Landon Nordeman
Photographer Landon Nordeman shoots backstage at the world's most high-profile fashion shows and has brought together his most striking images in a new book, "Out of Fashion." Here's a look.
Landon Nordeman
Nordeman has been backstage at shows by Chanel, Fendi, Christian Dior and Armani Privé, among other high-end brands.
Landon Nordeman
He seeks out candid moments that are in turns funny, surreal and surprising.
Landon Nordeman
While he has shot for brands like Dior and Proenza Schouler, Nordeman sees himself as more of a photojournalist than a fashion photographer.
Landon Nordeman
"I'm interested in photographing real life and in photographing events that are truthful," Nordeman says. "But I think my approach -- meaning the images I want to make, the moments I'm attracted to -- might not be considered necessarily journalistic."
Landon Nordeman
Nordeman got his start backstage in 2013 when New York magazine asked him to go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week.
Landon Nordeman
"I had done a lot of work photographing at dog shows, and I'd worked on this project called 'Canine Kingdom,'" Nordeman says.
Landon Nordeman
"An editor at New York magazine saw that work and thought, 'I think that guy would be a good fit for behind the scenes at fashion week,'" Nordeman says.
Landon Nordeman
"I was totally excited because I thought, 'Yes, I would love to be in a place where there's all this anticipation and color and movement and energy.'"
Landon Nordeman
Since then, Nordeman has continued work for New York magazine, plus the New York Times, W, Vogue and others.
Landon Nordeman
He has also been asked to take official backstage photos for the brands themselves.
Landon Nordeman
"It's a compliment to be able to work for a (prestigious) client," Nordeman says. "For example, for Dior, they asked me to shoot backstage at their show for them, and I was just ... when I got that email I was stunned."
Landon Nordeman
Nordeman tries to begin each assignment with few expectations. "I'm not coming at it with the preconceived notion of 'I want to take a picture that looks like this,'" he says.
Landon Nordeman
"I always have an idea of what I'm looking for, but I never know exactly what it is until I see it," he says. "I try and just stay very open to what I'm saying and to what's in front of me."
Landon Nordeman
"Often what does catch my eye and what I do find that I'm attracted to are things like color and gesture and a sense of mystery or a sense of humor. I like this idea that a photograph can ask a question instead of provide an answer," he says.
Landon Nordeman
"In today's environment, we take so many images that it's rare that an image truly surprises you," Nordeman says. "I do like this idea of trying to at least surprise myself. I think if you can surprise yourself, then you have a better chance of surprising someone else."
Landon Nordeman
Nordeman says the level of access he's been given at each show has varied over the years.
Landon Nordeman
"The fashion world, they're open to being photographed in certain sort of situations, but it's a little bit harder to kind of shoot totally when you want to shoot," he says.
Landon Nordeman
"At one show they can be very open to photographers and let you move around, and I feel like they kind of give you room to work; and then at the very next show it can be a completely closed off situation where you don't have any time or you're not allowed to move," he says.
Landon Nordeman
But in spite of the level of access he has been afforded, Nordeman does not consider himself a part of the fashion world.
Landon Nordeman
"I've enjoyed photographing the fashion world, but I don't really feel like a part of it too much," he says.
Landon Nordeman
"I guess if you start to feel like you're part of it too much, maybe that's the right time to move onto the next project."

Story highlights

Photographer Landon Nordeman was shooting dog shows when he was first ask to document New York Fashion Week in 2014

Nordeman captures surprising moments that other backstage photographers often neglect

Since he started working at fashion shows, he's been tapped by brands like Christian Dior and Proenza Schouler

CNN  — 

Photographer Landon Nordeman has shot state fairs, Trump rallies and both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Yet somehow, he’s most renowned for his candid photos taken in and around fashion shows. With an approach that’s both artistic and journalistic, Nordeman uses saturated colors and a well-timed flash to expose what goes on behind the scenes of these showcases for couture.

Courtesy Landon Nordeman

Nordeman got his start in fashion only three years ago, when New York magazine commissioned him to cover New York Fashion Week after seeing his “Canine Kingdom” series on the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Since then, he’s traveled to fashion capitals around the globe to capture crowds and creators at Chanel, Fendi, Lanvin and Dior, and has had photos published in the New York Times, Vogue and W.

This fall Nordeman is bringing together his most memorable shots in “Out of Fashion,” a coffee table book published with Damiani. He spoke to CNN Style about how he captures his surreal, surprising images, and why you won’t catch him at any fashion parties this season. His answers have been edited for clarity.

CNN: How would you describe your photographic practice?

Nordeman: I would say it is photojournalistic. I’m interested in photographing real life and in photographing events that are truthful. But I think my approach – meaning the images I want to make, the moments I’m attracted to – might not be considered necessarily journalistic.

I’m concerned about the construction of the photograph, the aesthetic qualities of the photograph, potentially more than I am the journalistic quality of it.

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What catches your eye?

I always have an idea of what I’m looking for, but I never know exactly what it is until I see it. I’m not coming at it with the preconceived notion of “I want to take a picture that looks like this,” or “I need to take a picture that has only this in it.”

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I try and just stay very open to what I’m seeing and to what’s in front of me.

Often what does catch my eye and what I do find that I’m attracted to are things like color and gesture and a sense of mystery or a sense of humor. I like this idea that a photograph can ask a question instead of provide an answer.

New York magazine gave you your first fashion gig, to photograph backstage at New York Fashion Week in 2013. Did anything surprise you that first time around?

Well I didn’t expect there to be so many photographers backstage, and I didn’t expect the access to be so controlled and at the same time a little bit unpredictable.

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At one show they can be very open to photographers and let you move around, and I feel like they kind of give you room to work; and then at the very next show it can be a completely closed-off situation where you don’t have any time or you’re not allowed to move.

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So why did you decide to stick with fashion?

Only you can be the gauge of if you find (a subject) interesting or intriguing, or if you feel like you feel like you’re making new pictures.

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And every time I would go back (to fashion week), I felt like I was finding something new, and I think that’s part of the photographer’s journey, perhaps. You’re always looking for new pictures.

At this point, do you consider yourself part of the fashion world, with its parties and personalities?

That is so funny. I do not go to fashion parties, okay? I have a family, and I feel like my family life is separate from my professional life.

I’ve enjoyed photographing the fashion world, but I don’t really feel like a part of it too much. I guess if you start to feel like you’re part of it too much, maybe that’s the right time to move onto the next project.

If you start knowing too much, you lose that ability to look at it in a purely instinctual way where you’re just responding to it.

Landon Nordeman’s book “Out of Fashion” will be published by Damiani and is available for pre-order. Follow Nordeman on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.