Fashion Photography

Helmut Newton-

I love the whole scene of the above photo. By use of the still body on the left side of the model, which the viewer will automatically see first, immediately we are given the impression of a dangerous style which the viewer is perhaps not meant to have seen. With this sense of danger that what you are seeing is not meant for your eyes, the viewer will be drawn in further to the idea of mystery that the photo portrays. The model's facial expression is coolly indifferent and looking above the camera lens into, what is to the viewer, the unknown. As well as this the provocative stance of the woman, with her hands behind her back as if she is an innocent and almost shy are a stark contrast to the scene behind her and her facial expression. Being scantily clad like she is should also make the woman appear vulnerable but in this case the viewer is alluded to the fact that she knows exactly whats gone on and and what she is doing. Despite her shoulders being drawn forward, her neck is straight and elongated to present the elegance of an intelligent and strong woman.  The uses of black and white in this image is very fitful as we can see in plain black and white what has gone on. A man is lying presumably dead and the model is not trying to hide this fact, she knows that we as the viewer know the body is there. The dark also reinforces the mystery of the situation, 'whats happened exactly?'. The setting as well looks to be almost industrial and deserted this gives of the impression that perhaps nobody is around to see or even put a stop to what has happened in the photo. 

I love the colouring of this image as the use of black and white works perfectly in the cloudy background. It softens the background and allows for the sharp lines of the woman's body to stand out. Her pose is certainly unnatural but her face is so joyous it looks as though she doesn't care about anything else at all. Her closed eyes add a sense of mystery which makes the viewer want to know what the model is picturing and thinking in her head. I also like the style of clothing used in the photo as it also offers a juxtaposition. The style of the dress is very old fashioned and vintage which makes the amount of skin shown on the women's thigh outrageous. Had this been a scene in the era of the dress she's wearing the women would surely be shamed. As well as this I love how the top of the photo gives an impression of being very light and free whilst the bottom is very heavy and immediately draws the eye down. 

I really like the contrast between the woman's relaxing position in the soft looking chair against the hard lines of her legs and hand.It gives an impression that she is not afraid to be caught in a vulnerable position because she never really can be seen as vulnerable. The use of cigars- which would normally be seen as something only a man would smoke- represents that she is not a dainty girl and she does mean business. This is also reinforced with the use of the black blazer and this coupled with the cigars and stance would fit perfectly behind a desk or at the head of the table. It is the use of the plush, inviting settee and the long uncovered legs which adds the intimidating attraction for the viewer to be drawn in by. Her facial expression and the tensed yet flat out hand on the cushion almost dares the viewer to come closer. The use of the woman staring straight into the camera lens  also shows a defiance that the model is not scared to have her photo taken in this pose and she is not nervous for people to be staring at it. Again she's daring the viewer to look away.

Richard Avedon-

I love the pose of the model in this photo and how the slightly lean back stance accentuates her curves. Her elegant attire and hair held up also shows a graceful pose that draws in viewers with her long and lean body. This contrast against the huge hulking elephants shows how they are everything she isn't. They are not elegant, graceful and attractive. The use of black and white in this image also highlights how the women's white dress signifies her purity and the animals dirty representation. As well as this I think the women's black gloves may present the idea that this model is not afraid to be interacting with the animals and not scared to 'get her hand's dirty'. I also love the use of the animals mimicking the stance of the model and give the idea that we as humans aren't that different to animals after all. The large curves of the animals give a relaxing and appeasing look for the viewer. 

I love how this photo shows a much more realistic pose of a women who is applying her make up. While the facial expression at first seems very silly and laughable,  upon closer inspection you can see how much concentration the model is putting into her task. This also makes the viewer realize just how much women change themselves in order to fit in with the trending fashions of society. The model has the tall hat on which today would not be seen as fashionable and is painting her face in order to look as appealing as possible. I think this is a good representation of how this is something which does not change. Women are constantly making themselves up in order to be seen as acceptable in society. The model in this image looks far too young and vulnerable to be worrying about this and Avedon has captured that perfectly. I also like the way that the viewer can tell the model is staring at herself in the mirror and this makes the viewer question what she sees in the mirror and  if it is the same as what we see in the photograph.

This photo has very light quality to it as if the model could easily just float away. Her demeanor is very content and allows the viewer to look at the image without feeling intimated like so many of the previous images I analysed have. With the woman's profile looking straight on this adds the longing for the viewer to know what she's looking so intently at. Is it a physical object? A loved one?  Or perhaps even just her future as whole and what it may entail for her. She looks as though she is excited and ready to jump at whatever is ahead and this is represented by the fact she is in the air and not touching the ground at all. Her stance gives a physical embodiment to the term 'has a spring in her step' and this alone makes the viewer smile. As well as this the use of lines in the background of the buildings gives a nice, tall landscape behind the model but then this is contrasted to the soft curve of her umbrella. It gives of the impression that this was her intention to stick out from the stiff structures in order to look soft, curvy and graceful.

Francesco Scavullo-

The model in this photo is the icon Madonna and so Scavullo used the fact she is an icon to produce a photo that mimics her originality. The facial expression looks very vulnerable and perhaps scared of what we don't know as she is looking upwards to the sky. We don't know whether what she is so worried about is actually there or if she is perhaps begging with her eyes for help from something much larger than ourselves. This worry contrasts well with the pendant on her necklace which looks a lot more like a weapon as opposed to a fashion piece. The sharp object sits directly in the center of the picture where as Madonna's body is strewn every which way as though she isn't sure of what to do with herself she is in so much distress. Her hair is wild in a way that looks as though she's been through something big and no longer cares for what it looks like, the shape also reminds me of the mythical creature Medusa. This idea of Medusa is also reinforced with the black snake like cuff winding up her arm towards her face. This sparks the idea of that's why she won't look directly into the camera as the legend of Medusa states you mustn't look directly into her eyes. Perhaps this is why shes so scared. I also really like the use of colours in this photo which show the baby blue background to be very pure where as her heavy black clothing present the opposite. Madonna is pulling the collar of her top away from her neck desperately as if it is suffocating her and she if trying to break through. The stance of the model is askew which leads the viewer's eye over every angle of the image so no part is unstudied.

This photo may seem to have the model posed in the center of the picture but by his less than straight posture the eye of the viewer is led to different corners of the photo. The model's relaxed stance and the fact he is looking straight at the camera shows that he won' be intimidated. This coupled with the fact that he is in fact a male as opposed to being female like so many fashion models, startles the viewer and gives them a refreshing view on fashion.  The use of lighting in the image creates a shadow across half of the mans face which hints at the idea that he may have a dark side that we don''t immediately pick up on. This is then reinforced with the man's cocky yet relaxed facial expression.

I love the way that the model in this photo is cast off to the right hand side which is cleverly done as an audience's eye immediately travels from a top left corner downwards. I also think that the model looks as though she is uncomfortable in the clearly prestigious atmosphere surrounding her. Her hat and coat seem to drown her but she is still holding herself up ram rod straight and looking straight ahead with albeit sad eyes. The woman also seems very lonely despite the mad in the background we are given the illusion she isn't allowed to talk to the man and this may perhaps be a social issue. The use of lines in the background also emphasize the grandeur of the scene. The model is also holding a dog that is mostly soft fur and this accentuates the tall gracefulness of the model, especially her long neck that is highlighted with her hair pulled up into the curved hat.