Character Stories Created From Moments and Scenes

Featuring Daniel Jackont Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski

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Daniel Jackont is a London-based photographer, originally from Israel. His work ranges from extravagant fashion to classic portraits and romantic storytelling through positioning a character in a certain situation. His genuine interest stems from learning about people on set and creating a story that is true to the character’s experiences.

The mood is light, the viewer is detached from their reality to immerse in a new one, perpetually holding a promise of an adventure - a scene from a movie one always craved to be a part of. Feelings, living the day in a life of, the closeness are convincingly expressed through the crafted narrative. Young, optimistic, hopeful, Daniel's work is about love and tender relationships breathing in some dream-like atmosphere to the daily routine.

One of the goals we put for ourselves is to discover and present work by Tel-Avivian artists to expand their reach in the world. We decided to speak with Daniel about his body of work. Daniel reveals the way he entered into the profession through assisting to some of the renowned photographers on sets. We speak about the themes that are most touching to Daniel, the film MAREI, the influence of the French New Wave, and his most challenging photoshoot.

‘I remember my first set, it was a short time after I moved to my first studio and decided that I want to start a career as a photographer. It was a small and simple set, and its theme concept was about youth and rebelliousness’

The Beginning

What was the main reason to enter into the sphere of photography? 

Since I was a young boy, I was fascinated with different visuals such as movies, paintings, and graphics. During my army service in a special combat unit, I was in many unusual situations with my teammates. I found myself wondering at times about how we all come from different backgrounds, and each of us has their own story, which now becomes part of one reality that we are experiencing together. Then I realized that creating moments and scenes using characters and their stories is something that moves me.

How did it happen for you?

After I finished my army service, I started working in the field of TV productions. During one of the photoshoots, a random meeting led me to become a photographer assistant. So, I got into this sphere and started exploring and creating.

Do you remember your first set? 

I remember my first set, it was a short time after I moved to my first studio and decided that I want to start a career as a photographer. It was a small and simple set, and its theme concept was about youth and rebelliousness. I worked with a stylist and a male model I stumbled upon on Instagram. He fit perfectly with the idea I had in mind.

‘The importance of culture is a basic notion in London, which in my opinion, makes it a thriving ground to create and share new ideas and visual approaches’

London/Tel-Aviv

Living in both the cities, each unique in its way and very distinct in various aspects, the relation to work, art, etc., what do you enjoy the most from the environment and atmosphere in each?  

I really enjoy London, everywhere you go there's an atmosphere of art and culture, whether it's the people or architecture. The importance of culture is a basic notion in London, which in my opinion, makes it a thriving ground to create and share new ideas and visual approaches. 

In addition, I enjoy the attitude towards work and the pace. I think it allows artists to take the time to think and build their concepts properly. All of these things contribute to richer creativity processes that eventually convey the message in the best way.

On the other hand, in Tel Aviv, and Israel in general, there's the magic and beauty in simplicity. The attitude to work is more intuitive, and the pace is faster and more spontaneous. On most of the projects, you don’t get a lot of time to plan in advance, therefore the visual outcome is based on a creative instinct that generates beautiful and simple scenes. I think there's beauty in that too. 

‘I guess it's like having a tool kit, and all you need to do is to choose the right tool to express your visual idea’

Assistant Photographer

You worked as an assistant photographer for several years with some renowned Israeli photographers. Let’s discuss this experience. What were the differences in techniques you observed? How does it help in shaping and defining your style?

I chose to start my career and learn from practical experience over academic studies. Therefore, being an assistant for some leading photographers gave me a deep view into the professional field of photography and contributed a lot to my knowledge.

Each photographer has their aesthetic and visual language. Some photographers use flash in the studio, some like outdoor locations working with daylight, others mix those approaches. If we take this example, I have learned that the lightning technique will depend on what is the story that I want to tell, and it needs to support the story in terms of scenes, characters, and clothing.

The assistant's job provided me with the opportunity to gain the practice and knowledge that helped me realize what methods and techniques I am most fascinated by. I guess it's like having a tool kit, and all you need to do is to choose the right tool to express your visual idea.

How important is offline networking and acquaintances with professionals to one’s career path in Israel, in your opinion?

I think that it's very important to build a good personal relationship and create networking with professionals because eventually, the fashion photography field is based on people, their creativity, and skills. These relationships can provide knowledge, personal experience, and even career opportunities.

‘There are two designers that I think are the edgiest and most interesting. ADISH Studios by Amit Luzon and Eyal Eliyahu, with very edgy streetwear, and a fresh, new look of the day-to-day clothes’

Fashion

Working on editorials and covers for fashion magazines, you meet a lot of people from different professions in the sphere. Who are some of the edgiest and most interesting fashion designers in Israel today?

There are two designers that I think are the edgiest and most interesting. ADISH Studios by Amit Luzon and Eyal Eliyahu, with very edgy streetwear, and a fresh, new look of the day-to-day clothes. They also believe in coexistence and working with handmade craft Bedouin sewing techniques to design their collections, mixing cultural ideas with nowadays events. 

The second is Hed Mayner. His designs are inspired by social and cultural themes/stories that relate to the Middle East, with biblical notions, cultural traditions, light and natural colors of the area, like the sand, the desert, and the sea. 

Who is the designer you would love to collaborate with?

I would like to collaborate with Hed Mayner because I'm inspired by his designs. There's a lot of conceptual thinking along with the craft technique that is invested in the production of each piece. His unique approach has a traditional and sacred aesthetic, which gives the garments a timeless look, mixed with modern silhouettes. This approach is universal and can include any tradition from any part of the world, along with an interesting story that enables to build a new visual for each collection.

Film

Working on the film ‘Diary Series’ for MAREI by Maya Reik, the frames strive to symmetry while the camera is an unstable shoulder operated. What was your approach to this medium? What were the preparations for the shooting day? 

My main approach was inspired by French New Wave, an art film movement, led by directors like Jean Luc Godard and Éric Rohmer, focusing on the individual rather than traditional approaches. Symmetry was a part of the location architecture that included arches and big windows with a very romantic atmosphere that I felt we needed to emphasize. The preparations mainly included writing the script, reviewing and confirming with Maya. Then creating a sketch of each scene before shooting, to make sure we're successful in showing Maya's mood and romantic approach to the day to day life. 

The location plays an important role in creating an atmosphere of loneliness and enables a subject to ponder on her creation. Tell about scouting for the location.  

I have been invited to a meeting in which Maya and her team showed me the chosen location for the photoshoot. I immediately felt connected to this location, and it became the inspiration for my script, in which I wanted to reflect Maya’s personal story and feelings, her inner peace, and her constant search for a new creative moment.

‘My main approach was inspired by French New Wave, an art film movement, led by directors like Jean Luc Godard and Éric Rohmer, focusing on the individual rather than traditional approaches’

Photoshoots

You work a lot of times on set with more than one model creating a certain story. What was the most challenging photoshoot for you? 

I would say that the most challenging photoshoot for me was an editorial article People are Strange for Schön! Magazine. I worked on this one with a creative director, Mor Pozniak. The production was held in Barcelona in a European classic and decorative building and included seven models. We wanted to give each model a unique character and story with styling and by directing the models to behave according to their role. The challenge was to cast the right model for each role, finding the right spot in the building for the specific story and the best shooting composition that will combine the pieces.

‘This year I plan to concentrate more on developing my personal work alongside designers and magazines in London’

Upcoming Projects

What are your plans for this year? What are you working on right now?

This year I plan to concentrate more on developing my personal work alongside designers and magazines in London. At the moment, I'm working on several personal articles and editorials. One of them, which is personally important for me, is about Femininity. The project documents four women: a painter, a dancer, a horse rider, and a musician. The choice of professions is not random but has meaning since all of those include artistic elements. My purpose is to tell their story and create for each one of them a personal diary about their life memories to the present. I'm interested in exploring the aspiration and the directions that life has taken them, compared to childhood dreams and wishes.