Yorick Nubé Interview
The work of Nederland photographer Yorick Nubé exudes a classic beauty — a beauty that was thought to have been lost along with Davy Jones’ locker. Yorick brings back this classic beauty and admiration for the female body, one that we’ve lost among all of the sexed up images of the present. It’s a beauty that can be whispered from ear to ear, or found in the subtle curves of an hourglass figure. There is a man behind this movement, and I’d like to discover the secret.
Trey Taylor: Can you please fill this out?
Name: Yorick Nubé
Age: 36
Occupation: Women Photographer
Currently Resides: Amsterdam
Favourite Song: LFO –Shut Down (Advance) – Warp Records
Trey Taylor: Tell me, Yorick. What does it take to be a fashion photographer? How would you describe your job?
Yorick Nubé: Well I must say that up to now I’m definitely not a fashion photographer but more women-photographer. Up till now I have not worked with stylists (leave alone a few times). I want to work with stylists and when I’ll be in an actual magazine we’ll evaluate on this question. Bit it’s true that it is my goal to be a women/fashion-photographer. Everything till now has been practice, like tai-chi.
TT: Can you explain as precisely as possible, your childhood and life up to this point in time — how you came to be in fashion.
YN: I spent my whole youth dreaming away, also in school I loved to stare and dream away. Our german teacher had a couple of lovely landscape pictures they were the gate of escape. I have no diploma. I love being alone also then but of course I had friends to play soccer with. After school got drafted for the army and spend 6 months in Bosnia with Signal Battalion, free choice. Then joined Airmobile brigade after but didn’t like it anymore. I’m a guy that likes a bit of comfort. Then moved to Amsterdam and did all these stupid jobs . I’m not showing off, but literally have been fired between 35 and 40 times. I can’t stand authority, only natural authority. Then I was at a loss, what to do if you don’t like Anything.! Then I studied one year Englisg at HBO and then another year History of Art at the UvA . (I was allowed in through a test) You’re were supposed to score 42 points each year. I scored 2 points each year. I figured that I wasn’t such a great student and quit.In 1998 I bought first fashion magazine ever in my life: June/July 1998 with Fernanda Tavarez by Mario Testino. I loved that! That started a dream! It took until may 2005 to actually shoot a model. First I could only get the face right and didn’t know how to get postures. It’s only last two years that I get full body shots. Now it’s time to add a little styling here and there.
TT: How did you break into fashion photography? Is it harder that you are based in the Netherlands?
YN: Well my name may come up with google, but I definitely did not break into fashion photography yet.
TT: What do you try to say with your photography. Do you hope it evokes emotions in the viewer?
YN: I hope the viewer just has a peaceful moment. Beauty is enough for me, it’s like Chocolate or a Mars, you eat it and you don’t complain, but remember you will. It’s simple chemistry… I love perfect postures and composition. Like that Japanese painting with the three fish. I’m not into emotions, I like more what happens in between. Same with postures, I like insecurity and dreaminess. But if a model moves like a pro than that is fantastic of course. Just trying to use what there is, instead of what I want there to be.
TT: I find that I am a bit of a perfectionist. Do you search for perfection or do you like to find beauty in imperfections?
YN: Well how would you know perfection without a little scratch.
TT: Name 5 interesting things about you that people would otherwise not know had I not asked.
YN:
- I Love chapter 5 of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche in 1994 wanted to be a DJ, bought everything (technics, dateq, etc, etc.) but destroyed everything a year later because fear of failure
- Love holidays with my father and stepmother in Normandy and Scotland (with little sister too)couple yrs before he died in 88. It was mystical and beautiful.
- I eat fries and cheeseburger once a week
- Tai-chi is my elixir for a healthy life
TT: Why is it that you appear left and right and nobody knows a thing about you? Do you like the mystery?
YN: It’s easy to exist on internet but for the magazines it’s a whole different ballgame I guess. I will have to prove myself.
TT: Which do you prefer: Do or try?
YN: Do
TT: What do you like about beautiful women?
YN: I love a comfort in the eyes and a beautiful figure and the fact that they want to show their beauty. The relaxedness sometimes but also the insecurity. Without them I don’t know if this was such an interesting place at all.
Thanks Yorick! I really like what you are doing and I hope one day I can come and stay at your house when I visit all my Nederlander friends! g