What do you get when you put a photographer, a supermodel, packs and packs of out-of-date Polaroid film, guns, horses, feather headdresses and a large dose of psychedelia in a remote desert? Well, you get ‘Pulp‘ of course! A sunburnt, bloodsoaked riot of psychedelic strangeness, ‘Pulp’ is a collaboration between photographer Neil Krug and Supermodel Joni Harbeck that is as far from contemporary fashion as you could imagine, and all the better for it. Having caused somewhat of an internet stir in the last few months thanks to the popularity of Neil’s Flickr account, the stupendously creative duo are in the process of publishing a coffee table art-book of their photographs and are selling a selection of highly limited, luxury prints via their ‘Pulp’ website. We got the chance to talk to the pair recently and find out more about these unique images;
So tell us more about you both, your backgrounds, the things you’ve worked on previously and how you got together…..
We are both from the midwest, kansas to be more specific.
Joni: I have been traveling around the world from the U.S. to Europe to Australia modeling off and on for the past 10 years… I also have a degree in archaeology and am working on a jewelry line called ‘Plume by Joni’.
Neil: I have been working in video and photography for the past few years, as well… I have also been working on my first full-length feature film for the last two years called ‘Invisible Pyramid‘ as well as music videos for Ladytron, White Flight and Boards of Canada.
We met about a year ago thought a mutual friend who hired us to work for her in Dallas, Texas for a weekend, we were friends for a couple of months which led to dating which led to ‘Pulp‘ which led to now…
You’ve become a bit of a Flickr phenomenon since you began posting your ‘Pulp’ pictures earlier this year, did you expect such a positive response?
Our exposure through Flickr was a bit of a surprise, especially since we were just shooting and having fun, we love the pictures, of course, but didn’t quite expect the size of the positive response from the public. It was because of this response that we decided to put together a high-end art book and it has taken off into the snowball known as ‘Pulp Art Book & Prints‘.
Where does the inspiration for this beautifully fuzzy late 60s, early 70s style photography come from?
We are both inspired by the gritty, rawness of the 60s/70s both in the art and film scene happening during that time, as well as the cultural dynamics and restructuring that was occuring. We both love that vintage touch and it shows in the photos we work on together.
We understand you’ve used out of date Polaroid film for the shoots, what do you think it brings to the photographs?
The best part of using Polaroid film is the instant gratification… aim, shoot, and then a tangible photograph in full form and color within a few minutes. When it’s expired there is even more of a chance of the colors playing against themselves, warping, fading, or not taking at all… it leaves it more to chance and is an even bigger surprise as to what kind of photograph appears, let alone if the image is in focus and the angle is what was intended. Also, using dated film to capture our inspirations of a vintage past seemed perfect. When it all comes together it’s a bigger feeling on satisfaction than if we played with the digital camera enough times to get it perfect.
You must use some modern kit too, are the photos retouched or straight from the can?
We always scan the photographs digitally and retouch the pictures somewhat, some more than others. Polaroid leaves a pocked marked effect on every photo… sometimes we want this effect, other times we want the image to look flawless. Some images are merely lightened a hair or darkened a hair, other photographs we have color treated.
How do you work as a team, does one of you direct the shoot or is it all a two way thing? Do the stories for the scenes evolve during the shoot or is it meticulously planned?
The best time of this entire project is when we are shooting, we have so much fun and we work really well together. These ideas come from both of us. Usually one of us has a vague idea of something and the other one takes it to the next level and it continues to grow and define itself. All the scenes in the shoots are fairly vague ideas at first, but everything really evolves in entirety when we are on location actually photographing it. Something about being at the scene, in character, with the props, really opens up the idea of what we wanted to capture.
Most of the photos look to be set in pretty remote locations, have you ever got yourself in trouble out there in the desert?
In terms of the shoots for ‘Pulp’ we have been fairly lucky with our locations and the elements….. so far. We are going to shoot one final series out in the desert on a motorcycle, however, that may change that lucky streak.
We can’t help but hear seriously tripped out psychedelic music when looking at the photos, what do you guys listen to, do you play music during the shoots to create the atmosphere?
We don’t really play music while we are shooting, most of time because we are outside and it’s just another thing to lug around along with the clothes and cameras. When we shot the ‘Red Series’ we were inside shooting in our bedroom and we had ‘Beruit‘ playing and some ‘Brightblack Morning Light‘. Often while working on photos and videos we listen to all kinds of library music and 60s psychedelic records.
Some of the images clearly have influence from cinema, Pulp Fiction in particluar, Neil, you’re a video director by the day, can we expect any ‘Pulp’ related short films in the future?
We are already shooting short films inspired by the characters of ‘Pulp’ and we have slated to shoot a feature film called ‘Orange Marmalade’ which connects some of the short films from PULP to another short film idea we want to shoot, all of which takes place in the desert. Other than that, I will continue to work on other music videos, films, and photography.
Joni, what’s lined up for you? Is this where you see yourself going on from here?
Another project i am currently working on is a jewelry line called ‘Plume by Joni’ wherein i make each piece of jewelry and accessory myself, by hand, with natural objects i have found from my travels, the website will launch at the end of July. I will also be working on the films with Neil and, as always, I will continue to model and work on other projects as they become available.
Stuff You Heart:
Joni Harbeck
Favourite hotel: Anything on the beach, that’s 3 star or higher ;-)
Favourite bar: Any place dark with good music playing
Favourite film: Labyrinth
Favourite musician: Bob Dylan
Favourite artist: All my favorite artists are musicians… 1960s-1970s rock, funk, folk, reggae
Favourite photographer: I don’t have one
Favourite fashion designer: I don’t care
Neil Krug
Favourite hotel: Anywhere with Joni that has a beach
Favourite bar: Any place playing old records
Favourite film: Juliet of the Spirits
Favourite musician: Miles Davis
Favourite artist: Stan Brakhage
Favourite photographer: On the internet, Ellen Rogers
Favourite fashion designer: I agree with Joni
If you liked this......
no comments