Returning to concepts we’ve not done in a few years
No one would be surprised to hear me say that I enjoy experimenting and trying different digital processing techniques; it’s something I’ve done a lot over the past three years. One of the nice things about taking that approach is that I have to worry less about backgrounds and can focus more on light and contrast. It also gives me an excuse to revisit images from the archives when we can’t get out to shoot new material.
Looking over the archives from the past couple of years, though, I didn’t see any classic, black-and-white, nude sets that focus on beauty and pose. In fact, it’s been more like seven years since I’ve visited any classic theme in black and white. So, when I started considering what would be safe to shoot from a reasonable distance, that came to mind. Could we shoot a classic theme while staying six feet away?
The answer is yes, hello zoom lens.
Not that there weren’t issues. When shooting from that distance, adjusting the focal length of the lens with almost every shot, perspectives are rarely accurate. Yes, they can be fixed in post, but that risks raising other issues regarding size and perspective. A little care and a small dose of creativity was still necessary to prevent some of the images from looking warped.
That challenge aside, though, there’s a nice feeling about returning to a style that is comfortable and familiar. We’ve done some other classic sets as well that we’ll share between now and December-ish. Assuming the world doesn’t blow up this next week or something.
Our thanks, again, to Cassandra for coming out and playing with us. We still have a couple more of her sets to publish, so be looking forward to those!
Instructions feel redundant but if you’re new you’ll need to know, click on a thumbnail below to view the set full screen on your device. Enjoy.
[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”17377″ layout=”contain” columns=”3″]
Celebrating The Anti-Barbie
The Anti-Barbie (2010). Model: Dani Norberg. Styling: charles i. letbetter
I find it sadly interesting that today, the day after International Women’s Day where we celebrate women and all their wonderful contributions to the world, is Barbie Day. Barbie, that representation of all that is superficial, misogynistic, plastic, and objectifying in the historical view of women and the severe lack of reality in how society defines women. I am in favor of this particular celebration not existing.
We actually did a project a few summers ago where we took Barbie dolls and treated them like models. Ultimately, we turned them into zombies and at least one little girl was disappointed to discover she couldn’t actually get the zombie Barbie in a store.
I decided to go a different direction today though and celebrate the anti-Barbie; women who are independent and fierce, perhaps embracing an alternative lifestyle, not afraid to do things differently, to step outside the norm. These are women who wear their ink and body modifications proudly, not caring what anyone else thinks about the matter; women who define life by their own standards, set their own rules, and hold to their own sense of morality.
For too long we have limited women’s role models to those who are the elite, those who go on to college, run Fortune 500 companies, break through barriers at the top to give women more opportunity, and I’m not knocking those women in any way, shape or form; what they have done is nothing short of miraculous. But I also find strong role models in women who hold down two or three jobs to make sure their children are fed, clothed, and sheltered. I find strong role models in women who operate backhoes, drive trucks, and design stage lights. I find strong role models in women who join the military and fight to be allowed on the front lines. I find strong role models in women who struggle in the face of unending adversity and still somehow manage to hold their families together.
I don’t personally know any women who are anything at all like Barbie, and I don’t think I want to though I know they exist. Being superficial and plastic, hanging on to an ideal that was never anywhere close to reality, has no place in this or any other progressive society.
So here’s to all the anti-Barbies, the real women who aren’t afraid to be different. We love you. We thank you. We embrace you.
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