On the heels of shooting Miles McMillan for a summer spread, photographer Sebastian Faena reunites with The Daily Front Row. Named 2016’s Photographer of the Year at the magazine’s Fashion Media Awards, Faena snaps a self-portrait for The Daily Front Row’s latest cover. Embracing elegant lines in a trim tuxedo, Faena is joined by Breakout Model of the Year, Kaia Gerber.
Related: Sebastian Faena Photographs James Corden for British GQ Cover
Asked about what he loves about photography, Faena reveals, “The connection with the subject. I’m really shy in real life. I keep a distance from people I’m not close with, but when I’m with someone taking pictures, I become both the photographer and the subject in a way.” The 35-year-old photographer continues, “I become them and they become me. When I’m taking pictures, the relationship with my subjects is much more intense than most of my relationships in real life.”
Sebastian Faena The Daily Front Row Photo Shoot
Sharing his thoughts about the technical side of photography, Faena counters, “I understand natural light very well. I’m very visual and I like to be quiet, looking at things. To be honest, equipment is a bit of a nuisance to me. I tend to stumble on the cables and be blocked by the light in front of my subjects and my set.”
He explains, “They don’t let me think. Early on, I had to find a way to get rid of that. I live in a fantasy, so for me to have cables and plugs and electricity and lights blocking my sight is a problem. I’ve had to learn to make the most out of the light that God gives us.”
Discussing modern photography, Faena adds, “The cameras of today can read light in a very low exposure, so I don’t need to reproduce that with lighting. It just keeps more distance between me and the subject. And it’s about what the subject is giving to you. The emotion is all that matters. It’s more about the flirt and the game and the beauty of it all.” Read more on FashionWeekDaily.com.
