Description
Stefan Rappo’s third book, “Tezz,” is dedicated to the connection between two people: photographer
Stefan Rappo and model Tezz. To immerse the viewer in Stefan’s artistic perception, the
book is crafted in his distinctive storytelling style. Intimate words penned by Tezz accompany the
images and bring the audience into the model’s raw emotions.
The project took place between 2021-2023 when Stefan and Tezz travelled to Ibiza, Tenerife,
South Africa, and Normandy.
The untamed locations harmonize with Stefan’s vision to immortalize Tezz’s sublime wild beauty.
The body of work conveys a strong validation of unfiltered freed om.
Both the photographer and the model consider the book to be their most intimate work to date.
Art Book 24,5 x 32cm, hard cover canvas covering, 192 pages,
offset printing, 116 images and original texts from Tezz in
english
Printed in France
Release date may 2024
Edition La Belle Étoile*
https://shop.stefan-rappo.com/collections/books
Heart is the only tool that speaks the whole language and understands the universal story of love that is spoken upon us, written beyond any sight. Place a hand on your chest, what rhythm is your heartbeat? What song does it sing?
Tezz
Interview with Tezz by Stefan
During the shooting of the book in Ibiza, Tenerife, South Africa, and Normandy, which of
those locations impressed you the most and inspired you the most? What souvenirs do you
keep from them?
All of the places we used to create found a place in my heart, and I will definitely go back to them. However, the most impressive location was South Africa. It was the furthest place I have ever been to, and its wildness touched me deeply. The most inspiring was my love and home, Ibiza. I had stayed there for many years, and it gave me time and experiences that will continue to inspire me. Each of these locations played an important role in my personal growth and evolution. I believe that people, places, and experiences are a perf ect fit to help us grow and evolve, so each of them played a special role in my journey.
What does this project mean to you?
This project is very intimate and a dream come true. It is the highlight of my model and art creative career and also personally. There are three reasons for this – first, the person and photog – rapher that I had the honor to create with, Stefan. Second, I have always dreamed about putting a piece of myself out there. Lastly, this book represents our connection and alignment in art. It shows the journey we went through together and I see our friendship and who we are in it.
Who or what are your inspirations in life?
My inspirations in life come from life itself – the people in it, experiences, moments, different perspectives, cultures, art books and movies, nature, emotions, and my personal growth.
What do you like to express when you are modeling?
My expression while modeling always changes, depending on what I am currently facing or feeling and who I am creating with. I am intuitive, but the vision that comes through in my work is a desire for freedom, wildness, transparency, and passion for expression.
You wrote quotes for the book, tell us more about this.
The texts in the book are my feelings, realizations, and thoughts. I have loved writing since childhood, and it serves me daily as a support to go through life or as a tool to share with others and to be heard. The idea to include them in the book is to make this project even more personal so that the viewer can find even deeper closure together with the visual experience.
TezzTran is a freedom visionary, a muse, artist that intentionally infuses her personality and mindset of normalizing a human being with all natural and controversial aspects upon her photographic appearance and written sharings. For the last 4 years she’s been focusing on transferring her vision of life and her personal evolution into photography, collaborating with many other internationally known artists.
In her projects she involves emotions and depth which also serves as a source of healing and empowerment to a community created around her.
Interview with Stefan by Tezz
What does photography mean to you?
Photography is my main occupation, but also my biggest passion. What I love about photography is that it is not only about the result, but also about meeting and creating with interesting people.
Who or what shaped your evolution as a photographer?
I believe a big part of who we are is already inside us. For me, the proof of that is that even siblings growing up in the same circumstances can be so different. Our experiences in life shape us, the people we meet, good and bad experiences, everything affects us, including the work of a photographer. I worked as an assistant for quite a long time for various photographers, including almost 8 years as Peter Lindbergh’s first assistant, which had a significant influence on how I shoo t and think about photography. It also helped me grow as a person. For me, the most important thing is to never stop, always try to progress, be curious, and question myself about what I do and what I plan to do. That’s what I love about photography, it’s an ongoing journey.
Which 3 to 5 words would you use to describe this project?
Adventure, nature, liberty, intimacy.
What is it that connects you and Tezz that made you decide to create a project like this?
I first met Tezz in Ibiza in 2021. We decided to shoot in Atlantis early one morning, and every – thing was magical – the weather, the place, the mood. The session was incredible, and we took many amazing pictures. We immediately felt a connection, and we shared the same views on photography and life.
After our successful workshop together in Tenerife, we realized our potential and decided to continue creating a larger project. We chose South Africa as our next location due to my familiarity
with the area. We spent 10 days there, creating in the midst of nature, an environment we both love. Working with someone who shares the same goals and vision was a dream come true.
For the final shoot, we went to a beach in Normandy and captured magic around a fire.
Do you have a favorite saying or motto that you apply in your life/work/creative process?
Do you plan any other projects after this one?
My motto is “The path is the goal and do what makes you happy!” As for new projects, I am currently focused on this one, but I hope to continue my work in nude photography with more books. I also plan to delve back into more cinematic stories, something I was passionate about a decade ago.
At age 30, Stefan Rappo left Switzerland and his job as a designer and constructor of heavy forestry equipment to study at Toulouse’s Ecole de la Photographie et Game Design. Photography had captured his imagination and proved to be a turning point in his life. After graduation in 2004, he follows his mentor’s advice and moved to Paris where he joined PIN UP Studios as a studio assistant. It was here that Stefan mastered all aspects of commercial production, discovered the world of professional photography and confirmed his passion for image making . In 2007, Stefan began working for celebrated photographers and industry leaders like Camilla Akrans, and Bruno Aveillan. From 2012-2019, for eight career-defining years, he was Peter Lindbergh’s first assistant. Their relationship was founded on respect, trust, loyalty, a passion for creativity and a dedication to photography and the result was a profound friendship.
Stefan’s narrative approach to cinematic storytelling, and nude and portrait photography is intuitive. Rather than set standards for aesthetics or beauty his images touch the viewer. Black and white, color, clarity and dreaminess are tools he uses in his signature narrative approach to photography. Each work transports us to a hidden place with a story. And the models, his protagonists, embody his stylistic language while expressing themselves with complete freedom. Stefan’s work bridges the boundaries between commercial and art photography, and is marked with a respect for his models, the creative process, and the client.
Stefan’s projects are produced across platforms like books, films, phot ography, and commercial and studio productions. He has published three books —Visage de la Photo (self-published, 2008), Nude (teNeues, 2019) and Tezz (La Belle Etoile*). His photographs have been published internationally in CR Magazine, German Vogue, British Vogue, W-Magazine, MAX Magazine and GQ France. He works with international clients on various continents.
Stefan is currently based in Paris.
