As the saying goes in the good ol’ US of A, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Well, in London, while that same proverb may apply, it also seems like the fashionable get more fashionable, the artsy get artsy-er, the smart get smarter, and so on. Either there must be something truly inspirational about that royal soil over there, or it’s just that beach days are so far and few between that people have time to hone in on their respective crafts. (Why develop anything other than a beach bod when the sun’s a-blazin’?)
Whatever the case, William Gentle is pretty damn awesome at shooting photos. While he’s not necessarily out there doing anything incredibly revolutionary or unconventional (you definitely ain’t gonna find much in terms of shock factor here), he is taking gorgeous, sharp photos that ostensibly rely on the age-old maxim that simple is always best. Everything from his color palette to his environments to his lighting is relatively neutral here. Hell, even his models – with their cold, austere expressions upon their faces – are neutral.
But that’s why it works. Often times, it’s more about figuring out what works and adhering to that formula than trying to be the next fine arts superstar. And for William Gentle, the Brit who’s shot for the likes of Nylon and Russh, that recipe comes in the form of linking up with London’s best dressed and most attractive kids, decking ’em out in super fashionable garb, and then telling them not to smile. But hey, whatever works, right?
More at
williamgentle.com.