The reputation for fashion graduates that push the limits from the
Antwerp Academy is well know but this school has not only nurtured
fashion designers but jewellers, artists and fashion photographers too.
Dazed contributors Daniel Sannwald and Bruna Kazinoti are just a few of
this new generation of Antwerp-trained photographers and Frederick Heyman is
also one of them. Already working with Bruno Pieters, Christian
Wijnants and Henrik Vibskov, Heyman is making the most of a profession
that he accidentally fell into.
Dazed Digital: How you
became interested in fashion photography?
Frederick Heyman: It's more of a thing I fell
into.
A few years ago I was working on a project of my own. This
designer friend asked me to make him something similar, but in stead of
the model figures, we integrated real models.
It became more of a
collage of my work and his designs.
From this more assignments in
fashion photography came about.
DD: You collaborate with a lot of the
Antwerp designers - how did that come about?
Frederick Heyman: I believe it has again a lot
to do with the size of a town like Antwerp. Lots of people are closely
involved in events and inevitably meet. Works and ideas exchange more
easily.
DD: Where do you seek for
inspiration?
Frederick Heyman: I have
this huge folder with unfinished ideas and concepts, sort of
constructions and sets I still want to do. Next to this I have
many vintage books you find in flea markets - for example tricks to do
at home, 365 childgames for each day of the year and boyscout fun.
These books inspire me a lot in how to analyse actions and compositions
and also of course the inspiration of the designer or the theme of the
shoot is a main point where I can build on to create a
serie
s.
DD: You are also a trained graphic
designer, how do you combine it with the
photography?
Frederick Heyman: It's more
a cross over thing for me, I dont see it as or graphic design or
photography
. These two media mix up smoothly as you work on an image,
I believe the graphic background gives a different way of interpreting
composition. The edges between various media nowadays for me are
small.
DD: What are your plans for the future?
Frederick Heyman: Keep on
doing this and more of it, concrete futureplans are hard to make. This
map with must do projects isn't finished yet and increases each
day.
DD: Why
do you think Antwerp is such a fashion town?
Frederick Heyman: It's legacy on fashion from
the last 20 years and how international it is despite its size.
Lots
of things are developing on various fields, but I believe the main
reason for it is fashion.
DD: What is your favorite
designer?
Frederick Heyman: For the
moment I intensely enjoy Vibskov's works, projects and
actions.
DD: What makes you happy?
Frederick Heyman: When the puzzle pieces
converge bit by bit
.
