Photography & Styling 

The analysis of the following imagery will help me construct my three photographs as every aspect of the image is important.

Fashion Photography

20 years Dolce & Gabanna

Above are images I selected from the book 20 Years: Dolce and Gabbana. I selected these seven photographs. There is a definite sense of emotion/reflection in each image. I am certain to capture Jeannette worried/upset and confused. 

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent 

The book features some of Carine Roitfeld most noted editorials, along with interviews and personal photographs. It truly is very inspirational. Below I picked out some of my favourite images. I felt it was relevant to look at her work, one because she is one of the best and my personal favourite stylist, and two, it will help to inspire the concepts in my images. All of her work is constructed carefully and each image has an narrative.

I love this image, the woman looks to be very well styled, high class, wearing fur, expensive looking jewellery and perfect skin, with her swigging down the can of beer, creates a brilliant contrast. The concept has been well considered, it makes me think of a Russian billionaires wife.

This image basically tells me you can sell anything with the right label. The colour of the straw and red lip and nails have worked well as those colours psychologically make you think of food a drink. 

Carine noted next to this image, that she loves meat. When I first saw the photograph it did look a little controversial with the slabs of raw flesh, but it just works so well. It is definitely has a 'tough look'. The model has been given a very androgynous style with the straight brows, quiff and leather trousers, she is sat in a professional restaurant kitchen which is a predominantly a male workplace, and then meat finishes it off. Raw meat makes you think of cavemen, the fact it is on skewers makes you think of BBQ's which stereotypically makes you think of men. Again not to repeat myself, it has been carefully constructed. It has inspired me to carefully consider my location and any props I wish to feature.

A Spanish bride. Carine wrote next to this image that Spanish women are said to be tough.  This image really portrays that, strong androgynous brow, hands in pocket and the trousers under the wedding dress. The backdrop also gives it a Mediterranean feel, beautiful.

These images are about the future of cosmetic surgery, and they definitely have a futuristic feel, from the the bright pastel hair and the fake cheekbones. I love the image on the right, the model is smoking a laser pen whilst wearing a latex glove, an interpretation of an iconic vogue look, replacing the leather glove. 

This is a very clever image, and possibly one of my favourites. It immediately makes you think, must wear hand cream! This would be a fantastic campaign for hand creams, as the rest of the models skin is well groomed and looked after, so it gives the message to look after your hands, as they are a tellin sign of your age.

Fine art photography

Nan Golding 

Nan Goldings photography is very real. Her work features many images of her friends showing what she described as their ‘sub cultural lifestyles'. I have analysed a couple of her photographs to achieve an understanding of what the images are trying to say.

Above the man is getting ready  for what you would think is a 'glamorous' event or drag night, you can tell this from the rollers in the hair, the drawn on eyebrows and  pointy nails. The way the man is holding his cigarette creates a sense of attitude and ego, along with the expression on the face. The fact the image is a black and white the photograph immediately looks dated. Black and white photography is seen as quite glamorous, as many iconic photographs are in black and white, think of Marylyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Black and white images are something I will consider as I want my images to look like they were taken in the 1970's.

The women’s straggly hair, the way she holds the cigarette in a carefree way, along with the length of ash left on the cigarette gives a sense of that the character is a happy carefree, almost hippy/ bohemian individual. This idea of the character is also reflected on the 70's looking wallpaper colour and pattern. The 1970's was very much a free spirited era, with drugs, music and experimentation.

Cindy Sherman

I found Cindy Sherman's work very inspiring for this project. Her photography shows different characters, female roles and personas, including a series of unintitled film stills, movie heroine using herself as the model in every photo. Her photographs are as successful as they are believable. Everything is considered, the lighting, styling and make-up. I need to make sure that I consider all possible aspects of the narrative, to achieve a good outcome. Her work shows that through makeup and photography you can achieve any look.