Eliot Lee Hazel On Open-Mindedness
Project: Thom Yorke for XL Recordings
Words & Photography: Eliot Lee Hazel
When I got asked to shoot Thom Yorke, my first thought was no f***ing way!
Several thoughts made me hesitant about the photoshoot.
He is one of the most iconic musicians of the past quarter of the century.
What if I don’t like him and won’t be able to listen to his music anymore?
What if ..., why not?
I decided to shoot on an expired Polaroid without knowing if it would still work or not, but I took the risk. Also, the place we shot in was an old, dusty warehouse, so the Polaroid ultimately got covered in dust. To make matters worse, my cat flipped over the box of Polaroids at night, scratched them and covered them in hair.
Yet, after my initial scepticism, I realized all of that added to the images. The risk and everything that followed paid off in the end.
Stay curious and keep an open mind to what is in front of you.
Eliot Lee Hazel’s portraiture and stylised conceptual photography have achieved a worldwide cult following. He has shot and collaborated with like-minded brands and a range of influential fellow artists, including Thom Yorke, Beck, Karen O, Bat For Lashes, and Interpol, to name a few.
Project credits
Eliot Lee Hazel in collaboration with Thom Yorke for XL Recordings.
