IMAGE JOURNAL

Food Network Campaign with Anne Burrell

Michel Leroy — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 17:55:49 +0000

The creative team at Food Network reached out to me to photograph the Key Art of Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell for the 2013 season. The team at FN wanted to continue a matching campaign for each show that could stand alone or hang side-by-side with the existing print and interactive placements. The design brief emphasized a strong personal connection to the talent with sexy, directional, studio lighting that would compliment Anne and fit the existing Food Network branding. The concept images we pulled together were full of atmospheric mood and a the feeling of simmering energy. I shot a library of images that build on the sweet but strong personality of chef Anne Burrell taking control in the kitchen.

Chef Wanted Season Premieres Thursday, January 31 at 10pm/9c

Creative Team:

Michel Leroy – Photographer

Megan Re – Director of Photography

Christopher Puente, Lucien Sims and Takeshi Hayashi – Ace Crew

Modernism – David Bowie & Kazimir Malevich

Michel Leroy — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:39:13 +0000

The cover art of David Bowie’s new album The Next Day, Designed by Jonathan Barnbrook has a distinctly Modernist feel reminiscent of Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square paining from 1913. The idea of inventing something new, that nobody in the world had thought up before you is so seductive and illusive. Having said that, I love the cover design!

Subverting images through the addition of new content that changes the meaning and obscures the past without completely overwriting it is the reality of art in the digital age.

INSERT sponsor ad from Adobe here.

For a wonderful show about the idea of censoring images check out the MET exhibit, Faking It – Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop.

On the same theme, designer Dann Matthews has a very clever art print on Society6 called “redacted”.

The Overnight Test

Michel Leroy — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:44:26 +0000

For a little overdue perspective on what is really important a retired photo editor friend of mine turned me onto Linds Redding’s blog. As a former art director at Saatchi & Saatchi and BBDO, Linds knew advertising from the inside out. When he was diagnosed with cancer in Aug. 2011 he began sharing his views, insights and feelings in a lucid and sincere blog. The 51 posts from the time he stated to explore blogs as a creative outlet until his last entry just months before he died took one year, but writing from the heart such as he did, resonates eternal.

That’s why children are so good at it[being creative]. And why people with Volkswagens, and mortgages, Personal Equity Plans and matching Lois Vutton luggage are not.

The post, A Short Lesson in Perspective, should be mandatory reading in Art School 101 classes. For some it will sound cynical, for some it will feel all-too-true, for others still it will remind us to go home and kiss your wife and kids.

The American Lawyer – Women Litigators Cover

Michel Leroy — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:05:46 +0000

The editorial team at The American Lawyer needed a photographer comfortable with creating a flattering and balanced group shot for the Cover Art of the annual Women Litigator issue. The creative team wanted to be contemporary and clean while remaining respectful to the four powerful litigators. Just a week after hurricane Sandy everybody involved needed to be flexible-but we only had a few hours to get it right before the talent was scheduled to fly out. Photo editor Maggie Soladay deserves more credit than I can express for balancing the schedule of four busy litigators traveling from around the country with the production headache of a flood damaged location.

I shot a range of images that build on similarities between these very strong and independent women with a direct personal connection to each. The mood board was built on soft, open lighting that would compliment each subject and tie the cover art, inside spread and individual portraits together.

Michel Leroy – Photographer
Joan Ferrell – Art Director
Maggie Soladay – Photo Editor
Flora Kay – Makeup Artist
Hiroyuki Yamazaki (Yuki) – Hair Stylist
Matt Simmons & Lucien Sims – Ace Crew
Feather Creative – Retouching

Special thanks to the very talented and flexible litigators:
Diane Sullivan of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Debra Pole of Sidley Austin (LA)
Mary Wells of Wells, Anderson & Race
Christy Jones of Butler Snow

Michel Leroy for The American Lawyer, Breast Implant Litigation Feature photo shoot in New York.

Edgar Allan Poe

Michel Leroy — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:28:45 +0000

I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity. During these fits of absolute unconsciousness, I drank – God only knows how often or how much. As a matter of course, my enemies referred the insanity to the drink, rather than the drink to the insanity. -Edgar Allan Poe

Michel Leroy holiday card in Rangefinder Magazine

Michel Leroy — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:24:14 +0000

Rangefinder Magazine did a profile of clever and playful holiday cards by professional photographers. They featured one of our most inspired cards from the Rally Biker Christmas series.

“We have been shooting a personalized Christmas card for 14 years and it’s become the most anticipated correspondence we send to family members. I didn’t plan it this way but over the years it has also become the most sought-after promo I send to clients. During the previous summer, I embarked on a personal project to photograph Rally Bikers across the American west. For months afterwards I was editing and retouching graphic B&W portraits of leather clad bikers covered with tattoos. Of the thousand plus people I photographed over the course of the project I came to love how people were living out loud through their tattoos and proud of it. When it came time to shoot our holiday card I was up to my ears making gallery prints and thought it would be a really playful and personal take on Christmas – Santa as a biker. I literally have clients who ask months in advance what we are going to do for our next card. We love the holidays and sharing with family and clients makes the the whole season that much richer.”

iHeart Marketing Profile

Michel Leroy — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:02:34 +0000

iHeart Marketing did a “How did you get that shot” profile of a large group shot I did earlier this year for the Body & Pole Studios in New York.

Editor Heather Lefort asked a bunch of questions about the technique and the creative process involved in a large group ensemble. It’s worth the read. Also you can check out all the other interesting profiles on the iHeart Marketing blog. I have a bunch of Behind the Scenes shots and technical details from the shoot listed here.

The success of this group shot is the cumulative effort of everybody involved. As always thanks to my crew, the best in the business. And, special thanks to all the stylists and makeup artists who worked tirelessly to highlight the very best of the entire Body & Pole team.

Body & Pole Dance Studio – Client
Michel Leroy – Photographer
Lian Tal – Art Director
Kyra Johannesen – Choreographer
Kyle McBeth – Photo Shoot Producer
Jonathan Orenstein – Lighting Director
Brian Bloom – First Assistant
Keziban Berry – Second Assistant
Linn Edwards of Feather Creative – Retouching

Nike Town

Michel Leroy — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 22:55:01 +0000

Details and reflections from an event at Niketown New York.

Phase One P65+ Happy Accident

Michel Leroy — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:56:37 +0000

This happy accident was a misfire on a long exposure with a Phase One P65+ and a Hasselblad set to Bulb. No manipulation, no Photoshop just a glitch frame. I love it when digital goes wacky… it’s beautiful!

Food Network Campaign with Willie Degel and Robert Irvine

Michel Leroy — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:49:07 +0000

The creative team at Food Network reached out to me to photograph the Key Art of New York restaurateur Willie Degel of Restaurant Stakeout and Chef Robert Irvine of Restaurant Impossible for the fall 2012 season. The creative team at FN wanted a matching campaign for each show that could stand alone or hang side-by-side for the Bryant Park Domination print and interactive placements. I shot a library of images that build on similarities between these very strong and independent talents with a direct personal connection to each. The mood board was built on strong, directional, studio lighting that would also compliment the existing Food Network branding.

Tune into Restaurant Stakeout on the Food Network: Wednesdays at 10pm/9c
Tune into Restaurant Impossible on the Food Network: Wednesdays at 9pm/8c

Creative Team:

Michel Leroy – Photographer

Robert Kovach – Art Director

Megan Re – Director of Photography

and Company – Agency

Beatrix Grinage - Production Stills

Christopher Puente, Lucien Sims, Chris Johnson and Matt Simmons – Ace Crew