Transition Part Two

As I began to feel more comfortable with stepping back and placing people in the environment, I also began the transition (which may be discussed in later blogs) to photograph fashion. Ironically, as an aside, I grew up in the world of fashion, when women were stylish, and the photographers were romantic and extraordinary. Today, both the fashion and the imagery has reached its low point. It is neither distinguished nor graceful, but rather conceptual, mean spirited, vulgar, and to my mind tasteless. But this is a story of another matter.

I love making pictures, and the fashion world has allowed me opportunities that I greatly appreciate. When done properly, it feels gracious, sensuous, beautiful, and stylish. It’s about mystery and potential.

Although I do not have this picture to share with you, I do have another story about my middle years. It comes from the beginnings of my transition from shooting portraiture and landscapes to shooting fashion. Although fashion is a form of portraiture, it involves models, which are an entirely different breed. They will be discussed next week.

Early on in my years of doing assignment work, I was asked to work for Coach, the manufacturer of leather goods. The campaign was entitled Descendants of Famous People. I think I did three or four of these ads, but the one I would like to discuss is one I did with a young woman who was a descendant of Babe Ruth. It felt natural, and obviously appropriate, to shoot this picture at Yankee Stadium in New York. I remember that this 20 year old woman lived in another state, so she did not arrive until the morning of the shoot. On that morning, we (the talent, myself, the stylist, the hair and makeup person, assistants, etc.) all met at the location van. The woman appeared quite sad, forlorn, and uncomfortable. She obviously was not used to the attention. Her true life had no relation to the glory of Babe Ruth. She only had his genes. She was raised in a very humble manner, and carried herself with her head down, and with an extreme, uncomfortable self-consciousness.

I introduced myself and the crew, and explained that there were people here to help her with her clothes, and her makeup, and I hoped that the experience would be fun for her.

I disappeared for an hour to scout the right location, and as I was returning to the van, she was exiting. It was if a new woman was born. She was beautiful, held herself differently, looked directly at me, and was proud of herself. I remember this moment vividly. I remember thinking “I want to do this.” If you can change a person’s feelings simply by changing their clothes and style, what a great gift that is.

All through the shoot, she was happy, beautiful, and slightly sexy. It was a new, happy person.

When the shoot was over, and the clock struck five, she went back into the van, changed from her Cinderella clothes, into her normal habit, and immediately became who she was when I first saw her. I have never seen her again, but I wanted to tell her how beautiful she was to me.

Here below is a simple picture of a beautiful woman from the book.

Until next week.