(part
two)
You
were the first to use as a model the famous Cindy Crawford and
Linda Evangelista. What was the shoot for? You were all young,
so how did you go about with it?
I
was among the first, not the first.
First
of all, (that's a lot of firsts!), I was thrilled to be able to
work with them, and since we were all young I think it was all
the more fun. I knew these were good opportunities for me as well.
I’d
met Linda first, and I just felt she had this great look and that
she would really make it big in the business. I think we instantly
had a great rapport. I was able to book her on a Vogue advertising
job in London, (we were both based in Paris at that point), and
I remember after the job we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and had
ice cream sundaes. Hot fudge I believe it was. Very nice. I think
we went twice in three days. It was a nice change from French
food. Linda was a natural, but she also had something very important,
and that was desire. Desire to learn her craft and excel. We worked
together a few years later, on some covers and editorial fashion
stories, and by that time she was simply amazing to work with!
She understood the camera so well, how to followdirection, and
to make the clothes look great.
I
met Cindy within a week or two after meeting Linda, at a birthday
party in Paris for another who would become a top superstar of
our era, Stephanie Seymour. These girls were all brand new and
I don’t think they had any idea where they were headed.
You can read more about my Cindy Crawford experience at my web
site, if you wish;
http://stevelandis.com/cindyc_arch.html
That
night reminds me of watching a tennis match from the side of the
net position, just looking back and forth trying to follow the
action. It was at that diner that I decided to try and hire Cindy
for an assignment I had coming up for the French Magazine 20ANS.
I pushed the editors to shoot a cover as well and we got it! It
was her first cover shoot.
I
think one of the gifts I’ve been blessed with, is to recognize
other exceptional talent, and Cindy was a girl I was sure the
great photographers such as Avedon would love.
How
important is it to get involved with your subject to make the
photograph look alive?
Depends
what you mean by getting involved. Having good chemistry, a good
rapport with your subjects is desirable.
How
much have you matured as a photographer since you first
began ?
Quite
a lot, as a person as well as an artist. One time a few years
ago a crew member remarked, “How do remain so calm all the
time, what is your secret”? I didn’t tell him, but
I’ve thought about it many times since. So I’m going
to tell you. In the beginning of my career, I would try and do
it all on my own effort, and get stressed about getting the jobs
I wanted. But now I have a deep inner peace and confidence, which
comes from my prayer life following Yeshua (Jesus), the living
son of God, through the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. This
steadiness is not from arrogance or pride, it comes from a humbling
of oneself, trusting God’s word, which is the Holy Bible,
and seeking God’s will and guidance in every aspect of my
life. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Yeshua replied,
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All
the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The
amount of freedom I’ve experienced following Yeshua’s
command to “love and forgive your enemies” is so powerful.
I believe that this is the tangible difference from other religions
and is truly transforming. Do I still make mistakes? Sure, but
hopefully not as many or as often.
Photojournalism
then and now?
It
was fun shooting and meeting pop musicians, actors, and public
figures and great experience and I was still a teenager. I never
liked to just be at an event with lots of other photographers
all shooting from the same spot. I don’t think that is very
creative. I think telling stories through pictures will always
have an importance and a power to influence opinion. But the blur
between photojournalists and paparazzi is unfortunate. I didn’t
want to push an unwanted camera in someone's face, and only did
once, very reluctantly. Several years after I’d already
become a fashion photographer, a publication that I’d done
fashion work for pressured me into shooting an assignment of a
famous person and his lunch date outside of a Paris restaurant
a few months after his wife had died. The problem was he was not
in on the deal. The paper wanted me to get a scoop. I’d
previously been to this gentleman’s apartment and office
photographing him with his permission, and had a perfectly cordial
relationship with him. I felt very low and embarrassed that day.
Never accepted a job like that since. In contrast to that, a fashion
photographer normally has a willing coconspirator, the model,
and what they create can also influence. So I prefer setting my
lights, picking the location, helping choose the wardrobe, and
interacting with my subject directly in a fashion or portrait
shoot. I hope people view the result as entertainment and don’t
take it all too seriously.
Modernizing of photography?
I
love the quality that film gives, especially black and white.
Digital has certain pluses and minuses. While traditional negative
film still “sees” more tonal gradations than digital,
the average snapshot shooter does not know the difference and
sees digital as a great step up. I personally like digital for
certain shoots when it makes sense, creatively and practically.
Modern is not always better, just newer.
The
Indian faces you have photographed?
The
exquisite Ujjwalla Raut stands out the most in my mind. Fabulous!
http://stevelandis.com/bty.html
With lots of international titles to boast of, how does
India rank in the international circuit?
I
don’t feel qualified to say. But I have seen beautiful fashion
photography from India.
We know of Steve Landis, the photographer. How different
is Steve , the man?
Same
guy, different costume. No I don’t think there is a difference,
integrity is important to me. Although I’m single at the
moment, I still believe in marriage and family.
What
do you want to be remembered as- the photographer or the man?
I
have no control over that, but hope to give people encouragement,
whether from my personal interaction with them or through their
viewing photographs I’ve taken.
My
life has been blessed. I’ve met some of the most interesting
and beautiful people in the world, from Presidents to movie stars,
some of the kindest and a few very opposite from kind. God has
taught me many things, and shown me tremendous mercy and forgiveness
for the mistakes I’ve made along the way. He healed me of
a chronic digestive condition and also took away allergies that
I had much of my life. A woman I don’t even know her name,
asked me if she could pray for me, this was in a hotel lobby in
Jerusalem less than 2 years ago, I said sure, who couldn’t
use a little extra prayer? Within 3 minutes I was on the carpet,
vibrating under God’s Holy Spirit power. She prayed in the
name and authority of Jesus Christ (Yeshua, the Messiah), and
I was not only healed but I also became more sensitive to God’s
leading of my life. I have seen and experienced amazing things
before and since then, but am grateful most of all for the peace
that passes all understanding. God’s love is so real, its
not theory anymore. So if I can help someone else that may be
searching for healing or happiness, that would be something worthwhile,
the rest is just fluff, so I guess I’ll say, “the
man”.
Ever
plan to come down to india for work purpose?
When
do we leave?
_________
