Find His Photos — Including a Famous Shot of Beyoncé — Too Commercial? He Couldn’t Care Less!
Mar. 6, 2023
Photographer Markus Klinko with his pieces ’David Bowie, The Protector’ and ‘David Bowie, Natural Villians’
MARKUS KLINKO ONCE described himself as “the James Bond of fashion photography,” and there’s a bit of truth in that quote. Born in Switzerland of French, Italian, Jewish and Hungarian ancestry, and blessed with a sinewy physique and charming demeanor, this international man behind the lens has landed in Houston for ICONS KLINKO, an eye-popping exhibit of phantasmagoric photos of such superstars as David Bowie, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey, on view through March 25 at Nicole Longnecker Gallery. “Klinko’s photographs have a wonderful iridescent quality that is both painterly and narrative,” says Longnecker. “His images capture not only the form of the subject, but their own creative essence."
In his earlier years, Klinko was a concert classical harpist, practicing 10 hours daily to keep up his technique. “I reached my dream,” says Klinko, “but I was also mentally very tired.” In 1994, at age 33, a thumb injury compelled him to retire from music and pursue a new chapter in life as a self-taught photographer.
Before then, Klinko had never picked up a camera, and yet soon found himself shooting some of the most beautiful people on the planet, including a then-21-year-old singer named Beyoncé, who needed a cover shot for her debut album, Dangerously In Love. During that shoot, legend has it Klinko suggested Beyoncé wear some denim to contrast the glimmering, spiderweb-like crystal top she had draped over her. He loaned Queen Bey his jeans, and gamely finished the shoot in his skivvies. “It’s a totally true story,” says Klinko, who stands 6-foot-4, “and proof that I have Beyoncé’s butt!”
Klinko has since exhibited in dozens of galleries worldwide and is delighted to have representation in Houston. He says visitors can expect some surprises in ICONS KLINKO, including images from a new series called The Angel Factory that pairs breathtaking models with high-tech lasers and syringes used in plastic surgery. Meanwhile, Klinko takes great satisfaction in seeing his images for brand campaigns appear both in the pages of glossy magazines and on the walls of galleries.
“The question ‘Is it art or is it commerce?’ becomes irrelevant at that point,” says Klinko. “It’s just everywhere, and that’s what it is.”
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Thrive & Inspire: ‘I Believe in Having Employees that Are Happy,’ Says Wilvin J. Carter
Mar. 7, 2023
Wilvin J. Carter, The Law Offices of Wilvin J. Carter P.C.
WHAT'S THE SECRET to running a successful business? I have found that there is no real secret to running a business. I abide by a set of principles that have allowed my business to grow and flourish for the past 15 years. First, I make sure that our team is competent on the laws and the facts surrounding all my clients’ individual cases. Secondly, I am always staying abreast of the public’s temperature as it relates to hot button topics that may affect prospective jurors who will be determining the outcome of my clients’ cases. More importantly, my clients’ feelings and needs are always at the forefront of our legal representation of them. Our clients’ happiness is the most important aspect of my business. My law firm obtains excellent results for our clients and in return, they refer their friends and family to us for legal representation. Client satisfaction is not a secret.
What’s unique about your approach or your mission? My approach to accomplishing my goal is unique because I do not operate my law firm like a traditional law office. I treat my law firm as if it was a business operating in Silicon Valley, Austin, and Seattle. Meaning, my practice functions like a tech company. I believe in having employees that are happy and work in an atmosphere without unnecessary and traditional office stress. We do not wear suits every day. We do not punch a time clock. Our offices are purposely uniquely decorated. Our office and work environment are designed to mimic the atmosphere that you would find in a five-star hotel or nice day spa. By way of example, on Thursdays we have a yoga instructor to come in and guide us through stretching and meditation to relieve stress. My philosophy is simple, we cannot positively represent our clients if our minds and bodies are focused on needless stress and not our clients’ legal needs.
What’s special about your team/colleagues? My entire team truly love their jobs and work lives. They take fighting and winning our clients’ cases very seriously and personally. What’s apparent in the representation of our clients is that we see ourselves, our family members, and our friends in all of our clients’ circumstances and legal matters.
Who or what inspires you as you seek to reach greater heights of success? The life and courtroom triumphs of the late great Johnnie Cochran.
What have you learned about your business and your community that might inspire others? That’s simple. My business has survived and has been successful because of the genuine connection that we have with the community and the issues that plague the community. We treat all our clients like family and that is what matters most. In return, they treat us like family and that makes our representation of them even more meaningful.
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