Study Task
Research a minimum of two renowned fashion photographers. (One historical, and one contemporary)
- For each photographer you should find out some of their history:
- Who they have been influenced by?
- How they have influenced the genre of fashion photography?
- Why has their work been seen as significant?
Lessons Learnt
This research has given me insight into the world of fashion photography as well as learning a great deal about both Irving Penn and Ellen von Unwerth. Beforehand, I had not looked at fashion photography as it did not interest me a great deal. However, once one starts digging and really looking at images of the great historical and contemporary photographers, there is a vast amount of knowledge to be gained.
Hopefully, I have done my two selected fashion photographers justice. I selected Irving Penn as he seemed to be, not only incredibly clear in what he wanted to produce but also he was so diligent and painstakingly accurate in all the photographs he made. This was emphasised in the story of the lemons highlighted overleaf.
I chose to write about Ellen von Unwerth because I searched for a woman photographer that possibly optimised the fact that photography was so historically, male orientated. In some ways, she is juxtaposed with Irving Penn but nonetheless great in her own fashion photography. She was able to take the sometimes stiff looking model and make them move much more in front of the camera. As she stated, because she had experience as a model she was able to have fun and thereby getting the best out of her models.
Criticising digital technology as being sometimes slow, she preferred using 35m film and shoot quickly which at times, produced images not quite tack sharp. It was suggested this may be seen as her style – but I am not convinced of this. Nonetheless, Ellen von Unwerth, has for some time produced her erotic and suggestive fashion images and has had some great accolades which have been highlighted overleaf.
Andy Young Photography 