Did you ever think that you could make a fashion statement by adorning yourself with water bottles? New York-based photographer Tomaas proves that you can! His series of beauty shots entitled “Plastic Fantastic” feature an assortment of everyday plastics, like forks and straws, as fashion gear. He takes recycling to a whole other level!
We got in contact with Tomaas and he was kind enough to answer a few questions. Make sure to check out the interview, below.
Where are you from? Could you please give us a brief description about yourself?
I am originally from Hamburg but moved to New York City many years ago. I am self-taught and would consider myself more of a location photographer. I feel the stories are often so much richer and interesting to look at and that is probably connected to my passion for photojournalism. My style has often been described as edgy, vibrant, and dramatic yet subtle.
The set screams of originality and creativity. What inspired you to create this series?
Whenever I shoot a beauty story there needs to be strong conceptual element that gets me excited. I've done a beauty story called “Eco-Beauty” where we mainly used materials that accompany us in daily life. The series was published and also exhibited at the Icon Gallery in Chelsea NYC. The team I worked with had so much fun putting this shoot together that we thought it would be great to do a similar idea but this time focus on one material only. Our biggest challenge was selecting which looks we were not going to shoot. We had created so many fantastic ideas, but in the end we needed to narrow it down.
Why did you choose to work with plastic?
The more we researched the more we became aware of the importance of plastic. “Plastic” seems to be everywhere these days and because of its versatility there is no denying that it is one of the most commonly used materials in today's society. You could almost say that plastic is the “new black” or, as we like to say, it's simply “fantastic.” We were also fortunate enough to find Lisette from Ford models who was a great fit for our concept. Overall, this series represents a story that compliments this material.
How do you stay creative?
Fortunately, I live in New York City which represents a limitless source of inspiration for me. With its high level of diverse people, occupations, foods, art, economics and social status, and on and on, there is much for my creativity to thrive on.
Simultaneously, when you are surrounded by such a high concentration of talented and eager artists looking to perfect their craft, it motivates you to become better and to always keep working. Everyone is constantly trying to be the best at what they love. You really can't ask for much more of a creative atmosphere than that.
What's next up for you?
I love traveling. I am eager to incorporate the visual treats this globe has to offer into my work and to see what the outcome will be. Hopefully, that will be next.
