Photography: Campbell Addy for LOVE Magazine, Fashion Editor: Ibrahim Kamara for LOVE Magazine
Ottawa Kwami (left) wears off-white wool eyelet trousers by Ludovic de Saint Sernin; hat by KYLE HO X KATHERINE ELIZABETH MILLINERY. King Owusu (right) wears velvet flared trousers by MATILDA ÅBERG; hat by KYLE HO X KATHERINE ELIZABETH MILLINERY
The path of self-actualization sometimes needs a break to come to light. Just ask photographer Campbell Addy who surprisingly made several creative breakthroughs during the quarantine, pushing himself to explore new spaces and techniques in his art. The breakthrough also lead to a new milestone – shooting the cover of LOVE Magazine his first project in over three months of pause. Styled by Ib Kamara, his signature close-up, sharply defined portraiture was replaced with full-length, soft-lit imagery with the hazy mood that long-exposure gives. The hiatus gave Addy a ‘reboot’ of sorts, freeing up any preconceived notions of the breakneck pace that creatives were supposed to work at. ‘…How we’d work before was so fast: we’d be shooting back to back, so we didn’t have time to sit and think about it.’ Addy chatted with Models.com to talk more of the important first, pursuing other creative mediums, and fighting through a creative slump.
Why is slowing down in fashion vital to your work?
I believe it should be vital to everyone’s practice. It’s unnatural to keep producing work at the rate that we all are. For me slowing down allows me to focus on the task at hand as well as allowing myself time to experiment, trial and error. I believe these are all integral parts of the creative journey and it shouldn’t be rushed.
Photography: Campbell Addy for LOVE Magazine, Fashion Editor: Ibrahim Kamara for LOVE Magazine
Ottawa Kwami wears upcycled knit drapework top by JAWARA; leather harness by ELLY BECKFORD; pleated organza skirt by YASMIN MANSOUR; Go-To pants and long black leather gloves both by LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN; black leather boots by NOK NOK
How has your gaze/perspective shifted as a photographer after quarantine?
Prior to quarantine, I didn’t realize how often I shot in the studio. The previous months allowed me to fall in love with outside spaces again. In addition to physical spaces, my goals have shifted into a space that I simply call ‘me’. Sounds odd but there’s a feeling of relaxation now when I think of the work I want to produce because it’s solely going to be based on the things I like and I am interested in. Prior to COVID-19, I’d say I was often swayed by what I THINK I should do not what I WANTED to do.
How did you re-calibrate while in quarantine? Where there any extensive shifts that you made for work or inspiration?
I think the main re-calibration that happened for me was the need to pursue other mediums to fulfill my creative urges. A man can’t live on bread alone, I don’t think I can or should live by just using the photograph as my only means to tell a story.
Photography: Campbell Addy for LOVE Magazine, Fashion Editor: Ibrahim Kamara for LOVE Magazine
Caren Jepkemei wears dress by JAIME MORALES CORTES; sandal boots with aluminium details by CAROLIN HOLZHUBER
Why did you want to experiment with new photography techniques?
To be quite frank I had a hard time creating work and found myself in a slump which led to this insane deep sense of apathy towards my own work, so I wanted to switch it up, experiment and feel in a similar way to how I felt when a student at Central Saint Martins.
As your first LOVE cover, what was the experience creating during drastically different conditions?
It was an experience of sheer joy to be working with the family again – Ibrahima, Virginie, Ammy, King, and some new additions like Ms. Caren and Ottawa. It just made me really grateful and humbled that I was healthy and able to share such a moment with an amazing team of creatives.
As a Ghanian yourself, what was the atmosphere like shooting Ghanian models Ottawa and King?
It was mega. It was so exciting to be shooting my fellow Ghanaian brothers. We all have such an immense pride and respect for each other that it was overflowing during the day.
Photography: Campbell Addy for LOVE Magazine, Fashion Editor: Ibrahim Kamara for LOVE Magazine
Caren Jepkemei wears red tulle blouse by MATILDA ÅBERG; sheer trousers with skirt by ELLY BECKFORD; gold-plated super bowl sphere earrings by GIOVANNI RASPINI
