Editor Steve Reddin picks his top 3 contributions to Flawless Magazine in 2011 and talks us through why these shoots still manage to impress him right into 2012.
When asked to choose my top three contributions from 2011 I knew my task was not an easy one. I felt that every contribution we received would be worthy of mention.
The task was still with me nonetheless and, after going through every contribution we had received, I choose three that, for me, displayed the core objectives of Flawless Magazine whilst demonstrating an in-depth understanding of their respective magazine themes.
1. Stephanie Mulder, shot by Wouter van Straten
Wouter van Straten’s work, Candy Pop, appeared in our second issue, themed ‘Pop Art’.
This theme should have allowed every contributor to exhibit their uniqueness but, as I mentioned during my editorial, I was surprised when many submissions mimicked Warhol’s Monroe. For me this really was a lost opportunity.
No such disappointment lay with Wouter Van Straten’s work which really was outstanding and worthy of our cover image. The use of colour and background highlighted and supplemented Stephanie brilliantly while at the same time objectifying her and proving that Candy Pop
View Wouter van Straten’s Candy Pop with Stephanie Mulder in full in Issue 2 of Flawless Magazine.
2. Natalia Madrigal, shot by Mariana Quevedo
Natalia Madrigal’s work, A Retro Parody, also appeared in our second issue, themed ‘Pop Art’.
The appeal of this shoot lay in its strong bold colours and its use of modern technology to recreate a now classic form of art. The undertones of Bauhaus, Art Deco and Cubism evident throughout the shoot reinforce the thought and work that has gone into its completion.
View Mariana Quevedo’s A Retro Parody with Natalia Madrigal in full in Issue 2 of Flawless Magazine.
3. Edo Leon, shot by Remon van den Kommer
My final choice comes from Issue 3, themed ‘Ethereal Beauty’. This theme could have easily opened the door to reinventing the great works of the Renascence, as was evident in other contributions in this issue.
Remon van den Kommer took a very different approach to my expectations, depicting a fascinating insight into the struggle lying in all of us and, while each of the images could stand as a work of art in their own right, their combination creates a powerful piece of work ideally suited to displaying an alternative perspicacity of Ethereal Beauty.
View Remon van den Kommer’s The Ballet of Good Versus Evil with Edo Leon in full in Issue 3 of Flawless Magazine.
Steve Reddin
Editor, Flawless Magazine