RUSS FLATT

Russ Flatt

Ngati Kahungunu, New Zealand

Russ Flatt is a photographic artist that has recently completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Fine Art at Elam School of Fine Art in Auckland, New Zealand, 2013.
Flatt was born in Changi, Singapore in1971. His mum was maori and his Dad  English. His family moved first  to Wigram and then to Hobsonville Airbase before settling in Glenfield on Auckland’s North Shore in the mid 70’s.
Flatt has lived in Sydney, London and NewYork working as a commercial photographer, specifically in fashion and portraiture.
He returned to New Zealand at the end of 1996 for family reasons and works as a freelance photographer.

Russ, Ngati Hau, has spent 9 years living and working in New York as a fashion photographer before returning to Aotearoa to care for his unwell Mum a couple of years ago.With a solid background in the Big Apple, it is not surprising that he seemed to fit in so well with the show. Either way, we here at Black, are still very impressed, and rather proud...of our cuzzy clicker....

Russ Flatt is a photographic artist that has recently completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Fine Art at Elam School of Fine Art in Auckland, New Zealand, 2013.



PAPER PLANES

Russ Flatt presents two disparate photographic series in his new installation, Paper Planes.  Both explore ideas of identity and look to the past in order to recognise the present.

Colour tableaux confront black and white portraits, creating tension between the various conceptions of self, culture and perspective offered.

Presented together, the two distinct series raise questions about individualism and diversity within cultural groups in Aotearoa today.

He had a great story to tell us about his experience with the portfolio Paper Planes.
He explained how it took months to get the go ahead to actually rent the homes in Hobsinville so he could take his photographs.  He explained it took months to research and pay for permits to get this work started, alot of documentation.He had to deal with Auckland  Council and many other people as the houses were sold from the Air base he had little time to get in and out and get the photographs he wanted.  He had to sort out location lighting, the right time of the day ,how to dress the homes, what objects and nic nacs to use.  He mentioned it was very stressful making the house authentic. I feel he was very connected to Hobsinville and wanted to recapture his life as a child again as Russ had  lived in a state house  in Te Atatu.

He had to hire models , props, furniture , cars , clothing to take us back to the 60 s .  He had to get everything right and he worked very hard to get that accomplished.  I dont know if I have the patience for all of that paper work it would be quite exhausting.  He explained the process of a model release form he had to use as his images were going to be used around the world. . Russ spoke about how he offered his subjects an A4 size photograph as a thankyou .  I thought thats a great idea and I would use that in my future ventures.  Theres alot more I could write about , he shared so much important information with us , he truly is an  amazing artist.

Another great image by Russ Flatt

There is alot going on in this image.  Why would a car be driving towards Dad and son ? Perhaps to pick them up because its raining ? Great composition .
I used to own a car like this one . When Raemon and I were in the city at the Silos not only was there similar  photography work there like Russ Flatts but there was an old car parked outside so we took the photo as it reminded us both of the above image that Russ had taken at Hobsinville .

This is my staged photograph of an old car and Raemon looking out to the Silos. Lighting not good , I took this photograph on an Iphone it was an idea that come to mind  to capture a moment similar to one of Russ Flatts using the old car.  No idea who owned the vehicle but thank you .

A Russ Flatt image

Wow I love this image reminds me of myself when I was 15.  I have always lived in the old wooden homes and I actually have a photograph of me standing outside my window in almost the same pose, only my window was nailed shut.  Oh back in the day .

EXTRA INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT RUSS

It was a privilege to work with will.i.am and Hallenstein Brothers. What an amazing artist.

Photographed at Hallenstein Brothers Studios by Russ Flatt.


Last November we were shooting a twenty page men's shoot in the countryside at Mangawhai, North Auckland, when our photographer Russ Flatt received what seemed like an important call on his cellphone. After 10 minutes he got off the line with a wry smile on his face, looking quite content. "Who the hell was that?" we asked, somewhat nosily and inquisitive. "Someone from Make Me A Supermodel, a reality TV show in New York" he replied "they want to me to be the photographer on their next series." "Oh, yeah right we said, not knowing what "Make Me A Supermodel " was or why they'd want Russ Flatt, a NZ photographer. It wasn't until we watched the actual show on TV2 on Friday night that we realised just what the role entailed. Russ, resplendent in a stylish green jersey wasn't just a natural in his assumed position, he acted like a seasoned television professional, and to our unexpected amusement, did a great job of playing the power photographer bristling with Reality TV chutzpah. As Reality TV Magazine observed "Something about the men’s shoot isn’t quite right, but the pics are gorgeous as soon as Russ SHOOS Jay and Casey out of the frame. All of the girls manage to stay in the picture, but, according to Russ, “Katy had a problem focusing.” Russ really does have "shoo-ability" but we knew that. Obviously Tyra Banks and the show producers liked his style too, as Russ has now completed the same photographer role for the Aussie version of Make Me A Supermodel and is right now being lined up for a second series in New York.

As my exercise for my blog I decided to stage some photographs like Russ did.  I really don't photograph  staged  scenes or set up furniture but I decided to work with The Paper Planes portfolio.  I think for me as an older student what Russ was photographing was part of my past and I felt quite connected to Russ and his work.

In my images I added an old black and white photograph of my grandparents in the background.


My props were also old the teapot cup and saucer and old vase from my Grannie and a crocheted table cloth. I was trying to keep everything old  and unique.  Victoria is actually holding some old negatives of mine.

This is my staged photo .


The sugar bowl and the milk jug are too white unfortunately , they dont suit  the setting , too white and bright.  They are more modern , I should of looked around,  invested more time into what I was trying to display by getting a sugar bowl / milk jug that suited the setting.  I could have also perhaps taken the dried flowers out it looks a little over crowded.

My idea with this exercise was to establish a relationship with this lady and photograph her sitting and drinking her coffee. This was great because she was happy to pose for me and she really looked like a young lady from the 60's. The setting was perfect.   We had the tables, chairs , cups etc they were all 1960 s  it was a perfect opportunity to get similar staged shots like Russ Flatt.  Even the young ladys glasses were appropriate oh and the bright red lipstick. If I had of perhaps zoomed in more we could have had a better look at the cups and other objects.  I was abit nervous and didn't relax but enjoyed the experience.

With these two pictures I could of stood in front of my subject and photographed her ,  perhaps the lighting would have worked much better. I should of moved around alot more , used different angles  . I would have preferred to have had more lighting on her face and had taken front on images  capturing her whole face.

In the second image I should of waited for the people to leave the footpath .   Russ's photos  only had who he wanted in his photos everything was staged people .  If I had of cropped the image I would have lost her face, of course the other method  I could  have done was to  photoshop the people out.. Then there was the   broad band sign in the background thats a huge mistake because there was no such thing in the 60's.

This was a really groovey little cafe .  I think if I had had a little more confidence perhaps I could of had some really good images.





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