News // 8 News by SCHÖN! Magazine
The editorial ‘Wild Horses’ was photographed by Frederike Wetzels for SCHÖN! Magazine. The breakout stars, alongside models Farah Larah Laaridhi, Farah Hosni, Meriam Denguezli, Firas Ouali, and Yassin Welhazi, are the wild horses Rakki and Arraf.
Post production of the spread was in the hands of RETOUCHED-STUDIOS, Hamburg.
Art direction and fashion came from Sabine Berlipp, who styled the models in looks by La Flamme, Perfection, and Diesel, among others. Hair & makeup: Salima.
CREDITS
photography + creative direction: Frederike Wetzels @ Boschtobanrap
client: Schön! magazine
project: wild horses
post production: Retouched-Studios
art direction + fashion: Sabine Berlipp @ stiliste
models/dancers: Farah Larah Laaridhi, Farah Hosni, Meriam Denguezli, Firas Ouali, and Yassin Welhazi
hair & makeup: Salima
horses: Rakki + Arraf
production: Andrea Philippi + Discover Tunisia
special thanks: Tunis Fashion Week and all the designers + Britta @ LOOPING & Riadh
location: Cafè Nomade
23.10.2024
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Monica Menez, known for her quirky and unusual visual concepts, is once again focusing on innovation and AI. For Swiss magazine SCHÖN!, Monica created a photo spread that asks questions you might not have even thought of: **Baguette anyone?**
The spread created with the assistance of artificial intelligence combines avant-garde style with a pinch of absurd humor – exactly what Monica is all about. With her tongue-in-cheek approach, she stages the seemingly mundane and transforms it into visual art. A baguette becomes a symbol of something much bigger – a piece of everyday culture that, in Monica’s world, becomes a stage for creativity and eccentricity.
If Monica’s personal path to AI had a name, it could be something along the lines of ‘Between Frustration and Fascination’. “I have always been someone who likes trying new things – which is why making the switch from photography to film has been so much fun for me. I love to constantly evolve the way I work and to experiment.
When I first started experimenting with artificial intelligence in early 2023, I was, however, deeply disappointed. My initial attempts at Midjourney were nothing short of frustrating – the results were too unpredictable, and I couldn’t express my ideas the way I wanted. So I put the tool away and didn’t touch it for a year.
Then, in early 2024, I took a new shot at it – et voilà: thanks to a lot of updates, so much had changed. Suddenly, I realized the enormous potential AI actually has. Since then, I have spent nearly 500 hours with it, trying to figure out how to generate images in my signature style. Slowly but surely, I think I have gotten the hang of it. For me, AI is now just another creative tool I like to experiment with.
In March 2024, Monica Menez and retoucher Ivonne Veith founded the collective ‘SyntheticStyles. We wanted to know, what exactly is her mission? “Showing creatives – above all photographers – how they can use AI in their work. For the beginning of next year, we’re planning a small but exquisite SyntheticStyles Festival in Stuttgart – there will be exhibitions, talks, and plenty of opportunities for exchange and networking.
Of course, I also see the challenges that AI brings with it for our industry. Big changes are definitely coming. Which is why Ivonne and I have recently held a keynote for the BFF, which we called ‘Between Skepticism and Innovation – Why Photographers Should Try AI’. Our goal: we want to encourage photographers and creatives to explore this brave new world before deeming AI a threat.”
17.10.2024
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13.08.2024
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