London based Jim Alexandrou is the man behind the biggest fashion editorials and ad campaigns, as he works in one of the biggest retouching studios in the world, Digital Light Ltd. Due to the nature of his job post, he is not publicly known, although the final result of a project relies a lot on his participation and talent. Before entering the world of fashion photography, he was a fine artist who graduated with distinction from both the Athens and Madrid Universities of Fine Arts. Dimitris Alexandrou is highly appreciated at the moment, still his future plans include projects that combine his current work and artistic background.
An artist behind the biggest fashion shootings and campaigns. Do you see yourself like that?
That's me!Actually it sounds a lot more compelling than it really is.
So,what exactly do you do as a retoucher?
I create lies, digitally manipulate reality into something aesthetically appealing.
Are you present during the shootings or your work begins after them?
Well, usually my work begins afterwards in the post-production stage. There are many times though I need to be present during the shooting to supervise and create test files in order to help the client visualize the end product. This happens mostly in complex ones that ask for crazy comps or specific color styles.
Alexander McQueen
How do you feel working with the biggest names in the fashion industry?
I feel blessed!I mean I was lucky enough to work right from the start with the best photographers while in Greece and now I'm in a retouching studio in London where we do campaigns for Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior to name a few. We also retouch for all major fashion magazines such as italian Vogue, Numero, Interview, Harper's Bazaar, Love, GQ, Vanity Fair and many others.
Interview magazine, Dec 2010 issue
Can you recall the most surprising moment in your career until today?
Oh, nothing surprises me, unfortunately. My personality was like that since I was born. I create surreal places in my head and live in them because I find the external world boring and predictable. I'm nuts in other words...
Numero magazine
Is Steven Klein really not holding himself the camera when shooting a fashion editorial?
Rumours, rumours, rumours... I really don't know but I can tell you this. World reknown photographers like him can do anything they want, they have the vision, the idea.. That's the most important thing, not who presses the button.
Who do you think is the most contemporary fashion photographer at the moment? Or who do you prefer in terms of aesthetic approach?
Definitely Solve Sundsbo and not because I work for him. I truly believe he's got a special way of seeing things and captures them on film. His pictures are modern and captivating!
Vogue Russia, Nov 2010 issue
Describe us a collaboration you would be enthusiastic about and you are dreaming of.
Gottfried Helnwein is an artist I admire and I'd love to work with someday. As for fashion photographers I would have to say David La Chapelle.
Any future personal work projects?
Zillions. I know I want to do video, is something I haven't done yet and I believe it's a medium that will give me the freedom to combine different forms of art. I'd like to see my ideas in motion mixed with my music.
photo by William Baker
all photos above by Solve Sundsbo except from the Vogue Spain cover by Vincent Peters. Courtesy of Digital Light Ltd
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