MIKEVANCLEVEN.COM

Lady Gaga and Polaroid Team Up for ‘Grey Label’ Instant Cameras

DENIMike — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:03:22 +0000

The makers of the classic photo film and the iconic instant camera have found themselves in a new decade where film is finished and digital is du jour. But Gaga wants to make those nifty, quicky physical photos relevant again.

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of Polaroid’s announcement that the pop queen and fashion phenomenon signed on to be a creative director at the troubled camera company. At the time, Gaga told fans that she would be working hard on developing “prototypes in the vein of fashion/technology/photography innovation.” And now we finally get to see what she’s got.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this Thursday, Gaga will unveil what Polaroid is calling their new “Grey Label.” Details about the release are being kept mum, but Polaroid describes it as “the next generation of instant experience.” The much-hyped project even has its own website, complete with a clock countdown to the live unveiling at 3:30 p.m. PT.

Polaroid’s reinvention has been a long time coming. The company was widely criticized for failing to anticipate just how much digital technology would effect its sales. This resulted in bankruptcy in 2001 and then, in 2008, the discontinuation of its instant cameras.

Anyone who has ever used an instant camera knows how fun it can be. Taking a photo and then immediately having it in your hand to show off is an experience that digital images just cannot live up to, and if it takes an international pop superstar to convince people of that … then so be it.

Click to view slideshow.

Interesting links:

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/dan-macsai/popwise/lady-gaga-taking-over-world-one-business-venture-time
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/branding_stakes_DCad1p56FXQe1sCwpK2kyL

Hasselblad Phocus 2.6 + iPad application

DENIMike — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:34:26 +0000

Here’s what Hasselblad introduced at Photokina.

Behind the scenes of a Lexus shoot

DENIMike — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:22:27 +0000

Check out the equipment on this car commercial shoot. Insane? Ok. But the result is there as well!

Victoria Secret Swim 10

DENIMike — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:05:45 +0000

Check ou the Behind-The-Scenes video of the VS 2010 Swimsuit shoot by photographer Russell James.

The moon … revisited in 2009

DENIMike — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:12:16 +0000

In 1969 the Apollo 11 mission took the first men and first Hasselblad camera to the Moon.
Exactly 40 years later, a Belgian team of creative minds undertook a new – artistic – trip to the same lunar landscapes to celebrate and commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first man – and first images – on the Moon.

The team, lead by photographer Mike Van Cleven and photo retoucher Mieke Geenen, aimed at producing 12 unique images that mixed art, fashion and the original photos from on the Moon, taken in 1969 by the Apollo 11 crew.

But, now 40 years later, using a new generation of Hasselblad digital mid format camera.

Earth is calling…

Creative team:

Photography by Mike Van Cleven
Photo retouch by Mieke Geenen
MUA and hair by Elisa Utzeri
Styling and wardrobe design by Toos Franken & Dorien Bruyeer (fashion students at the Royal Fashion Academy of Antwerp)
Models: Charlotte and Sylvia (Casting Factory), Minne (Models Office)

The team is giving out 10 calendars. If you want to get your hands on one, send an email with your address and your personal best image of 2009 to themoon@mikevancleven.com.

©MIKEVANCLEVEN.COM

Making-of the Julia Diehl 2010 collection shoot

DENIMike — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:18:39 +0000

This fall we went to shoot the 2010 Julia Diehl swimsuit collection in Los Angeles, CA. Jumping from locations in Hollywood, San Pedro to the desolate and remote setting of the Los Angeles desert.

All shot on Hasselblad H3DII and used Profoto lighting to control the end result.

Photography // Mike Van Cleven (http://www.mikevancleven.com)
Assistant // Ray Archer
Production // Chris Powers
MUA // Carla Farra, Mira Cho & Jose Monzo
Models // Megan, Lauren & Tienlyn
Video // Richard VdVieren (AOOA.TV)
Music // Svelt St.

TEASER | Julia Diehl 2010 Collection shoot on Vimeo

DENIMike — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:21:16 +0000

This is a teaser of the making-of of the 2010 Julia Diehl swimsuit collection shoot.

Photography: Mike Van Cleven (mikevancleven.com)
Production: Chris Powers
Assistant: Ray Archer
Video + edit: AOOA.TV – Richard VdVieren
Models: Lauren, Megan & Tien
Location: California

This November 26th Calumet is hosting an event at the Fotomuseum in Antwerpen in cooperation with Apple, Hasselblad and Profoto. I’ll be there to talk about collaborative creativity, workflow and much more. More info and registration: Creative Pro Events

WWF goes 9/11

DENIMike — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:16:05 +0000

This is what I love about visual communication: it can be hard at some times to swallow, but messages do come across.

It’s a very daring way for the WWF to communicate like this, knowing that a lot of Americans might not be as generous and understanding with this subject, but for organizations like WWF they need to stand out. I bet that’s what they achieve with this ad!

Meet Molly, our new masqotte

DENIMike — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:09:35 +0000

Prepping talent on location

DENIMike — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:41:32 +0000