Samantha Gradoville Captured By Warren du Preez And Nick Thornton Jones For Contributor Magazine

Ceylan here, covering for Anne. The brilliant photography duo Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones join together as they deliver this eclectic shoot for Contributor Magazine. 

They are successful in creating a surreal and dreamlike story, as they snap models Samantha Gradoville and Anmari Botha in this otherwordly shoot. Visual boundaries are pushed to the limit as the models manage to convey a mix of emotions and feelings in just a few edgy images.

It seems inspiration has been drawn from a range of things, with hints of old Greek mythology creeping into some of the images. Alex Box is behind the make-up and turns Samantha into a steamy vixen, as she selects headpieces that are captivating and make you question the symbolism and influence behind them. 

Bondage clothing is used to suggest an even more bizarre but still trancelike feel and the editorial is steamy and exhilarating, making it stick to the title, ‘Desire, Despair.’ 

Desire is shown when the models can be seen looking superior and majestic, even transcendent as they seem to be fully embracing the idea of longing and yearning for something more.

Depair is shown mostly in the images where restraint is clearly being used, but all the photograph’s flow together perfectly to tell a story of lust and desire but also of frustration and feeling bound. The shoot contrasts from being completely free to being fully restrained, making it a stunningly raw editorial.