Depressing...but Beautiful

This is one of my favorite fashion editorials of all time. Shot after the BP oil spill a few years ago, Steven Meisel brought attention to the issue through this absolutely stunning editorial for Vogue Italia. The second image is breathtaking, and I want to hang it up as art in my house. I'm kind of obsessed with everything about it: I love the use of black and white here, the rough styling is very provocative, and the energy in the movement of the water coming out of the model's mouth is amazing. The title page could have been designed better, but the photo itself is still beautiful, and I love the coloring of the set and wardrobe. Evoking an image of a bird dripping in oil in the third photo is brilliant, and even though the hand is the only part of the model we see, the picture is strong and beautiful. Pain is palpable in the final picture, as the model appears dead while coated in oil. This fashion image calls attention to a real issue and forces the viewer to confront the consequences of pollution. The lighting in this image is gorgeous, as is the color palette. Gray and black appear consistently throughout the entire spread, and they work beautifully together to depict the grave reality of BP's spill. Even if this editorial didn't take a stance I would think it was amazing, but the fact it's attempting to make a change in the world makes it even better. 

Barbie's Dream House is a Nightmare

This editorial is titled "Tea for Two", but I really wish everyone would have stayed home from this tea party. I understand that the model is supposed to appear doll-like, thus stiff and made of plastic (one would think this wouldn't be a hard task for a model to pull off) but I think this shoot is a mess. There are a few successful shots out of the bunch that encompass the mood of a depressing life beneath a facade of glamour, such as these:

 

But overall I think the lighting on the model's face is terrible, and she is giving absolutely nothing to the camera. In many shots there is not emotion behind her eyes, so the photos are extremely dull. In the first photo below, the pose is great, the setting is great, but the model's face completely ruins it for me. The second shot had a lot of potential, but the Photoshopping and lighting is terrible, as the model does not fit with the background at all.

You can view the rest of the editorial for Plastik magazine here, but I wouldn't bother. It's more of the same pink background, terrible lighting, and a subpar model. 

Where's the Color?

The theme for this editorial is great, I think the circus gives the photographer endless possibilities and a lot to play with. What I don't like is that most of the pictures were published in black and white. The first and second images themselves are beautiful, but I think would be so much better if they were in color like the other two photos. So much more personality is brought out int the final photos, and the circus is a bright and colorful place, so why are some of the images in black and white? In the color photos I love the lighting and washed up quality they have. You can truly appreciate the makeup on the clowns and the cluttered details that make these images so fun and vibrant. The lighting and editing on the grayscale photos are beautiful, but they lack the pop of the colored pictures. I would love to see what the second shot looks like in color to appreciate the model's makeup and clothing. The images are great, but I do believe the art director made a mistake by deciding to make most of the photos black and white. 

A Great Divide

This is the current issue of W Magazine, and I really love the cover featuring actress Jessica Chastain. Most publications now feature celebrities on their covers instead of models, and therefore don't take many risks in order to make these starlets look glamorous instead of interesting. W didn't go that route, and instead features Chastain divided into two parts: one beautiful, one off-kilter. The headline is "Art Meets Fashion," and I definitely think this photo embodies the statement. The painted eye is the focal point of the entire image, but that's just the start. The dress appears like a painting itself, and the hair and makeup is great. The little details like her different colored nails and lips add to the overall art quality of the cover. If I saw this on a newsstand I would grab it instantly. It's eye catching and different, two qualities any magazine cover should always have. 

Anything but Dull

Do your eyes hurt yet? These pictures are loud, garish, and pretty great. It seems like the shoot was a ton of fun, and it produced photos that are simply fun to look at. The lighting is great, and I love the angle the photographer chose to shoot from. In every shot the model poses to use the entire frame, refusing to be overwhelmed by the intensely colorful background. These pictures are truly eye-catching, and if I were just casually flipping through a magazine I know I would stop on these. The use of color is great, so props to the talented set designer. I also love how the model does not shy away from being a little over-the-top and campy because that is the personality of the entire shoot. The clothing is also expertly selected, as they stand out from the background without looking out of place, which was surely difficult when the background is so strong. Ultimately this is just a bright, fun break from the monotony that can be most fashion magazines. 

She's on a Boat

Everything about this editorial works for me. I love the photographer's use of different angles and perspectives in every shot, giving the same setting a different life in every image. The use of the prop is genius, and proves something as simple as a boat can be turned into several gorgeous backdrops. The staging in the first and second images is the same, and yet the two images are stunning and strong in their own ways. The blue background makes it seem as though the young girl is floating out at sea, surrounded by bright pops of color in the first photograph. The model's pose is amazing, and all the different props come together on the boat to create a great composition. Then, the photographer zooms in for the second image so the viewer can really appreciate the color and character of the props. The dress almost fades in with the other items on the boat, but once again I love the model's pose and this picture is very striking. Virgin Mary seems to be the inspiration for the third image, and it looks like it could be on one of those $1 Mexican prayer candles. I love the composition of this picture, and the lights add a really nice touch. It's the same boat, but used in a starkly different way, which is genius. And finally, the last image is just serene, soft, and sweet. The candles draped by a sheer cloth make great lighting, and I appreciate the photographer's choice to make this shot closer and more intimate. It's hard to even tell at this point that the model is standing on a boat. The creativity and innovation throughout this entire spread is fantastic and I love the images this shoot produced. 

Who?! Why?! No!

Let me start this by saying that I'm a fan of Tilda Swinton. I am not, however, a fan of this horrible photo shoot starring Tilda Swinton. If I were her publicist, there is now way in hell I would let these pictures actually get published. They're terrible! On the cover, the dress looks beautiful, but the photographer and stylist made her look extremely old and terrifying. The lighting in the other two is horrendous. You can't appreciate the details on the clothing, and it's overall just unattractive and unappealing. I don't know what direction was given from the art director and photographer, but I'm guessing it was something along the lines of "touch your chest a lot while looking certifiably crazy." As a model, Tilda has a very unique face, and it can be photographed beautifully, like in the photo below, but the spread above is just terrible. 

Pictured above, Swinton is totally judging those horrible photos.