Eugenio Recuenco: Fantastical Fashion

Spanish fashion photographer Eugenio Recuenco’s work has been described as “cinematographic” and also “pictorial”. But much of his work has a dreamlike, illustrative quality. Particularly his “Fairy Tale” series for Vogue magazine, which ran in 2006. The images have a beautiful tonal quality, and the sets and situations are both surreal and rustic. The above is a depiction of Sleeping Beauty. Below are scenes from The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Beauty and the Beast respectively.

I love the muted colors in these images and also the bizarre elements, such as exaggerated hair on the models and larger than life props and sets. The series definitely has a “dark” feel. The models have a distressed look and their situations and scenarios are less than ideal (i.e. Cinderella shown raking leaves instead of going to the ball, Little Red Riding Hood in the midst of a pack of wolves, Belle dancing with the “Beast” instead of the prince etc.).

In an interview with Bak magazine, Eugienio Recuenco was asked what he thinks of “darkness”. He replied, “I feel darkness more attractive than night. For darkness I understand [is] craziness not detectable at first sight.” This “craziness” captures one’s attention and is a trademark of Recuenco’s work. Below are more examples of his fashion and advertising photography.

Most of Eugenio Recuenco’s images do not look like photos but more like paintings or illustrations. That is my favorite aspect of his work. I am inspired by the way he toys with the viewers perceptions of reality by presenting these bizarre situations that are clearly staged, yet seem entirely believable. He is my favorite working commercial photographer because of his unique approach, not only to the fashion, but to photography in general.

To see more of Eugenio Recuenco’s exciting work, go to his portfolio website.