17
Photography
2010
Burton's Basement
A photo series in homage to Tim Burton: human dolls in a dark, paper-tiled world, made with two lights, Halloween make-up and a thrift-store wardrobe.
Discipline
Photography
Deliverable
Photography, styling, set design
Year
2010
Role
Concept, set design, photography and post-production, with Marta Timmer
The project
A self-initiated photo series made in homage to Tim Burton. We're both longtime fans of his work, and set out to borrow his signature aesthetic to build a dark little world where human dolls and clowns could live.
The kit was deliberately minimal: two basic continuous lights, a black backdrop, Halloween make-up and sheets of white printer paper laid out as a checkerboard floor. The wardrobe and wigs came from a day or two of hunting through thrift and costume stores.
We took turns shooting over two days, chose a handful of frames and finished them in post. For so little equipment and such inexpensive props, the results surprised us, and it's a series we'd like to return to.
Behind the scenes
Concept: Bram & Marta Timmer. Set design and photography: Bram Timmer. Make-up: Marta Timmer. Post-production: Bram & Marta Timmer.