by Nahp Suicide

IvyLlamas is from Barcelona, Spain, and has been shooting for Suicide Girls since 2007.

How did you first get involved with SuicideGirls?

It was in 2007. I was studying photography. One day, I had the pleasure to meet Albertine and Diaz-Arri (two staff photographers). I was seeing how they work and I thought it was really interesting and funny. Then I met some Spanish SG models and they trusted me to shoot a set for the community. Since them, I’ve shot more and more sets. At first I shot many creative sets, but you can see the line where I now try to work with SG in a soft style. Really, I love both styles.

What’s your background photography-wise?

I’ve studied art all my life, but I never finished my formal education. Yes, I was a “bad boy” in the school. You know, drinking… smoking… I was born in a suburb. This was not easy. I started to study the arts ‘cause the only thing I was interested in was music and art. I had many problems in the school with teachers. I think we had different points of view. Finally, I tried to find my own way. And here I am. I can’t live without creating things – music and art.

What was the first photo you had published?

I think around 2006 or 2007 in some Barcelona fanzine.

How would you describe your style?

It’s really hard for me to describe my own style. I was always a fan of surrealism and metaphorical images. I want to feel seeing a picture. Sometimes you see a picture, and probably you don’t understand what it means, but I ask, what do you feel? That’s the most important for me. On SG, my style is really soft (lately) but I try to express the atmosphere. Cold, hot, loneliness, melancholy, sensuality… Like I said before, I want you feel.

What gear do you use?

At the moment I use a Canon 5D and a 50mm 1.4. Then for my personal or clients work I use 400w flashes and a million self made inventions.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

Good question. It really is important, of course, but it’s SO important to have a perfect capture first. I think when you obtain a good capture it’s amazing to work with it in Photoshop. But if you have a bad concept to work with, bad light, bad model, Photoshop can’t do miracles. Photoshop is a good tool if you think before.

What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing sets?

Daily life. I love to take the reality of daily life and transform it into a metaphor. I want to talk in your same language, with the difference that sometimes you haven’t the words to explain it. I love to crash these words and make you feel what I’m talking about. Sometimes a simple smile in the underground can inspire me.

What is your favorite image?

Wow! Hard question. I have to say I’m really critical with my own work. I shoot a set and two days after I think it should be better. But I have to say I’ve done some interesting sets for SG. For example, I’ve worked many times with DeeDee and I think we did and amazing work. She’s really creative and always invites me to play to her games. Then I have to say my favorite work is the last one. Devushka, Lullabee, Lyona, Tupou, Ukka, and for me, one of my favorites, the last one I shot with Crysta. Yes, she’s my partner, but “Atrapada en el Blanco” is one of my best works. Really special and real

Tell us why it’s your fave and how you achieved it?

With Dee Dee we did the most creative sets I made for SG. Devushka has this kind of mystery, which is so easy to make into poetical and beautiful atmospheres. And finally, with Crystal, she’s hot and fragile, and a perfect model to feel these feelings.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph that you haven’t? (And tell us why)

I always think to shoot more fashion stuff, but it’s hard to work it…I have to say that photographers need to live. At the moment my work doesn’t allow me to dedicate time to personal projects, but this next year I’ll start to do new personal works. There are so many things I want to shoot. Every day I want to shoot new things.

For more on IvyLlamas visit his SG Profile and website.

Related Posts:

In Focus: The Photographers of SuicideGirls feat. Lavezzarro

by Nahp Suicide

Lavezzarro comes from South America, but now splits her time between London, Berlin and wherever the wind takes her.

How did you first get involved with SuicideGirls?

Monik’s set was my first time shooting a naked girl. I’m glad it got accepted. That was in 2005 and how it began.

What’s your background photography-wise?

I dropped out of Fashion Design University in the 4th semester as I noticed it wasn’t my thing, and I decided to learn photography without a school. I worked for different studios as assistant where I could learn something, and the main thing I learnt was that I dislike studios. So I kept on doing my thing – I still am learning actually.

What was the first photo you had published?

It probably was a band shot I did for an ex-boyfriend’s band back in 2004 when they were releasing a CD and got featured on a major newspaper.

How would you describe your style?

I am very honest. I like to photograph the girls how they are. I don’t tell them how to dress or to pretend to be something, and I think that can be seen in the images. I’m a bit of dark person, so you won’t be seeing rainbow cupcake pictures coming from me. I am also not a technical person, so I won’t be freaking out looking for the perfect images. I like to capture what happens and I like spontaneity. I think it’s raw.

What gear do you use?

All Canon lenses and body and few analogs, which are my favorites.

How important is Photoshop in your final images?

Not very. I do it very little to none, as I have no talent editing. Now I have amazing Photoshoppers working with me. They can retouch much better than I, but I ask them to keep it really natural. I can’t stand airbrushed images.

What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing sets?

I listen music 24/7 and I am addicted to information. I have to be watching, reading, listening, consuming new stuff all the time – everything can inspire me because I am open to it.

What is your favorite image?

Tell us why it’s your fave and how you achieved it?

It is one of my favorites because it is simple, sexy, natural. Sums up what I like to show; the girls how they really are. The lady was kind of shy and we couldn’t communicate very well because of a language barrier, but I could see in her eyes she had the flame and I think it was properly captured in her whole set.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph that you haven’t? (And tell us why)

I really want to photograph as many people as possible, travel more, discover more, so everyone that I haven’t photographed yet I want to photograph one day. And everyone I already have done, I want to do again.

For more on Lavezzarro visit her SG and Facebook profiles, and see her portfolio at www.lavezzaro.com.

by Nahp Suicide

I came across this truly unique car art while cruising online, and really wanted to share it you. The man responsible, SlAnG 500, owns and operates a car customizing shop in the OC. He’s been building show cars for 15 years, and does “the art stuff on the side.” SlAnG 500 uses nothing but Sharpies to do his artwork, which combines graffiti and tattoo design elements.

[..]

by Nahp Suicide

Coca-Cola brings unexpected happiness with a vending machine that, when deployed and engaged, dispenses way more than a bottle of fun-tastic flavored corn syrup and water. After slipping in a buck, or however much it costs to sate your thirst these days, unwitting users on a college campus were deluged by Coke bottles, which they proceeded to share with their peers. Others got bouquets of flowers or balloon animals from seemingly disembodied hands, and somehow a 20-foot sub even appeared out of the 18-inch deep machine.

[..]