GABRIEL ISAK
BLACK AND BLUE DIMENSIONS
Combining surrealistic and melancholic states, Swedish fine art photographer Gabriel Isak delves deep into the inner world of dreams and psychology with faceless figures and cold Scandinavian colour palettes. Using the X1D-50c and both the XCD 3,5/30 and XCD 3,5/45 Lenses, Gabriel features himself in an eerie, low-lit environment to portray a painterly scene that transports the viewer to an otherworldly dimension.
APERTURE: F/8
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/20 SEC
FOCAL LENGTH: 30MM (XCD 3,5/30)
SELF-PORTRAITS WITH THE X1D
Shooting abstract self-portraits in much of his personal work, Gabriel used the X1D’s interval self-timer system to ease this process. Instead of having to leave his position to set the timer each time, he was able to keep his placement and try the shot again before finally getting the right look. Shooting in a low-lit studio space, Gabriel shot his images at an ISO of 1600, capturing all the details in the figures and abstract setups. Using the wide-angle XCD 30mm, he shot the whole set perfectly while opting for the XCD 45mm when photographing tighter, cropped portraits.
APERTURE: F/8
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/45 SEC
FOCAL LENGTH: 45MM (XCD 3,5/45)
I created the project in a small studio space using minimal ambient light in order to give an illustrative mood to the images. I put together graphic sets that I color blocked with the help of white, black and blue background paper cut in different designs for each photograph. Using myself as the model, I wore both a black and a blue bodysuit that obscured my whole identity (which were later merged together in post), creating an internal representation of the self and photographed the project using the X1D’s interval self-timer. In the image where the spheres appear weightless, I hung those from the ceiling using fish wire. I also spray-painted eggs in white and black that I then attached to the paper the table was covered in (see image below).
APERTURE: F/8
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/30 SEC
FOCAL LENGTH: 30MM (XCD 3,5/30)
BLACK AND BLUE
Creating an interplay between light and dark, Gabriel used a black and blue color combination with hints of white to bring light to his surrealistic scenes. For Gabriel, black represents darkness, the unknown and a darker side of ourselves that everyone tries to live with. Blue expresses the origins of the self along with loneliness, melancholia, and existentialism.
APERTURE: F/9,5
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/45 SEC
FOCAL LENGTH: 45MM (XCD 3,5/45)
ANOTHER DIMENSION WITH THE X1D
Impressed by the ease of use of the X1D and the level of detail the camera could capture, even when used in a low-lit environment with 1600 ISO, Gabriel produced the highest quality files he had ever worked with. The high resolution also allowed him to make huge prints, allowing him to see all the small details up close and let the viewer become fully immersed in the scenes.
The X1D delivered the highest quality files I’ve ever worked with.
APERTURE: F/9,5
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/45 SEC
FOCAL LENGTH: 30MM (XCD 3,5/30)
ABOUT GABRIEL ISAK
Swedish photographer Gabriel Isak found himself drawn to photography in 2006 as a way to battle through depression and express his deeper state of mind. Graduating from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography in 2016, it was there that he developed his distinctive style combining surrealism with melancholy in the fine art genre. With his work, Gabriel aims to shine a light on mental health and human experiences that people deal with daily. See more of his work here.
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