Saturday, September 18, 2010

Beauty in the Mundane


I think this editorial, shot for Nuyou Singapore by Wee Khim, is absolutely flawless. The models' slicked back hair and red lips, not to mention the classic styling, by Johnny Khooof, of clothes from Calvin Klein, really exemplifies how less is more. There isn't any crazy makeup and they went as simple as possible with the hair but I think it demonstrates such a refined sophistication that I can't seem to get enough. The black and white images remind me of the black and white images from the Jil Sander F/W 08 campaign photographed by Willy Vanderperre because of their simple but striking poses and relationship between clothes and architecture. The model isn't trying too hard to be a model and her poses aren't forced in the least and maintain lines and form and shape in such a natural way. The soft light gives the images a very cinematic feel with the light leak and waiting for the exact perfect timing of light to capture the glow of the sunset.

The whole shoot is similar in visual style to American Beauty and I think the simple banality of the images, especially the fourth from the last image with the white picket fence, reiterates the visual commentary that you can find beauty in the most mundane things. One of the most famous scenes from American Beauty is the plastic bag scene and to me this shoot, with the locations, the light, and the way the photographer has directed these images has captured every emotion that I felt when I watched the scene in American Beauty. I remember these images and I felt something when I looked at them which is what I ultimately hope that others will experience in my own work.


















Images taken from fashiongonerogue.com

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