NIK PATE: BALLAD OF / IDOL MAGAZINE

Followers of my blog may remember the post I wrote back in July dedicated to London based Artist/ Photographer Nik Pate, undoubtedly a true talent...and armed with his individual style and ethos, he has a VERY bright future ahead of him.

If you where to mix the vivid pop-culture of Lachapelle, the darkness of Tim Burton and the tongue-in-cheek of Terry Richardson...The result would be Nik's many faceted and extensive portfolio.

One of Nik's more recent projects has been a fashion editorial published exclusively on IDOL magazines infamous online editorial page, a collection of the BEST editorial spreads from the BEST up-and-coming talents in the worlds of fashion and art.

'BALLAD OF' sees Nik turn the darkness up a couple 'dozen notches, and along with the help of a stellar Hair/MU and styling team, he created a darkly seductive and mesmerising spread that looks fresh off a billboard ad!

The doll-like stances and gorgeous clothing, juxtaposed with the models clawed hands and distant stares create a menacing atmosphere not often seen in fashion editorials. The elongated limbs and sharp joints along with the cinched in waists are reminiscent of Morticia Addams; albeit younger, hotter and with a more extensive and expensive wardrobe.

Speaking of the clothes, no expense was spared in the wardrobe department...We have Chanel, Mcqueen, Burberry, Kimmie, Lacroix, YSL and not forgetting the STUNNING Balmain gown seen in the first and last image!

Once again Nik has blown me away with his unique approach to his art: not afraid of taking risks, thinking outside the box and doing things a little bit different to the rest. I cannot wait to see more twisted and Gothic imagery...'cus one things for sure, the boys got a talent for it!

The editorial can also be seen in full online over at IDOL Magazine

Full credits after the images!

Art Direction/Photography/Editing - Nik Pate (www.nikpate.com)
Styling - Rosie Williams (www.rosie-williams.com)
Hair - Aaron Blondell (www.aaronblondell.com)
Make-up - Claire Cox
Model - Sofie @ Oxygen 

NIK PATE

Allow me to introduce you to the audaciously creative photographer and visual artist, Nik Pate.

Nik's work is meticulous in detail, OTT with style and jam packed with character, with each shot telling a complete story. I LOVE the 'In your face' nature of his work, a visual assault that makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on one spot! You literally don't know where to look first!

Despite the business of the scenes, his work never seems overcrowded or cluttered. Instead the components of each shot complement each other, building up a fantastical image that only a maniac could come up with. Nik's work is fresh, imaginative and fun, and it's clear that he refuses to take himself seriously. Although his work is very tongue-in-cheek, often with b-movie inspired imagery...There is often a darker undertone to his work, an aspect that I hope will manifest fully in future shoots!

Nik could never be called a 'one trick pony', as his scope of work is impressive to say the least. Not only can he create mind-blowing landscapes, but he can also take the often mundane 'headshot' and create something amazing. Whether it's adding insects to the model, exaggerating the proportions of limbs or using avant garde accessories, Nik never fails to deliver an exciting photo. This guy DOES NOT do boring!

So it is with great pleasure that I can reveal a NIK PATE EXCLUSIVE! Earlier today Nik himself was kind enough to share with me an archived series titled 'Monsteropolis': An eyegasmic tale of alien invasion, zombie plagues and a struggle between good 'n' evil that would make any Hollywood producer proud.

You can delve into the Aladdins cave that is his past work over at his official website nikpate.com, definitely one to 'favourite' kids...This rascal is set to be HUGE.

You can follow the Nik's escapades on his NEW official twitter page twitter.com/Npshotme

If twitter's not your thing though, you can also follow him on facebook...facebook.com/NikPatecom