1.What initially caught my eye about Cindy Sherman’s photography was that the majority of her photos were of women. When I think about other great photographers I normally think of photographers who take many landscape photos, or photos of the world’s natural beauties like rivers or mountains. However Cindy Sherman was a photographer who was able to showcase the world’s natural beauty through many different photos of unique women. Although her photos seem very typical, a model just trying to look pretty, her photos are actually able to hold great meaning and tell stories about these women as well as show Cindy’s own personal beliefs. I absolutely adore Cindy Sherman’s work because of the way that her photos are able to make me feel many different emotions like dangerous, empowered, girly, etc. I think Cindy Sherman is a wonderful photographer who is able to tell stories through her work and that is why I decided to choose her as my black and white photographer.
2. From Photographer's Point of View:
Photo One:
I see a strikingly gorgeous women standing before me. She stands tall and thin, her face long an ovular, the way that every women wishes to be. But behind her mask of makeup I see what’s much more important, I see a woman who loves herself, someone who strives everyday to become better, someone who doesn’t ignore stereotypes and instead speaks against them through her beauty. In front of me stands a woman who men would think of as a possession, a toy, a piece of meat, but in front of me I see a woman who puts out the most lovely vibes but is filled with strength and courage ready to help me showcase my own personal beliefs.
I smell an overwhelming amount of rose perfume radiating off of my model’s warm body. Musky rose mixed with the smell of powdered makeup which helped my model prepare for today’s shoot. The smell of pure girliness, what some people might say is too much but others find comforting. A somewhat distracting smell but one that tells lots about my model’s own character & helps me know how to best take photos of her.
I hear the creaking of the wood floor beneath us as the model moves from pose to pose. The sound of creaking wood which adds to the home’s character and makes me feel more comfortable in my surroundings. The sound of creaking wood which aids in breaking the awkward silence between us from time to time. The sound of creaking wood which reminds me of my childhood in our old New York house.
I taste the crisp autumn air blowing in from outside, mixed with the taste of dust which you would expect from the old home we are shooting in. I can taste the baked goods cooking in the room awaiting for us whenever we finish our job. I can also taste the smells of perfume and lotion coming off of the model, gross but isn’t too strong that it’s bothering.
I feel captivated by my model’s beauty. I know what I’m doing is right no matter what all the critics have to say about me. I feel that I should continue with this project and continue to work on what I believe in and what I enjoy. I feel confused as to what I should title this piece of work, I prefer to keep mine untitled.
Photo Two:
I see a strong and independent young women in front of me. Someone who is brave and not afraid to fight for what she wants and what she believes in. She is stunning and physically attractive but just from her looks you know not to mess with her. I see an old brick warehouse as the perfect scenery for this picture, the model looks like she fits right in. I see a wooden rocking chair in the corner that makes this photo appear more natural and like I randomly snapped a picture of the model in her daily life.
I smell a musky scent, most likely the perfume that the model is wearing. It’s deep and similar to a men’s cologne but has a hint of rose bud that adds that touch of femininity. I smell old brick that makes me feel more at home and warm inside. The smells mixed together are strong but comforting. It’s something new but at the same time I enjoy as if it’s a smell I’ve smelled since I was born. It’s strength somehow makes me feel stronger and more confident.
I hear the tapping of the models pointed heel shoes on the floor and the window ledge. The floors are wooden, odd for this kind of building but they add lots of character. I can hear the models every move because of these floors, and I actually kind of like it. Outside and through the window I hear cars and people moving around from place to place that makes me love the life within this city.
I taste fresh paint in the building. It’s very obvious that this building is old but that someone has tried to salvage it but adding loads of white paint everywhere. I don’t like the fresh paint taste it's too overpowering, but it is definitely not even close to being the biggest sacrifice I’m having to make in order to get this shot.
I feel empowered like my own model’s confidence is radiating off of her and onto me. It makes me feel proud of what I am doing, no matter what else anybody else says. Together we know that not only do we feel good about ourselves but that we are empowering other women through showcasing the stereotypes women face.
3. I really enjoy showing my work on posters. For some reason I feel a lot more pride in my work that way. It’s really easy to make powerpoints but it's a lot more difficult and time consuming to create a poster. Therefore whenever I do create a poster that takes a lot of time and it turns out looking good I feel a lot more proud of my work.
