Page 62 - Advertising Annual 57

SARAH WILMER
Wilmer scoffs at any idea that she has “arrived” while acknowledging that she is in an enviable position as
a commercial photographer. No real line divides her personal work and her professional output—clients come to her because they want her to do what she already does. There is a freedom there, as well as an affirmation of precisely how unique her images are. But Wilmer isn’t stopping to smell the roses anytime soon. For her, photo- graphy is still the same thing she fell in love with all those years ago in Missouri.
“The ritual of photography is the best part,” she muses. “Getting there, having your tools ready, working with people and engaging with the world—that’s where the magic is.” ca
This page: “I chose a low angle for this shot to depict Neko Case as the heroine that she is. On a horse, ‘air bow-and-arrowing,’ a giant grin on her face while the wind blows her hair—everything adds to this idea of the fantastic, pure-hearted warrior archetype. And whenever I see an opportunity to incorporate an animal into one of my photographs, I seize it. I was lying in the grass, directing Neko on her horse and making sure the moon was still in the frame. All of a sudden, I turned to my left to see a little tiger-striped gray tabby bounding full force across the field before jumping all over me. I yelled, ‘This is the best photo shoot ever!’” Sarah Gilbert, photo editor; The Guardian, client.
“Working with Lea DeLaria and her team to conceptualize and execute the artwork for her House of David album was a tremendous opportunity. Everyone contributed to the great energy on set, and I appreciated Lea’s professionalism, creativity and humor. Once we finished the cover shot, we experimented with the projections and set pieces. This image, one of the last we took, is my favorite of the series. I love how the green of her eye pops in her intense gaze and how her face aligns with the projection, playing with the viewer’s perception of who is who and what is what.” Stephen Smith, art director; Chelsea Fairless, creative director; Lea DeLaria, client.
Right: “For a commission for the band Judson Claiborne, I listened to the band’s music and conceptualized imagery. In the wilds of Michigan and Indiana, we waded into swamps, climbed cliffs, ran around in fields and projected a drawing of a man onto the flames of a huge fire at night. Throughout the weeklong shoot, we used smoke to create atmosphere and allude to that which is all around us, but rarely seen. I made a book to accompany the album, as well as the album artwork.” Judson Claiborne, client.
“While traveling with friend, musician, artist and energy healer Jasmine Golestaneh, I photographed a project with her, her grandmummy, the oldest oak in the country, and a Frenchman and his flying cats. For this portrait of Jasmine, we were alone, and I felt the weight of the gloomy dusk light and the strong wind coming from the sea. I love how the photograph balances the wild and the wistful.” Personal work.
“This photograph became the cover artwork for Judson Claiborne’s album Time and Temperature. Something rather mysterious exists about this zebra, which found its way into a foggy wood. The Midwest is a strange place!” Judson Claiborne, client.
64
Advertising Annual 2016