There are many sides to Christian Blanchard. You could be fooled into thinking that this photographer, recently named by Capture Magazine as one of Australia’s top ten, is typified merely by his success. Yet for all of his accomplishments, Christian Blanchard is much more than just a burgeoning photographer.

Born in Perth, cultivated in Melbourne, and now roaming the world, Christian has shot international campaigns for clients such as Mimco - Australia, NZ and UK's leading high-end accessories company, boutique beer brand Amstel, global cult denim label Nobody and British telecommunications company 3 Mobile plus national campaigns for L'Oreal, Redken, Ford and Puma. With a penchant for celebrity portraiture, he commands the space around him, never yielding to ego, and always striving to impress.

Nonetheless, this should not distract us from the fact that he is still that humble guy who speeds along the streets of Melbourne on his white spacy scooter. A smirk upon his face as he glides through the frustrated masses stuck in traffic.

In any attempt to describe Christian, people easily throw around words such as professional, chivalrous, and the consummate perfectionist. However these words should never be allowed to overshadow other accurate adjectives such as visceral or debaucherous or downright cheeky.

Christian’s famed Nobody was Thirsty campaign won him international acclaim. Throwing dirty water on celebrities for a worthy cause is indicative of Blanchard’s attitude toward his subjects. By forcing them out of their comfort zone and shattering pre-existing defence mechanisms, he lures them to a place in which raw emotion and brutal honesty reign free. The concept itself epitomised his style brilliantly – confrontational yet intimate; aggressive but controlled. Evoking truth through provocation is what Christian’s lens captures best.

However, all of this talk of conceptual and professional methodology belies a more telling truth: pouring dirty water on celebrities is also a great way to have fun.

Many who work with Christian bear witness to the authority with which he rules his dominion. Wickedly creative with both concepts and practicality alike, he measures success only by the strength of his most recent work. Such high self-demands continue to drive this photographer toward new and exciting projects.