i'm a winner, not a wiener

Black 13: On set day one RCM/Workshop retrospective

Simon and Rhianon

We shot the first day of our Black 13 RCM/Workshop 30-year retrospective with Russ Flatt at Kingsize studios today. The Workshop/Helen Cherry/Street Life archive is massive so Black fashion director Rachael Churchward has already spent the best part of two days picking, choosing and styling it up with assistant fashion editor for the shoot, Derya Parlak. This made for a great days shooting with models; Levi and Sakura @ 62, McInnes, Simon and Lauren @ Nova, Sabine and Frankie @ August and Lewis Clegg @ Clyne. Hair editor Greg Murrell and able assistant Jannine Jones created a range of looks to suit the times, and Rachel Johanson and Olivia Palmer applied some simple, beautiful make-up. Hard-working fashion assistants were Jessica Grubisa and Yun Do. Here are a selection of largely behind the scenes shots from the day...

Levi and Sabine

Lauren

Lauren, make-up by Rachel Johansen

Assistant fashion editor Derya Parlak and Rhianon

Olivia Palmer and Rhianon

Jannine Jones dries Simon's curls

 Jess Grubisa is the master shoe taper!

Backstage business

Black 13 - Robert Erdmann and Shirley Kurata shoot The Latebirds in L.A

Robert Erdmann has delivered a fab story for Black 13 on an Orange County, Los Angeles moped 'gang' called The Latebirds. We love the whole concept of a moped gang so have dedicated a swathe of pages to the documentary style story, which is styled by Shirley Kurata. Shirley is an L.A based stylist who has worked with plenty of indie and mainstream music stars and styled for mags across the US and Europe. Shirley's boyfriend is the Latebird's head honcho and we love the styling and attention to detail on the shoot. Here are a couple of preview shots and out-take images.

Robert came to stay with us for a few days over the weekend, on his way home from Sydney and it was great to spend some time with him. He is obviously an incumbent Black photographer, a great conversationalist and has a great eye for an interesting image or face as the shot below will attest. We picked him up from the Waiheke ferry after he had spent a night at the Boatshed Hotel and he had snapped this guy on the ferry on the way over. He has a great face and great personal style so if anyone knows who he is please post your answer on our Facebook page - we're keen to know. This weekend we are shooting twenty great models over two days for our RCM/Workshop retrospective so will blog that on both days...

Who is he?

Black 13: Bright Light, White Rain

We are in the middle of Black 13's local shooting schedule, and fashion week is close. Time has been of the essence over the past week or so, hence the lack of posts. Last Friday in an abandoned warehouse we shot, and surprise, surprise, it rained. The warehouse, warts and all, provided some shelter. Stephen Tilley photographed 62's flame-haired international Peter David alongside his "little sister", Eve @ August. Rachael Churchward styled, Greg Murrell on hair, Shirley Simpson on make-up and grooming. Jessica Grubisa, impressed as the more-than-able fashion assistant.

Eve

Male model Peter David

Hair editor Greg Murrell (Left) watches while Stephen Tilley shoots

Karping about with Kapura

Last week we popped into our favourite watering hole, Ponsonby Social Club, for a quick tipple while the motorway was congested with traffic and met Kapura Kaka, from Matawaia, Northland. Having studied fashion design at AUT and graduated from the fashion degree programme in 2009, the talented young designer has since been working on a small denim range for girls and guys, a fresh take on the classic five pocket cut. We were impressed with her concepts and lateral thinking and wondered what her influences might be: "My influences are always growing and changing" she enthused "I like to check out photography and art books and also like conceptual designers like Aitor Throup, Comme Des Garcons and Margiela." Kapura has "a huge passion for the denim fabric" and wishes to learn and create new denim concepts from her space within the SOBI collective group in High Street. We also loved the energy of her look book starring consummate barman Johnny Harnett and fellow fashion designer Ella Moore. Shot by James Watkins and styled by Kaka, Moore and Sera Taylor, Karps is indeed, a breath of fresh air....

Black 13: Michael Schwartz shoots Sara Blomqvist in Berlin

Above: Armani Jeans campaign and Muse editorial

Black NYC photographer Michael Schwartz knows a good face when he sees one, and clearly Sara Blomqvist has a wonderful visage. The Swedish native has had a short but stellar career sprinkled with achievements; face of Armani Jeans, Missoni and one of the faces of D&G as shot by Mario Testino. Her photographer role call is also starting to build; Mert & Marcus, Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Sebastian Kim and Craig McDean, she has walked for established houses from Lagerfeld to Louis Vuitton. Schwartz captured her strength in a tough editorial whilst on a sojourn to Berlin for Black 13.