Of distance and closeness.
“A photo shoot is a connection. An exchange. Revelation.”
A room. A woman. Sensuality. Michael Imhof seeks in his portraits the genuine, the unadulterated, the encounter. In this Parisian series, the enigmatic model Tezz becomes not just the subject but an integral part of that search. Initially distant, separated by a pane of glass. Trust grows, followed by letting go. Only after that do their gazes meet, allowing for closeness. Few things may be as fascinating as capturing such moments, making them visible, even for others.
“If I don’t open up as a photographer and reveal something about myself, my counterpart won’t either,” says Michael Imhof, “especially not for such intense images.” “I look for the moment of vulnerability. The moment of truth. I move with my counterpart. We engage with each other – and together we create something new.” For Michael Imhof, it’s not about nudity, but about naturalness. “Naked or clothed, for me the gaze is what’s decisive. Whether it’s sex appeal or sensuality: for me, it’s the eyes that contain all of this.”
This editorial was created in Paris. All images are unedited. Photographed with the Leica Q2 and the Leica M11.
Photography: Michael Imhof @menschfotograf
Model: @bosatezz
