think she feels the picture because there is little verbal communication. Besides that she has a extraordinary beauty that is so refreshing, reminiscent of a silent movie actress, or a character from another time.

onemanagement.com/news

 

[malex]

beautiful, creative and free spirited.

 

[VogueGirl8910]

i-D September 2008
Model: Jourdan Dunn
Fashion Dircetor: Edward Enninful



awake-smile.blogspot.com

Note: One page is missing

 

[VogueGirl8910]

UK Vogue October 2008
"Darkness Falls"
Model: Lily Donaldson
Fashion Editor: Kate Phelan



ilovelilydonaldson.com

 

[disclosed]

www.maximfma.com- her agents.... all her work is on there. amazing. love love love summertown... xxx

 

[flyme2themoon]

i-D September 2009
Thriller
Models: Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn, and Arlenis Sosa
Photographer: Emma Summerton
Stylist: Edward Enninful
Hair: Ben Skervin
Makeup: Mathias van Hooff


Source: models.com





Source: Scanned by Northern Star

 

[flyme2themoon]

Source: Scanned by Northern Star


She talks @ 2:25 in the behind the making of the cover video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITqQUinKV-o

 

[lfashion]

her work is amazing!

 

[VogueGirl8910]

i-D Pre-Fall 2009
"Can You Feel It"
Models: Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn & Arlenis Sosa
Fashion Editor: Edward Enninful


Scanned by Northern Star (TFS' member)

 

[VogueGirl8910]

Vogue Italia June 2009
"Neo-Romantic"
Models: Abbey Lee Kershaw & Imogen Moris Clarke




fashiongonerogue.com