Nadav Kander: “Just the right amount of wrong”

Kristina Feliciano — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:49:43 +0000

For a new campaign for the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Fallon came up with a tagline that perfectly encapsulates the hotel’s swanky combination of hipness and decadence: “Just the right amount of wrong.” Then they commissioned a photographer who could visually express the campaign’s promise of an outlandishly—and stylishly—good time. Specifically, Nadav Kander, who worked with Fallon art director Christy Peacock, copywriter Leon Wilson, and art buyer Jason Hall.

Here’s a look at two images from the campaign for Cosmopolitan—which made Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 “Hot List” for top new hotels—plus some highlights of Nadav’s advertising photography, including campaigns for Hyundai, Cruzan rum, Absolut, Orbit, Nike, Farmers insurance, and Powerade.

Photo by Nadav Kander for the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Click to view larger.

Photo by Nadav Kander for the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Absolut.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Farmers.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Connoisseur.

Photo by Nadav Kander for BurJuman.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Powerade.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Cruzan rum.

Photo by Nadav Kander for St John Ambulance.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Orbit.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Hyundai.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Heal's.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Nike.

Photo by Nadav Kander for Dovobet.

See more Nadav Kander here.

Nadav Kander’s “Turbo Face” portraits for Hyundai

Kristina Feliciano — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:05:10 +0000

Usually, car ads try to woo you by showing how sexy and awesome you’ll look in a certain vehicle. They try to flatter you. Not flatten you. Clearly, the print ads for Hyundai’s 2011 Sonata Turbo—shot by Nadav Kander for art director Frauke Tiemann at Innocean Worldwide—are not the usual.

"Turbo Face: Paul." Photo by Nadav Kander for Hyundai.

"Turbo Face: Al." Photo by Nadav Kander for Hyundai.

"Turbo Face: Katie." Photo by Nadav Kander for Hyundai.

"Turbo Face: Grant." Photo by Nadav Kander for Hyundai.

“Based on a preview of [the] new Sonata turbo campaign last week, Hyundai has not skipped a beat and continues its bold and distinctive advertising. … The turbo campaign is based on the facial expressions of Sonata drivers when the turbo power kicks in while driving. Naturally the commercial is called Turbo Face. Think about g-force dives and the first drop on a rollercoaster to get a mental image,” writes Marty Bernstein of the automotive webzine The Detroit Bureau.

“Granted it’s an off-beat image, but the point is certainly well made about sudden acceleration and does, I believe, grab the viewers’ attention. … The print portion of the campaign continues the turbo face concept with the four distinctive print ads using turbo face photos with and good car shots.”

He goes on to ask, “Getting the photos did not involve any sudden acceleration, so how did the photographer capture the shot? Any ideas?”

I’ve been wondering about the very same thing, Marty. Nadav is busy with a shoot in L.A. right now, so I’ll ask him when he’s back in the U.K. Watch this space…

Stockland Martel » Hyundai

Nadav Kander: “Just the right amount of wrong”

Nadav Kander’s “Turbo Face” portraits for Hyundai