Strip it all off for Mario Sorrenti, the man behind the camera that captured amazing shots that were unintentionally made sexy. Best known for shooting ?ads for Calvin Klein, and his spreads of sensual spreads in prestigious magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair and harper?s bazaar, the photographer/director shot the annual tribute to bodacious women on earth. The collection made reviews that could level with, if not rival, the previous photos taken by hotshot photographers such as Hans Feurer, Peter Lindberg, Mario Testino and the industry?s present world-famous fashion genius, Karl Lagerfeld.
Born in Italy on October 24, 1971, he grew up spending naked summers at the beach with his parents. They moved to New York when he was ten and he?s always been based there since then. Being born to two people who come from two strong and different cultures didn?t distract him from the true essence of his subject. He explains, ?I try not to let social status or cultural background affect me or the person. I strip all those things away to get down to the essence of a human being, the person, the woman and what her beauty may be, whether it?s sexuality, whether it?s sadness or a pain or a smile or happiness. I focus into whatever it may be that seems powerful in that person at the moment.?
Sorrenti was so obsessed with photography that he carried a camera everywhere. He started taking pictures when he was 18 and temporarily stopped when he started a family. However, his calling was so strong that he eventually began carrying a camera around again upon seeing what he could miss everyday- what?s happening down the streets, at the elevator, or anywhere else.
In 1993, a picture of his naked girlfriend rocketed both their careers together with Calvin Klein?s Obsession campaign which he shot for.? That girl was no other than Kate Moss, one of the living legends in supermodel history, whose name he mentions when asked about which person made the biggest impact in his profession and development as a photographer. ?Kate, I?ve known for 20 years. I can?t do this without her,? he admits.
Of his connection with subjects especially the nudes, the photographer says, ?there has to be some trust on both ends. I think somehow the subject comes to trust me or I need to win that trust?I just direct them slowly away from the things that might be making them nervous or whatever might be in our way at the moment.?
How he chose which models and actresses to shoot, particularly for the Pirelli calendar was based on personality. Mario Sorrenti is one of the artists who aren?t interested in physical beauty. He needs to have a conversation, a vibe; information on what?s inside the person then his instinct tells him if she?s good to go.
For his upcoming project, Sorrenti is working on a collection of Polaroids from the last 15 years, varying from fashion work to family stuff to put in a book. ?It?s 15 years of my life,? he tells, ?so all the images are powerful to me. It?s very personal.?
