David LaChapelle is a revolutionary photographer whose art and creativity are remarkably unique. To some, he is just an abnormal photographer, but to others, he is a true genius. There is no denying the power of LaChapelle's touch and the freshness his creations bring. He is one of those photographers who will not leave you indifferent and who always try to create unique compositions and shots without fear of offending the politically correct.
The life of LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is an American photographer born in 1963 and known worldwide for his charming and somewhat insane work. At the age of 6, his mother asked him to photograph her from the balcony of their hotel in Puerto Rico, dressed in a white and gold bikini and posing, just like a model. This episode obsessed young David to such an extent that he learned about the power of photography. The situation revealed to him a new reality, that this woman should have been a wealthy character and not just his mother, a middle-class lady on her annual holiday in the sun. He realised that the power of the camera is enormous and that it can transform reality into an elegant and aesthetic fantasy world.
LaChapelle's style
David LaChapelle molded his technique at the North Carolina School of the Arts promoted by his father and continued his studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York. He became accustomed to various popular artists who would later inspire him and guide him in the development of his arrangements. Indeed, the influence of Botticelli's Venus and Mars painting can be seen in his African Rape photo, where he wanted to represent love and beauty in contrast to war and greed, the inseparable reality of the African continent according to him. He has added an ultra-modern and colourful atmosphere to this composition which became a constant feature of his work.
LaChapelle's compositions
David LaChapelle's compositions always fit together perfectly. No part of it has been randomly placed; every square inch of this photograph has been taken into account. He always gives a lot of space to humour and irony in his work, especially in his advertising projects. In his project for Burger King, you can see the size of the burger, but you can't help but think of the weight of junk food in our society and the problems it causes. The model is precisely crushed by a gigantic hamburger. Indeed, bcause LaChapelle did not want to join the ranks of civilised marketing, he decided to leave advertising projects in 2006.