Follow Me started in 2012 and is officially based on the photo sharing site Instagram, but also has a huge presence on other social media under the hashtag #followmeto. In this epic photography project, Murad Osmann photographs his girlfriend (now wife) Natalya in a series of destinations across the world. What makes the project unique is that each time she is pictured from behind, with an outstretched hand holding Marud’s hand as he takes the photo. It’s as though Natalya is leading the viewer as well as the photographer into the scene.On his website, Murad says that he wants others to 'see beyond the obvious' in his art. The obvious aspects of the Follow Me images are the connected poses of the model and position of the photographer; Natalya always has her back to the camera, and the couple's hands are clasped together in the middle ground of the image. Less obvious, at least when looking at individual images, is the feeling you get when you scroll through Murad's 277 Instagram posts.Natalya is pictured in all sorts of different locations, outfits and hairstyles, varying from unbelievably foxy dresses and skimpy swimwear to an everyday denim jacket. Perhaps Murad is showing that he loves Natalya for herself no matter what, that appearances and locations make no difference when true love is involved. Whatever the artistic meaning of the project, it illustrates the romantic ideal of following your lover to the ends of the earth and back, which has resonated with Instagrammers across the world.
The Follow Me Project has gained Murad 2.7 million followers on Instagram, and thousands of re-posts and admiring comments for each photo. They say every picture tells a story, and each of Murad's images conveys a powerful sense of time and place as well as the over-arching romantic theme of the couple who explored the world together before tying the knot. Many of the images are funny and cute, and all are beautifully composed, styled and photographed. This article will take you on an imaginary journey through ten of Murad’s photographs, from nostalgic Russian imagery to modern New York City, ending with the Follow Me wedding photo.
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THE GALLERY OF MURAD&NATALYA'S TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD UNTIL THEIR WEDDING TO THE NEXT PAGE!!!
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW
This 2013 photo shows Natalya leading Murad along a stone walkway towards the Kremlin in Moscow. Natalya wears traditional Russian costume, including a long red tasselled shawl and headpiece, with loosely plaited hair. The ornate, brightly coloured turrets and windows of Russia's most famous building, as well as the romantic costume, give this picture a fairytale-like quality.THE DUBAI DESERT
Against the warm orange backdrop of the Dubai desert, Natalya leads Murad by one hand whilst a hooded bird of prey perches on the other. A line of lanterns hanging from posts leads off into the dunes. Again, she wears the traditional clothes of the location, this time a dramatically flowing red robe and a patterned turban.
1,600 PANDAS EXHIBITION IN HONG KONG
This cute 2014 photo shows the couple visiting the World Wildlife Fund's exhibition of 1,600 papier mache pandas. The exhibition has toured the world, aiming to raise awareness of conservation issues. In the picture, Natalya strides into a crowd of the pandas displayed in an enclosed urban garden, dressed entirely in black and white (including panda ears!) and carrying one of the pandas under her arm. The photo taken at the Hong Kong Geo Park is also worth a look.MOULIN ROUGE, PARIS
In this night-time photo, Natalya is pictured against the bright lights of the infamous Moulin Rouge in Paris. For 120 years, the Moulin Rouge ("Red Windmill") has hosted world-renowned cabaret, as dramatised in the 2001 Nicole Kidman movie. Natalya has chosen a sparkling fluffy coat for this image, but it's unclear whether she is in her can-can costume underneath.PALACIO DI CRISTAL IN MADRID Madrid's Crystal Palace was based on the structure of London's Crystal Palace and the greenhouse at Kew Gardens, and was originally built to house plants brought back from the tropics. Murad's photo shows Natalya in a long, diaphanous silk dress the colour of tangerines, strolling into the centre of an empty greenhouse beneath the dramatic wrought iron and glass construction. A beautiful, spacious image.CENTRAL PARK ICE RINK, NEW YORK
Under steely winter skies and skyscrapers, Natalya pulls Murad onto the ice at New York's Central Park ice rink, showing that you don't have to be dressed up to the nines in an exotic location to have a great time with your loved one. Wrapped up warm in gloves and a woolly hat, Natalya's Mickey Mouse jacket seems to echo the colours worn by the crowd of skaters behind her.AND FINALLY... THE WEDDING PHOTO!
In contrast to the other photos in the series, Murad and Natalya are not holding hands in this picture taken as she walks up the aisle. Natalya's hand stretches back towards Murad's but they aren't actually touching. Most grooms wouldn't be keen to take their own wedding photos, but the couple's millions of admirers are glad they did.BALI RICE FIELDS
In the real-life paradise of Bali, Indonesia, Natalya leads Murad into paddy fields dotted with palm trees. She is dressed in a backless top over blue jeans, revealing her shapely back and arms, topped with a conical rice-picking hat decorated with a dragon motif. The contrast of the colourful hat against the lush green of the paddy fields gives this image extra visual appeal.For More Posts Go To Main Blog
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