Meet the 6 Winning Fashion Photographers at Hyères Festival

Left: Sofia Okkonen discussing her work Right: Sofia Okkonen’s work with the jury

Sofia Okkonen

Based in Helsinki, fine art photographer Sofia Okkonen blends her backgrounds in art and fashion to produce an aesthetic all her own.  She told Cheek Magazine that her “Roses” series questions standards of femininity and it’s clear she utilises fashion as a stage for her argument. Her use of dress invites the viewer in through the gaze and yet maintains ownership by keeping a measure of guardedness.

Works by French photographer Nolwenn Brod at the festival.

Nolwenn Brod

French photographer and Gobelins School of the Image graduate Nolwenn Brod is changing the way we look at landscape portraiture. His photography challenges the relationship between the human form and landscape. He went home with the €6,000 Elie Saab Prize at Hyères, which is accompanied by a three week residency programme in Beirut.

Works by competing Dutch photographer and winner of the Still Life Prize Roos Quakernaat

Roos Quakernaat

Dutch photographer Roos Quakernaat was awarded the Still Life Prize at the festival this year. Her work depicts young, faceless women in bizarre, yoga-like poses. Her heavily contrived scenes are laced with physicality while quoting performance art.

French photographer Paul Rousteau presenting his work

Paul Rousteau 

French photographer Paul Rousteau was another notable candidate at the Hyères Festival this year. His photography draws heavily from art and fashion and uses elements of collage, paint and blur to create a unique, pictoral approach to the medium.

Luis Alberto Rodriguez

Berlin-based, Swedish-American photographer and Sleek Art artist Luis Alberto Rodriguez was the winner of the American Vintage Photography Award. His work depicts figures in various stages of costumed dress and is highly sculptural in nature, with particular attention being paid to light and texture.

Left: Daragh Soden’s work Right: Irish photographer Daragh Soden discusing his work.

Daragh Soden 

Irish photographer Daragh Soden was awarded the Hyères Grand Prix for his work in documenting teenage groups in his hometown of Dublin.  His photography blends documentary and portraiture and connects viewers to the subjects with an uncanny clarity.