MABE with Kimono
Studio portrait session with Adox HR-50, Leica M4-2 and Summicron 50mm. Minimalist geisha aesthetic.
MABE agreed to step in front of the camera with admirable patience. The result is one of the studio portrait sessions I’ve been most satisfied with in a long time.
Equipment and film
I worked with the Leica M4-2 and Summicron 50mm, loaded with Adox HR-50. It’s one of the best options for studio sessions with flash: the fine grain and greyscale range of this film are quite simply spectacular. The 35mm format allows a freedom of movement that medium format cameras don’t offer to the same degree.
The kimono in the images is mine. Having something personal appear in a session always adds a layer of meaning.
Styling
Very simple lip makeup, with a subtle nod to the Japanese geisha aesthetic. Nothing fussy: the weight of the image is carried by the fabric’s texture, the light and the person.
I’ll be sharing more photographs from the same session taken with different cameras and film combinations soon. If you’re interested in a similar session, get in touch and we’ll set a date.
