Now I have seen three times the fashion photo exhibition Fashion! Modefotografi genom tiderna in the Fotografiska in Stockholm.
First time I was a little bit disappointed, thought that the show was a mishmash selection from the German Camera Work Gallery´s collection, picturing the history of fashion photos, designers and celebrities.
Next time I wanted to concentrate in some favourites I admired at the first time. For example Irving Penn´s lovely Café in Lima, Jean Patchett, 1948. Notice that look in the woman´s eyes, see her pearls and her right foot shoe, hanging on her toes. A moment perfectly captured: real life, real woman, real beauty.
And now, at last, I started to think what a good fashion photo is all about. It is not just a picture of clothes – you can see the clothes far better pictured in catalogues or store windows. I think that good fashion photos should have a crack to let the reality in, they should give you inspiration and indicate a secret you can reach by knowing your strengths and weaknesses. They should be tempting and irritating at the same time. Just look at the Paolo Roversi´s dreamlike pictures. Or Ellen von Unwerth´s Couples Breathless, Paris, 1992. Or Marc Jacobs by Mikael Jansson, mockingly made-up and dressed as a woman.
Anyway – if you want to see the exhibition and find out what to think about it yourself, you have better to hurry. It closes on 9th January 2011.
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