Our newest issue of the year is here! Read the exclusive interviews and visual spreads from Davide Ambroggio, Daniel Cubero, Robert Coppa, Michael O’Sullivan, Marango, and Thierry Bansront.
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Photographer: Samantha Louise
Model: Kylie Board
Photographer: Luis F. López
Producer/Hair/Makeup/Model: Grace Gray
Photographer: Lisa Griffin
Stylist: Minna Attala
Designer: Miss Aniela and Minna Attala
Headpiece/Necklace: Clea Broad
Written by Daniel MTM Photography
Eighteen months ago Mihaela Noroc, a twenty nine year old photographer, started her journey around the world to discover and photograph women’s beauty. Her project, “The Atlas of Beauty,” got impressive photos, as she traveled almost all continents.
Her photos do not speak only about beauty but about culture and society.
“What people might like in Northern Europe, may seem unattractive in the Middle East. What people appreciate in South Asia, could be perceived differently in Western Europe.”
The beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. In Mihaela’s case the beauty is through her camera.
“In my project, ‘The Atlas of Beauty’ (http://theatlasofbeauty.com/) I am trying to capture the feminine beauty through traditions and customs. I do like when every woman I shoot has a story to tell about the culture she represents, this way the Atlas of Beauty is also a study on cultural diversity.
Women represent creation, motherhood and women tend to keep the traditions better than men, that’s why I’ve choose to photograph them.”
The project idea came to her two years ago when Mihaela was visiting Ethiopia.
Her first project was shot in Romania, then she traveled in Eastern and Northern Europe, Russia, Asia, and then Japan.
“From Bucharest through Tokyo we didn’t fly by plane. We traveled only by bus, trains or ships, observing how the faces physiognomy changes step by step.”
After Asia she traveled to Australia, New Zealand, then South and North America.
“I left home with the plan to circle the planet, to start from East and come back from West. I haven’t had a strict plan just a few ideas of the way my trip should look like. I had to add new destinations and sometimes I renounce on some because of different experiences or budget constrains.”
Once Mihaela arrived in a new country she starts the search on the streets, in markets, pubs, and universities. She talks with people about her project. Sometimes she contacts the local model agencies, but always takes in consideration the women faces that are authenticity and sincerity.
“I don’t have a certain type of face I’m looking for, I’m just looking for sincere, natural faces, that represent the best of the region.
There was also very few cases in which I may have come across some extraordinary beautiful girls on the streets.”
Most of the girls were happy to shoot.” In Japan they weren’t as open, as she expected. She was surprised that in Iran, where women have strict laws about showing themselves in public, she found a very liberal girl with extremely beautiful blue eyes! She was lucky to find very rare traditional outfits and they shot in a Moschee and of course they were afraid to get caught, since the strict laws forbid women to be photographed in public.
Brazil was the country that stole Mihaela’s heart: “ Rio de Janeiro is so exotic and the women there have no inhibitions and are happy and joyful.
In Rio you can find extraordinary places to shoot: high mountains, jungle and infinite beaches. Also you can find some local areas that haven’t been touched by time.”
Mihaela’s courage brought to her to the most dangerous of neighborhoods in Rio. (as you can see in the her photos)
“Beauty is perceived very different from one culture to another. While in Europe women try to get a tan in Asia they want their skin as white as possible.”
Now Mihaela has returned to her homeland, Romania. After ending the long trip around the world at the end of 2014, she has not stopped there: she still plan’s another trip around the world since she feels that her project is not complete yet.
How did Mihaela start in photography:
“My father is a painter and I guess I’ve developed a love for color in my childhood. Then when as a teenager I start shooting as a hobby. Only later in life I’ve discover that photography is my ultimate passion, so I quit my day job and focused only on the things I enjoy most: taking photos.”
‘The Atlas of Beauty’ is by far her life’s work and has driven her to continue this series. Mihaela is ready for new adventures around the globe. She wants her project to bring joy around the world.
We are excited to see her work and to follower her, links are below.
Check out the “Atlas of Beauty” project website: http://theatlasofbeauty.com
Mihaela Noroc’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MihaelaNorocPhoto
Photographer: Michal Zahornacky - michalzahornacky.com
Model: Frantisek Pastusek
Photographer: Ronny García
Models: Denise and Cata
Read the exclusive interview with photographer Michael O’Sullivan and view his “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” series in ISSUE 40.
Read for FREE at http://bit.ly/DBM_40
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Photographer: Michael O’Sullivan
Stylist: Eileen Tobin
Gowns: Devilish Designs By Gina
Vintage Wardrobe/Props: Premier Prop Hire
Hair: Andrew Cronin – The Edge Hair Design
Makeup: Debby’s Make Up Rooms
Models: Ellen O’Shea @ Upfront PR and Model Management and Gillian Forde @ Pulse Model and Event Management
Assistant: Thair Khamas
Set Assistant: Brendan Tobin
Location: Cork
Photographer: Ron Goode
Model: Sarah Elizabeth Montgomery
Photographer: Tony Quan
Stylist: Alan Montes
Designers: Emil Sulaiman, Heart Strings Couture, Rochelle Cavino, Ritual, Vintage LMDF, Dan Richters, Antiquity, and Avnah.
Jewelry: Shalottlilly
Shoes: Ellie Shoes
Hair: Felix
Makeup: Diego
Model: Valentina
Photographer/Makeup: Zachary Connoly – Mohawk Photography
Model: Bailey McFarland
Photographer: Zukography – Gosia Zuk Photography
Model: Jagoda Baletnica
Photographer/Editor: Topher Adam
Designer: SX Couture – Topher Adam
Hair: Mikel Sessions
Makeup: Ari Dee
Lighting Designer: Tim Engle
Model: Tamica Michelle Atterberry
Set: Christine Alward
From “Ancient Wonders” in ISSUE 40 — French photographer and portrait painter, lover of faces and emotions. Loves taking her work to the next fine art level. Her passion of rendering her work to resemble
neoclassical period paintings … Read the full interview and view her work FREE at http://bit.ly/DBM_40
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Photographer: Thierry Bansront
Makeup: Aria Jovincita, Ana Wanda K., Ko Miya San, Sansy Martin, Charlotte Martinet, Gala Hermann, Faty Kenza, Jenny Quint, Nadege BlueDawn, Romane Rey, Natalia Kovachevski, and Happy Choop.
Models: Aria Jovincita, Ana Wanda K., Valentina LD, Sandy Petit, Clemence Beau, Gala Hermann, Faty Kenza, Sofie Cherri, Nathalie Brau Vasconcelos, Jenny Quint, Nadege BlueDawn, Romane Rey, Natalia Kovachevski, and Happy Choop.
Photographer: Gerbie Pabilonia
Model: Amy Hancock
Photographer: Mikeila Borgia
Model: Aye Davanita
Photographer: Romi Burianova
Makeup: Amanda Robinson
Model: El Grace @ Ford Models
Assistants: Roman Valigura, Marky Pierson, and Dana Burianova.
Photographer/Makeup: Veronika Verve Kotkova - Verve Rockabilly Photography
Model: Courtney Lloyd
Photographer: Weston Clark
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