Interview with Brandon Stanciell

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Brandon Stanciell photographs women and men, using nature as the main props. For Design & Culture by Ed‘s April issue, we’ve caught up with him – here is the interview you don’t want to miss!

You’re calling your self “The Man Who Loved Flowers”. Is there anything behind your enchanting title?

Maybe it’s not too enchanting, haha. The name is inspired by a short story by Stephen King titled, “The Man Who Loved Flowers” I like to believe that my camera is the hammer the uses and the women whom I shoot photos of are “Norma” it’s kind of weird. I also refer to the women as being the actual flowers in my work. I love flowers. Theres a more deeper meaning to it I guess.

When did you discover your visible love for flowers?

I guess it’s have to be this day,(April 28th 2014 to be exact haha)
when I shot photos of Agne. That was the day It kinda all started. It kind of started on accident to be honest. We went to the poppy fields to take photos, it was so windy and cloudy we didn’t think they’d come out good. Got home, uploaded the photos to the computer and fell in love.

What do you usually want to convey to the viewer of your photographs?

When viewers see my work I want them to see more than just a photo. I want them to look at every detail. Try to feel or smell the flowers. Not just “a model with flowers”, but a painted portrait of flowers ya know.

I discovered your work thanks to “Thinker of Exquisite Thoughts” on Instagram. This work tells us so much. How can you describe it?

– It’s the beginning of a new series I’ve been working on. Its a reference to Shel Silverstein’s “The Thinker Of Tender Thoughts” , staying true to oneself when face to face with society. It’s also a self-presentation of how my thoughts/art work start off for the love of flowers “Thinker of Tender Thoughts” then grows into something more beautiful more interesting, as I start to understand the love of flowers “Thinker of Exquisite Thoughts”. SPOILER ALERT: There will be a part three, possible 4 so watch out for that…

Your photographs are characterised with diverse, beautiful casting of models – is it also connected to your vision?

Yeah I’d like to think so. Most the “models” I work with are friends or coworkers (I use to work at American Apparel) people I see often, that have something about them I just couldn’t shake, so I had to photograph them. They’re all a huge help and I appreciate them for dealing with how weird I work, walking around in neighborhoods and shooting In someone’s front yard, shooting in front of apartment complexes. We do a lot of walking so it’s a workout too haha.

Minimal Bouquet. Adam Lippes AW15

February 16, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Florals? For spring? Ground-breaking. But effective. And not for spring, in reality, but for winter. Adam Lippes, the master of modern sportswear from New York bloomed this season. Known for minimal silhouettes, Adam had a dose of printed flowers there and there – on the jackets and dresses, for example. But what seriously makes me excited for this collection are the sweaters, which are made from 10 different gauges of wool! That’s a lot. And the effect is as impressive as the numbers – this knitted piece of art seems to be so soft and fluffy that you just want to wear it and hug people around… what else caught my eye? The mink fur coat. Styled with those masculine trousers, this piece of clothing seems to be timeless and never out of fashion. You might think that the collection works totally on fashion basics – but in overall effect, it has much to say this winter.

Neo-Hippie. Christopher Kane Resort’15

June 20, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

What I enjoy about Christopher Kane is the fact that he can’t be tamed. Alhough he belongs to Kering group, he doesn’t hide his talent just to be more commercial. The new Resort 2015 collection is mix of his favourite things: lace, floral prints, denim and neon colours. The dresses were radiant and artsy while the pockets of jeans shorts & trousers were embroidered with beautiful flowers and insects. If talking of jewellery that’s pretty new at Kane, we had these little daisy shaped brooches that felt very childish and naive… just like the overall collection. There was also about hippie and the 60’s in here: this flower power brings peace and harmony, for goodness sake.

Paris: Costes

January 2, 2014November 13, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

My visit to the Costes Hotel & Restaurant on Rue St.Honore was one of the luckiest ones… I met Ekaterina Mukhina, Vogue Ukraine’s contributor and stylist! I am really happy because I love her work and style … In other words, first wish of 2014 came true. So, as you see- Costes is the cool place in Paris. With it’s old-fashioned interior and huge garden patio, it contains a restaurant, five-star hotel, perfumerie and flower store. The food in the restaurant is magnifique! The Thai Chicken Rolls are my old-time friends, the delicious spicy tuna tartar is served in new Atlantic way and the best dessert on Earth is served here- wild strawberries with whipped cream!

Paris: Mandarin Oriental Hotel

December 30, 2013January 2, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Mandarin Oriental Paris is definitely the moment’s hottest destination in the city, where you are going to relax in luxury and with pleasure. With it’s personal care to the hotel guests, the hotel is a place where you may meet Anna Dello Russo on breakfast, or Riccardo Tisci in the bar. It is simply cool! With it’s huge garden that is temporarily decorated with Christmas ornaments and Christmas trees, Mandarin Oriental Paris always make me feel like at home. Relaxed, full of joy and happiness! P.S. The breakfasts here… they are amazing! Fresh fruits, juice, cold porridge and delicious eggs are my old-time favourites.