Although fashion is rapidly changing season by season, I still believe it is important to forget about modern day fashion photography every now and again and turn my to the classic photographers who still to this day have an impact on the fashion industry. One photographer in particular which is a constant inspiration for me is David Bailey purely due to the fact that he has revolutionised the face of fashion photography; he'll be in bold letters when it comes to the history of both fashion and photography.
Although his studio work is remarkable, at this moment in time I have chosen to focus strictly on Bailey's location work as it has more relevance to my work at this stage of my project.
The photograph above features Jerry Hall and Helmut Newton who both appear to be almost acting as performers to the mass of people crowded into the frame. Bailey's unique approach to both black and white as well as colour can be acknowledged within this powerful photograph. A relaxed presence of contrast between all tones present within the photograph immediately draws your eye to the glimmering red sunglasses worn by Hall, meaning that you automatically pay attention to the multiple coloured coat being modelled. What I find most interesting about this photograph is that it leaves you questioning what to look at first, after all on the left of the frame you have the the impeccable face and figure of Jerry Hall, and on the right one of the most influential fashion photographers of the century, Helmut Newton. In a sense this reinforces Bailey's principle that "the face is always more important than the frocks".
If I have learn anything from this photograph it is that the face is everything regardless of whatever the model is wearing; after all if the face doesn't look the part nor will the clothes.
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