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K 1300 GT turning up the heat in Dubai

09/07/2010
There are surely easier places to go for a photo-shoot in the intense heat of summer than Dubai, but when the BMW K 1300 GT is the subject, there are no compromises, as far as fashion photographer Markus Hofmann is concerned. 

Markus knew that the K 1300 GT would look great in the powerful and clear light found on the Persian Gulf coast. However, with such a hot arid climate and temperatures well in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, he wouldn’t be able to take as long to compose his shots. Therefore, the choice of locations and models would be critical. 

Markus was helped out by Johnny Whyte, a Locations Manager for ‘Bareface’, who has lived in the United Arab Emirates for 18 years and has extensive experience in the film and TV industry. Facilitating international shoots is Johnny’s specialism, and having already worked on high-profile campaigns this year for the BMW 5 Series, he understood the look that Markus was seeking for BMW Motorrad. 

Two locations were chosen: the first featured the Dubai city skyline with the world’s tallest building – the Burj Kahlifa (823 m high) – in the background. For the second location, the team ventured out into the sand, although they didn’t have to go far because downtown Dubai is surrounded by the Arabian Desert. 

Looking after the styling and the needs of the male and female models was award-winning Dubai-based make-up artist Toni Malt, who originally comes from Dusseldorf in Germany. Having worked with many top photographers and often in demand for beauty and fashion editorials for magazines such as Esquire, IQ, Insider and OK! Magazine, she made sure that models Sophie and Patrick stayed cool and looked their best in the scorching sun. 

For Markus, his first visit to the UAE was a memorable affair and he was delighted at the pictures he created featuring the BMW Motorrad’s four-cylinder 1300cc Gran Turismo machine. 

“I’d always wanted to see Dubai, this amazing city in a desert but with buildings just like New York,” he said. “What I hadn’t realised was just how many incredible locations can be found and what perfect light there is for photography. Dubai is modern and young – and this is exactly how I wanted to show the K 1300 GT. When we took the pictures in the city it was around 40°C and then when we ventured out into the desert, the temperature rose to about 45°C, so I was glad that I carried a lot of water with me! 

Things would get even hotter for Markus and the team then next day, when they went to the camel market. After getting out of the air-conditioned car and walking across to the camels, Markus could feel the burning heat of the desert sand through his shoes and had to return to the car right away. 

“What a place – it was around 48°C and that was just unbelievable,” says Hofmann. “You can’t imagine what this feels like unless you have been there. I have to take my hat off to Sophie and Patrick, our two models, who worked so professionally in these conditions. They fitted together perfectly as a couple and helped portray the K 1300 GT as a bike for young, adventurous riders hoping to go long distances on this amazing luxury touring machine. They were awesome models – especially Patrick, who was great. I have never met a male model who fits BMW Motorrad as perfectly as he did.” 

Too see more pictures and the ‘making of’ this photo-shoot, please visit the ‘backstage’ section of www.white-photo.com or alternatively, see the film at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B1hhk7qAz4