“A GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHER, MARK THOMAS (R.I.P), ONCE SAID: "JUDGE PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE WAY IT MAKES YOU FEEL, NOT BY WHAT OTHERS SAY". WHEN I READ THAT, IT STUCK WITH ME AND I REALIZED THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY. FROM THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME I GOT TO SPEND IN MARK’S COMPANY (WE BOUGHT OUR LIGHTS FROM HIM), HE MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ME AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.” –JOHANN MARX-
Thousands of years ago, the Nile valley gave shelter to a civilization that brought forth a series of dynasties and a culture that would rule the ancient world for about 3 millennia. Following the believes of a polytheistic religion the country was ruled by god-like kings and queens, leading their people in an era of prosperity and cultural wealth. Never before had there been a civilization so advanced for its time. Never again was there ever a civilization that would speak to our imagination as much as the Ancient Egyptians did. Though it might seem barbaric and primitive to us now, the Ancient Egyptians lived a life of sophistication and enlightenment in their time. And what they left behind, in monumental architectural wonders and various symbolic writings and drawings, became a source of inspiration and imagination for us today. A visual treasure that says more then a thousand words.
Victor Po, singer and model and living in Miami, Florida, happily traveled to South Africa when he was invited by Johann Marx to star in a inspiring photo shoot. Johann Marx fell in love with photography in 2005 when one of his friends made the mistake to leave a Canon EOS 20D digital camera unguarded in hand reach of Johann. Though photography wasn’t even on the radar of his interests at that time, Johann got hooked from the moment he glanced through the viewfinder. It wasn’t for long that he got himself his own camera and Johann Marx has pretty much been shooting non-stop ever since that moment.
Though the art of photography is defined by many rules, Johann Marx is not the man to stick to convention. He looked at the rules, decided it wasn’t for him, and pretty much ignored them all ever since. He hasn’t done him bad. The result however is that Johann Marx signs of on a photographic style that isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. But according to the photographer from South Africa, it isn’t how you make the shot, it’s about how the host makes you feel. It is about what the picture tells you.
Johann Marx fuels his photography with passion and hard work. It is his life’s work and because of that he is unbeatable. As unbeatable as the god-kings were in Ancient Egypt, with their mystical appearances and their ethereal behaviors. With models Victor Po and Andre du Pooy and the assistance of make-up artist Stavvie Georgakis and photographer Shan Smith, Johann Marx returns to that time so far back in history, when regular men could become gods and animal-like warriors, just by believing they were. The four of them created a set of images that speaks as much to the imagination as the hieroglyphs that were left behind by the Ancient Egyptians, and all you need to do is look at them. Words are irrelevant. –BM-
Photography by Johan Marx. With Victor Po, Andre du Pooy. Mak-up by Stavvie Georgakis. Photography assistance by Shane Smith. Image (c) Johann Marx. Unauthorised use strictly forbidden.
For Victor Po's dance single Shake It, visit iTunes or Amazon.com.
JOHANN MARX | BEAUTIFULMAG
Love it - keeps getting better
Posted by: ian horncastle | June 19, 2012 at 01:38 PM
LOVE how you give us the good stuff.
Posted by: thegaytekeeper | June 19, 2012 at 08:44 PM
Victor Po is hot! But gotta lose the distracting props.
Posted by: Bunboi | June 24, 2012 at 06:11 PM
Victor PO. your such a good model bro......
Posted by: arnold esperanza | July 01, 2012 at 08:23 PM