Khatleen Minerve's new photo shoot UOMO, is probably the most shared, most liked and most commented album for a Mauritian photographer this week. And it's easy to understand why - every picture is stunning in its use of silver light, all the elements in the image are beautifully composed and in harmony with each other. Khatleen's technique in image composition and portrait photography seems to have reached its zenith, which is equally observed in her previous work with Jasmina Ruben amongst others - though I'm sure I will be telling you in a couple of months time that she has outdone herself yet again.
The model in all of the pictures is Simon Tuit - and his influence in generating so much attention to the album is undeniable. He looks so relaxed and at ease that you would be forgiven for thinking that it was completely natural for him to go in the sea with his clothes on - he is obviously a very talented model.
I have interviewed both Khatleen and Simon for this article, so whilst you stare at the pictures in delight you can also read about the shoot and the model.
It is important to note that Kunal Gopaleea was the stylist for this shoot, and thus contributed enormously to the perfection of these images - I look forward to seeing more of his work soon.
Short interview with Khatleen Minerve
This is one of the best, if not the best photo shoot I have ever seen you produce!
I am not sure if it is the best, but it's certainly among my best, because I have been working on making more progress on my photography since a few months. Although I don't have much time to do what I have in mind (I'm still a university student), I try to invest the maximum effort possible in everything I shoot. So for this shoot, Simon contacted me and I was very excited to have a great model to work with. Had I had more time to prepare, I would have gone for a totally different concept. The only preparation involved was contacting a friend to help me with the styling. In the end, I settled for Kunal Gopaleea who did wonders for me. We talked very little about the concept itself, I just knew we wanted to do something at the beach and that it had to be in a certain style, that's all. When the day came, we mostly improvised.
We had actually only decided there should have been a beach and rocks for me to shoot. We had even decided we would go to Flic en Flac, but in the end, because of a traffic jam from the North to F&F, we just went up North to do the shoot. Best choice ever. And lucky too!
It's incredible that it's improvised! I thought it was a shoot that had a huge amount of preparation involved, with all sorts of equipment...
You know, I've only used a reflector, not one flash! I never use flash outdoors. I've got a few people asking me if I changed camera, if I used strobes or flash, and I was telling them that it's the same old camera and that damn good reflector.
People just don't know to what extent these things can be used to achieve a great effect.That silver effect, I've been working on it since months. It started in my street pictures. I would sometimes do it on those street pictures and then I thought I would try it in fashion shoots. I used it for the shoot with Meeyin Qiu on the beach, and now I decided to implement it in my shoot with Simon. And the corrections and adjustments of course were made in PhotoShop, but there is not much difference, it's just a bit more dramatic. Kunal G. was in awe!
Interview with Simon Tuit
Age: 27
Measurements:
Height: 6'2"- approx 1m 88.
Chest: 41"- approx 104 cm.
Waist: 32"- approx 81 cm.
Neck: 15.5"- approx 39 cm.
Simon Tuit is a Dutch citizen, born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has lived in SA, the USA and in The Netherlands and has been living in London for the past three years. He's currently in what he terms a "quarter life crisis" and so is in between careers.
He studied film directing and screen writing and has been working on and off in TV production.
You have worked at ITV and you also worked in television in South Africa. How did you start working in television, and what are your current projects now?
While I was studying I auditioned for a local music television channel to host one of their shows. After a few auditions I got the job! (My best friend actually went to audition and I just tagged along for the fun of it, but I decided I might as well audition - and then I got the job). I was still presenting when I finished my studies, and that's how I ended up working behind the scenes for the channel I was presenting for. Once that show finished, I ended up auditioning for another show and got that job too, and that's how I kinda got my footing into TV.
It was luck that landed me a job at ITV in London; a friend of mine who worked there had a contact who needed somebody to help out for two weeks (without pay, haha) on a show - so I did that and then got hired for the duration of the show and I ended up hopping between a few shows while at ITV.
How did you start modelling? Is it something you think of pursuing seriously as a career?
My aunt, who is an editor for a newspaper in SA, had a friend who worked at a well-known agency in Cape Town (ICE models). She secretly sent some of my pictures to them and they called me saying they wanted me to go visit the JHB branch of the agency, and that's how I signed up with them. They had a really amazing team of agents, I still miss them!
I've never really thought about pursuing modelling as a very serious career - although it's offered loads of fun ventures. There are many creative things I'd like to do; modelling is something that is fun but also something that is very difficult and competitive, so I'm not banking on it to keep myself fed. It's a great way to meet other creative people though.
I actually haven't done any major campaigns or anything like that - I've worked with quite a bunch of really talented photographers and teams but it's all still climbing up the ladder to something big! At the moment it's quiet - haha - so let's hope the year picks up.
How did you arrive in Mauritius?
Mauritius was a two-week holiday to visit extended family who live there. It was my first time on a tropical island - and Mauritius definitely lived up to the expectations! Loved the palm trees, beach and sand and I did a few touristy things which I found quite amazing - but mostly it was just a nice relaxing break from London and the noise and bustle. It was great for the soul! I look forward to visiting again!
How was your experience as a model for Khatleen's photo shoot?
Working with Khatleen was in a word: FUN! I love chilled shoots where we all get along well and everybody gives ideas.
I had gotten into contact with Khatleen off ModelMayhem after I heard I'll be visiting Mauritius and I thought I might as well try to organise a shoot add a new something to my portfolio.
It was just myself, Khatleen and a friend of hers, Kunal, who did the styling. They were nice enough to drive all the way from the South to pick me up, and we shot in Pereybere close to where I was staying. It was BOILING hot (and we Europeans burn easily, haha). She did my makeup and the whole experience was very chilled and fun because we all got along very well, making jokes and just really enjoying what we were doing without it being stressful or forced. We were just three creative individuals playing around and we were fortunate enough to end up with some great results.
Do you have any future plans or goals that you are striving towards?
I'd like to try my hand at many creative things, so I can't say I have any specific goals I'm working towards, but I know that I definitely have to continue working on creative projects that challenge me and push my limits.
xoxo
Alex
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