selection from, “the japan diaries”

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BJ FORMENTO IS THE LIGHT. RICHELLE FORMENTO IS THE PIGMENT.

They couldn’t have landed in the photographic landscape at a more opportune moment. With the enormous interest in their work—success is eminent. Vogue Italy has been a forerunner and loyal supporter of their work, as well as cutting edge magazines like Aesthetica and Wolf magazine. Their most recent commercial campaigns include Stephen Knoll, Hammitt Los Angeles, Christian Roth Optical and Charles of London.

2012 was a breakthrough year for F+F. They were nominated top finalist to Vogue’s New Exposure Competition 2012, working with Bottega Venetta and Red Digital Camera. Vogue Italia have included their work in PhotoVogue in the last two consecutive years singling them out of thousands of candidates. A solo exhibition opened in November 2012 to rave reviews at London’s Society Club Soho, and in the spring Yellowkorner Gallery featured their work in a solo exhibitions across Europe starting in Paris, London, Berlin, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf. Their work also been exhibited in New York at Traffic Art Space and Edelman Arts Gallery in February 2013. The most notable event this year is the publication of their first coffee table book by YellowKorner, as well as a film to promote the book which has been shown this fall at the Pompidou in Paris. 

BJ Formento was born in Hawaii and grew up in the Philippines. After receiving his BFA in Photography from the Academy of Arts Universtiy of California, he moved to New York and assisted Richard Avedon, Mary Ellen Mark, and Annie Leibovitz, and studied with Eugene Richards and Arnold Newman. Since 2001, he has shot for a host of publications and advertising clients while continuing his personal work. Richeille Formento was born in London and attended the prestigious Central St. Martins College of Art before working as an art director and designer in the fashion industry.