Tim Walker

Tim Walker

Tim walker, who I’m sure in a favourite of many people, is best known for his spectacular fashion fantasy work. Walker, whose work has been in magazines such as Vogue and ID magazine, produces stunning and unbelievable settings which give his work a surreal feel. What I love most about Walker is how he reminds me of my favourite fairytales and stories. For example one of his most recent shoots for Vogue Walker’s recreated the image of the ‘snow queen’, a film I remember from childhood. Other recreations include the ‘princess and the pea’, ‘swan lake’ and the ‘nutcracker’. Another feature of Walkers work I enjoy is the use of lighting in his photographs. Walker mainly uses natural daylight but he often combines this with artificial light to give a more mystical effect. Walker has photographed many celebrates and famous fashion figures. An example of this is Natalia Vodianova an iconic fashion figure. I will never lose interest in these photographs as I fall in love with them every time the settings are breathtaking and his imagination is beautiful, I would love to live in his imaginary worlds.
In the first photograph Walker makes use of the natural light pouring through the window. The light casts over the model which ordinarily would be cast as a problem but in this case it adds to the fantasy element of the photograph. The clothing also adds to the fantasy element the materials and colours can all be linked to fantasy. The rope around the models feet makes the viewer think about why it is there. There are also shells in the right hand corner which could suggest that this shoot had a sea life or mermaid theme this could also explain the rope as ropes are used to hold boats to the shore. I love the innocence of this photograph the model creates with her expression.
The second photograph is of model Lilly Cole. Tim Walker makes my imagination run wild I have so many thoughts and wild ideas when I look at his work. The location is perfect and the long spiral stairs are astonishing. This reminds me of Rupunsel when the princess gets locked in the tower. The colour of the dress can be linked to the film Cinderella. I love how Walker takes ‘bits and bobs’ from stories and fairytales and recreates them in his own way. Lilly Cole is famous for being a red head and standing out from the crowd. Walker recreates his own unique fairytale princess this is an exciting and different way of seeing things for the viewer as most princesses have blonde or brown hair. The composition is beautiful, how the dress is draped over the stair well, how the model is posed, how the light is coming through the window. It is clear to see Walkers passion for his work.
The third photograph has the ‘nutcracker elements’. I like how the model and other fantasy figures appear to be very small, compared to their surroundings, almost as if we are looking through a children’s play house. The model is wearing the soldier’s hat which could indicate that a young child has been playing around with his/her ‘dolls’. The models expression is very ‘doll’ like as she makes no connection with the camera and is in a very stiff posture. Again the lighting used is very interesting in terms of composition as it separates the pair. I also like the use of fashion here it is very quirky and unusual which can be linked to the style of the photography.

Bill Brandt

Bill Brandt

Bill Brandt will always be a favourite of mine. I first saw his work when I was in A level and I studied him extensively. Brandt works with the body’s natural form (nude) and combines it’s with natural and clean settings. Brandt works in monochrome and the tones in his work blend beautifully. Brandt mainly works with close up shots of particular body part which I have shown in these three photographs of hands, an ear and legs.
The first photograph is of a pair of hands on a beach. I love Brandt’s use of cropping here as he crops the hands from the fingers which is effective as the tenants in the fingers look like the stones on the beach. The monochrome helps to create this subtle effect as the tones blend in nicely together. I like Brandt’s use of depth of field here as he keeps the focus on the hand but includes the sea in the background. There is something peaceful and subtle about Brandt’s work which always keeps me attracted to it.
The second photograph is my favourite of the ‘Nude’ series. There is so much depth in this photograph. The contrast of the dark and light tones almost gives it a layered look. I love how the curve of the ear contrasts against the jagged edge of the cliff. I also like how the textures vary for example the smooth skin of the model against the stones.
The third photograph was taken in an inside environment. I love the atmosphere from this photograph it has a lot of passion. The feel of the photograph reminds me a Paris. This is decoded through the iconic objects in the room such as the chair and large open window. I love the contrast of the shadows on the female’s legs and how the shape of the legs seems to create another dimension. I can tell Brandt really thinks about his composition, this is shown through the many angles in the photograph for example the door, the skirting board and how he has taken the photograph from the height of the legs. Brandt’s cropping intrigues the viewer as he plays around the use of identity. The models full body or face is never revealed which gives a mystery to his work. In this photograph especially the use of cropping creates a sexual desire as the viewer would be interested to see the female and understand what she is about. Another sexual feature in this photograph is the open window as the female is naked and anyone could be looking In. This sexual desire is not tacky but almost glamorous. In conclusion Brandt creates an interesting fusion in his work, by combing nature and the body’s natural form and uses the body in a beautiful way.

Anna Gaskell

Anna Gaskell

I first heard of Gaskell during a lecture for my upcoming project. I really the innocence of her work and how she takes the audience into a fantasy land. The photographs I have chosen are from Gaskell’s ‘Wonder series’. The Wonder series has a linear narrative this is shown through the clear evidence of storytelling in which the models are in the same setting wear the same clothing. Gaskell’s models are girls, which gives the series innocence, which wear identical ‘young looking’ dresses. The pastel colours in the clothing also add to this. The outfits and setting remind me of the children’s film ‘Alice in Wonderland’, this could have been an inspiration for the name of the series ‘Wonderland series’. It almost seems as the series is a reflection of Gaskell’s own childhood and progression to adolescence. The first photograph is my favourite of the series it reminds me of childhood and doing things I wasn’t meant to do. The girls look as if they have been asked to stay there and the girl featured can’t help but look in the direction not shown in the photograph. This makes me curious as to what exactly is happening on the other side of the frame. I love the light pushing slightly through the trees is beautiful and gives the photograph a softer composition; it also works nicely with the added artificial lighting. The second photograph really shows the fantasy element of the series as we wouldn’t expect to see a scene like this. The legs seem to be kicking as there is a shoe on the floor which could suggest either danger or the girls having fun. The legs look as if they come from one big dress; I like this surreal element in her work. This photograph was taken from a bird’s eye view looking down on the girls and I think it works really well. Gaskell’s use of cropping is very interesting especially on the third photograph where the girl featured is not fully in the frame. In this particular photograph Gaskell makes the audience sympathise for the girl with the angle of the photograph, at her level. This photograph would associate with a teenage audience as it is a popular way of shooting. I like the depth of field here it keeps the focus on the girl featured. This photograph is unusual as the girl is featured alone. This could be a consequence of what has happened in the story of the ‘wonderland series’.

Nan Goldin

‘Self portrait in hotel Baurau Lac , Zurich , 1998’ Nan Goldin

'Girl in the mirror' Emma Flewers

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin is one of my favourite photographers. Her work is personal and holds emotion I find something new in every one of her photographs each time I look. The photograph featured ‘Self portrait in hotel Baurau Lac , Zurich , 1998’ is one that had inspired a recent self portrait project , it’s so simplistic yet effective. Goldin is very much herself and doesn’t sugar coat anything. In the photograph she is staring directly into the mirror. What I love about Goldin’s work is that none of it is staged, although she has chosen to take that photograph Goldin would have taken on the spur of the moment. The light source is the ‘stage type lights’ surrounding the mirror, the type found in a stars dressing room. I love how despite the stage lights Goldin wears black and has a blank expression unlike the Marilyn Monroe figure the audience expects from the lights. When I look at Goldin a part of me thinks she wants the glitz and glam lifestyle almost as if she took the photograph as a sign of her dreams. On the other hand I see this as a rebellion to stereotype. I love how Goldin gets me to question her work. I love the cropping in ‘Self portrait in hotel Baurau Lac, Zurich, 1998’ Goldin doesn’t show the full size of the mirror. I like how in all of her self portraits she hides her camera I think this gives the composition more mystery. My self portrait was inspired by Goldin’s use of the mirror. I also like how the lights have given a warm feel to the photograph it makes the colours unique and interesting. Unlike Goldin’s my portrait was staged I dressed my face in heavy makeup. A feature of Goldin’s work I did use was the use of natural light by using no artificial light. My photograph was taken with a digital camera unlike Goldin who uses film. I think Goldin’s work has a timeless mature look in comparison to my photograph which an audience would decode as modern. My posture is very relaxed and could be described as similar to Goldin’s as I have a blank expression. I like the use of shaping in my photograph for example the curve of the mirror in comparison to the straight panel of the door frame. I also like the blur of the television screen. I am standing slightly to the side I did this so that the detail from the room could be shown. I feel Goldin’s has much more emotion and personality. I feel as if I could learn from this as my photograph looks a little rushed and staged. Ultimately Goldin never fails stunning.