MOUSTASHIE: Tom Craig

TOM CRAIG

Next week I am super crazy busy, or at least that's what it feels like. A lot of things going on in this seemingly rapid run up to Christmas. So with the new found me being very proactive and organised, I thought I'd account for the lack of blogging time I will have next week, by writing a lovely little quick post for you dear readers tonight. In theory I should be starting to write the 3,000 word essay I've been tasked to do over the festive period (oh the joys!), but that didn't happen. Instead I've spent all my time trawling through realms and realms of photographs by the acclaimed British photographer Tom Craig. And as you can probably imagine, I absolutely do not regret this decision because the happiness I feel right now, purely due to looking through these beautiful, beautiful photos, is immense. I'm currently in the mental escape that is my happy place, lounging on a hammock drinking pina coladas and it's great. I adore it when a creative medium does that to you, when it hits that special place in your soul like a dart to a bullseye, and unleashes that feeling of utter content and blissfulness. Amazing.

And amazing is definitely the right word to label Tom Craig too. Originally born in the stunning Cornwall, and now residing in London, Tom has worked for everyone from Vanity Fair, Vogue, Esquire, The Sunday Times, Louis Vuitton, Alice Temperley. Mr Porter and The Independent. His subject matters are varied and diverse, ranging from documenting worldwide conflict to serene high fashion shoots, however irrespective of the focal point in front of his camera lens, Tom always seems to put a very unique, alerting and aesthetic spin on things, something that is consistently infused in his entire body of work. His work, to put it quite simply, is a dream. When I look through his portfolio, the one thing that flashes prominently in my mind is that this is the work of a real photographer. Anybody can take a photograph these days. Photography is accessible to millions, whereas it once was only the tool of a select chosen few, and we're so overwhelmed with photography of a surprisingly high standard, that it becomes hard to distinguish talent from ability. Who is purely taking a photo. Who is using the camera for purposes seemingly beyond that. Who is focusing on the superficial. Who is focusing on the hidden depth. Who is using the camera to capture the world before their eyes. Who is using the camera to capture the world in a way that hasn't been seen before.

When I look at Tom's work, I see pure talent in its finest, most richest form. Someone who is seemingly at one with their chosen form of expression, the photographer and his camera combined as one extensive body. Someone who understands and can beautifully and cleverly manipulate colour, texture, architecture, the human form, posture, alignment, light, shadow, contrast, focus and meld it all together in such a breathtakingly stunning way. I've always maintained that my favourite photographers are those who can capture the world in its most wonderful, dream like, beautiful, vivid way. The kind of photographers whose work makes you happy to be alive and living in a world like this. The kind of photographers whose work makes you want to chase that dream, that fantasy. Enrol on an infinite pursuit to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or that seemingly magic fantasy land in front of the photographers lens. Tom Craig is most certainly one of those special people, and I hope you enjoy his stunning work as much as I do.

You can view more of Tom's beautiful photography here.

All photography featured belongs to Tom Craig & is linked to its original source.