Week 2 Portfolio Artist research
Damien Frost is an Australian graphic designer who lives in London, where he makes posters for ballet and opera houses. Every day after work, he searches the city sometimes for hours until he has a “random encounter” that produces a portrait of a stranger’s creative style.He first came across the world of the Night Flowers and started documenting their wild looks and vivid creative expression. Although traditional in style, for the most part the photographs were taken as incidental portraits after chance encounters on the street, down dark alleys or backstage in a club; the poise and grace of the subjects belie the quizzical looks, negative comments or even taunts thrown at the sitters by passers-by.
“I’m attracted to people on the fringes, whether that be on the fringe of fashion or gender or just what is considered mainstream,” Damien says, “but sometimes it might just be a little subtle touch, a flower in the hair, nice makeup or just a general style that the person seems to be inhabiting very well.”
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| Photograph:Damien Frost |
Maxi More at Manor House
‘Maxi More is the sweetest, and possibly hairiest,
queen on the scene. She also coined the term Night Flowers which I used as the title of the book, after bumping into her one night on my daily search for subjects, and being told there aren’t “many night flowers out tonight”. The turn of phrase stuck’
What do I see? I see colours from the flowers,flowers,bearded male model,nakedness,coloured beard,coloured eyelids,green lips,black background,serious yet interesting facial expression and pose
What camera and compositional techniques have been used?flash was used placed on the rightside,model is centred in the frame,portrait shot.
How does this image make me feel? makes me wonder how he actually looks like without all the makeup and colourful outfit, makes me feel curious about his day to day life what is he like in person.
What ideas is this photographer working with? These ‘Night Flowers’, as they refer to themselves, encompass a loose-knit community of drag kings and queens, club kids, Goths, alternative queer and transgender people, fetishists, and cabaret and burlesque performers – all of whom bloom late at night and burn brightly under the city’s neon lights.
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| Photograph:Damien Frost |
J Aria wore this look to a party the week after 2015’s Paris attacks. It’s a burqa made up from the week’s tabloid headlines.
What do I see?i see newspaper headlines about the people killed during the paris attack covering the models face just the eyes showing,tattoos on the models lefts arm,cloth wrapped around the models,arms,black face paint or makeup covering the models face,grey eyes,black background
What camera and compositional techniques have been used?flash was used on the right side,model placed in the centre,portrait shot.
How does this image make me feel?gives me anxiety because of what happened during the paris attack,makes me wonder whether the model is a female or male,the models eyes speaks volume there is alot of anger and seriousness i can see from his gaze,even hes pose is so serious with his hands folded makes him/her so unapproachable.
What ideas is this photographer working with? i look at this and am reminded of how tabloid journalism uses our primal fear of the unknown and exploits it to sensationalise stories with the aim of moving ‘units’ (’selling papers’ to you and me)…rather that to present balanced work, that makes us think, challenges our fear and has the potential to bring communities together.
What genre are they working in? creative,fine art,glamour,fashion,creative stock
What is their background and how does this influence their work?hes a portrait photographer and graphic designer so just looking at hims images hes being very creative with his work.
How does their work compare to yours? shooting portraits,different costumes used,low key lighting
What ideas are similar? the different costumes used
How does your work differ from theirs? the models, he uses both and male and females
Reference:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/may/13/damien-frost-night-flowers-alt-drag-book
http://ms-excuse-me.tumblr.com/post/135244494128/thenightflowers-j-aria-and-the-week-in
http://www.merrellpublishers.com/?9781858946481
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