Julian talks about his latest project, “Snow Angels” for BBH London and Lynx.

“As the temperature rose in Australia I went over to shoot snow in London.  The images were shot in various locations around London over three days. Our location manager Richard Ellingham had a task finding locations that would allow us to lay down fake snow. Armed with printed  layouts of lewd shapes in the snow Richard approached various councils, avoiding schools and religious organisations.
We ended up in a carpark in Old St, a suburban street in Hackney, and a shopfront in croydon.

All the snow was set dressed in camera by the people of Snow Business – they have probably had a hand in every film you have ever seen with snow in it.  The snow is made from paper fibre and comes out of a cannon-y tube thing. I am still getting dust out of my camera.

The snow angel shapes were carefully researched by the crew, with  the pre pro meeting with the client discussing double cowboy, reverse double cowboy, 69, and various permutations of doggy style.  They were further discussed at length on set, and when words failed occasionally mimed.
Our first shoot day was the carpark – 900 square meters of snow laid out was by far logistically the hardest. We know the shapes worked when a few office workers in nearby buildings came by to ask what was going on and give some helpful opinions.  I fought back the urge to tell them it was an ad for Cornflakes, and watch them try to figure that one out.
Next night we found ourselves in a gentrified area behind Commercial Rd flower market, battling rain, some of the locals stickybeaking tried to explain what was going on to their kids.
Then, for the shop front, and by unfortunate logistical timings, we made the difficult journey to Croydon on a Saturday night.  I’d rather not talk about it.
Although they have only been out for a few days they have already been chosen as Print winner this week on Best Ads on TV.com”

Thank you Julian for regaling us with your on set tales!

We’re very sad in the Wolkenstein camp.  Sam Haskins, after suffering depression following a stroke, has taken his own life.  Sam was a fellow Highlander and a brilliant photographer.  I’m not sure what else to say. A legend, but words sound trite at a time like this.

Click here to see his CNN interview, shot the day before the stroke.

Here is a brilliant portrait of Craig Calhoun.  We had to beg Chris to spill his secret lighting technique.  It’s deceptively simple but we want to keep it to ourselves as it’s a really inventive way to get an ‘effect’ in camera, without drowing the subject in post production.  The portrait is of funk bassist Craig Calhoun.

Our good friend Katie Ell (who some of you might know as Katie Wilson) has curated and produced the most amazing event we think we have seen all year.  It’s an exhibition of homeless people by homeless people.  It’s a self portrait series and it’s part of a program to help build confidence, vocational aspiration and to give the sitters an avenue for artistic expression.  The private view is November 26th, 5-9pm at St Mungo’s in Covent Garden.  The details are below on the flier.  Go along and support a peer who is actually making a difference.  Completely inspiring.  Well done Katie.  We’re proud of you.

by nominating someone good.  Needless to say, I am talking about my gang here.  To show your support in a practical way and help the agency in its quest for world domination, click here.  And remember, the categories are Julian and Chris Mollison = Advertising, Chris Searl = documentary, fashion, editorial and portraiture, Rich = fashion and editorial, Pete = fashion and editorial, and Gen = fashion and editorial.

Let’s shake up the pro-sumer mag industry this year!

We just got our new cards and we’ve posted most of them out.  We’ve done boy sets and girl sets as some of the cards look a bit more like pin ups than comp cards.  They always seem to make it onto the pin boards so this time I have put our logo on the front instead of back.  Here’s Lucy working like a slave, stuffing envelopes.  (This is to prove to our artists how hard we work for them.  Please make a note when visiting Mecca to buy your tireless agents Chrissie presents.)

Beci and Jonathan are exhibiting with our other favourite person, Jeremy on the 27th November. It’s to raise money for Youth with Cancer.  Is there a worthier cause?  There are lots of familiar names up there, but we are proud to say that the three in the RW family are most definitely the best ones.  (You should be able to read the venue, times, and dates on the flyer which is stunning by the way.)

Jonathan, Annie and Shane have been nominated in the category ‘Best Collective’ at this year’s FBI Radio/SMAC awards.

Click here to vote and show your support:

http://www.smacawards.com/

The Rebecca Wolkenstein Traveling Show is a touring exhibition of personal work by our photographers and illustrators.  The show includes behind the scenes images from Chris Searl’s time on set with Spike Jonze.  The images from Where the Wild Things Are appear with kind permission from Warner Bros.  Gen Kay is showing stills from her super 8 film titled “Holly’, shot at sunrise on the Victorian coast.  Beci Orpin has created a two meter high laser cut ‘memory’ tree.  Other pieces include photographic screen printed mirrors by Jonathan Zawada, a limited edition sketch on canvas by Andrew van der Westhuyzen, and a giant piece of optically unnerving wallpaper by Julian Wolkenstein.
The show has traveled to Publicis Mojo and is currently at DDB.  Eight other major agencies will host the show in the new year, with work by new signs Richard Freeman, Chris Mollison and Pete Daly being added.

Here is Rich’s story which is out in the current issue of Karen magazine.  We have just included a selection of our favourite shots to encourage you to go out and buy the magazine!  Rich is shooting in Europe at the moment and is back and availabel from 3rd December.