Photographer Louise Reinke's latest shoot is inspired by the legendary Dionne Warwick

Date
19 June 2018

Dionne Warwick’s charisma and elegance was at the forefront of photographer Louise Reinke’s mind when she shot her series Walk on By for Under Pressure magazine. The German artist first got interested in photography at the age of 13 when her father entrusted her with a camera, sparking a life-long fascination with the craft. “It was during my university studies that I understood a picture’s potential to depict a convincing version of reality in a stylised way,” Louise tells It’s Nice That. “University was also where I met various fashion designers and got hooked on the art form.”

Walk on By came about after Louise met with stylist, Fréderic Huether, with whom she discussed her love of Dionne Warwick, the singer’s unique stage-presence and her spectacular music career — Warwick is the second most charted female singer ever. The result was a shoot centred around a young Dionne Warwick-inspired woman dancing with two frat boys. “I told Fréderic that I wasn’t afraid of anything, both story-wise and in terms of colours and stylistic complexity,” Louise says. The result is a theatrical series of images featuring bold colours and striking silhouettes that celebrate the dynamic protagonists. “I definitely think there are seats that need to be filled by powerful women and men that accept their feminine side in our society,” the photographer adds. Walk on By is a shoot brimming with unapologetic confidence as the characters elegantly pose in front of Louise’s lens.

“I was looking to convey the right emotion in a shot by fusing fashion with intuitive, natural poses,” Louise explains. In contrasting the intensely textural clothes with the stark, white backdrop, Louise places emphasis on the figures, their interactions and their group dynamic. From close-up portraits to overview shots of the dancing characters, Louise captures a range of intimate moments that hint at the nuances of the characters’ relationships. “When I take a photograph, I seek to alter my perception of the world. A photograph is a copy of reality and can, therefore, confront the viewer with particular frustrations and issues related to the real world. A picture has the possibility of breaking silences, which I like.”

Louise’s photography is focused on the human figure. As she continues to build on her existing body of work, the photographer aims to explore various possible visual representations of a person’s emotional intricacies. “Fashion will continue to play a major role but, as you’ve probably already noticed, I am interested in allowing vulnerability and feelings to shine through. A picture needs to tickle me.”

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Louise Reinke: Walk On By

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Louise Reinke: Walk On By

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Louise Reinke: Walk On By

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Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

Above

Louise Reinke: Walk On By

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About the Author

Daphne Milner

Daphne has worked for us for a few years now as a freelance writer. She covers everything from photography and graphic design to the ways in which artists are using AI.

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