State of Grace

GQ Style
(Fall/Winter '09)
Model: Scott Barnhill
Photographer: Guzman
Stylist: Jo Levin

(images courtesy of TFS)

Fashion illustration serves the purpose of depicting a look in its rawest form. It is the whimsical image of fashion from the point of view of the designer or the informed observer. It is by its very nature a fantasy, where the fluid lines and fluid colourings show more the concept and idea of a dress, rather than the dress itself in all of its practicalities and living form.

Juxtaposed to this idea is fashion photography, specifically the concept of the editorial shoot. Photography allows for a story to be told, for the fashion is given a context and situation in which it may then function. I am always drawn to shoots which have a strong sense of story for although that story may not show certain garments in the context of which they were conceived, it is the translation of those garments to the specific artistic context of an editorial that is so alluring. In certain cases story is constructed around fashion, whereas in others it is more a case of fashion constructed around a story. Both have their merits and indeed at times the two can merge, where certain pieces are given pride of place. Fashion obviously always expresses the story for it is indeed the point of the editorial, but it is a matter of whether it compliments or dominates.

I love the strong sense of story within this shoot, for the photography has a very expressive charm. The scene and photograph as a whole is just as important as the fashion contained therein, making a very strong photograph, let alone a strong fashion photograph. Although fashion photography can often seem a whole aside from other types of photograph, I truly believe that regardless of whether it be landscape, portraiture, fashion or any other type, they must first and foremost be good photographs.

I was particularly appreciative of the choice to shoot in black and white, for I find that this draws out the emotion of the shoot. I have always considered the black and white format as more emotional and expressive than colour, for with the absence of colour the main consideration becomes that rawest component of photography, that of light. This raw quality is especially powerful in portraiture for it truly can compliment the emotion of the model, as it does here. I suppose it can sometimes be the case that photographers make the mistake of choosing black and white without really using the format to its potential, or indeed using it as they would colour. Thankfully however I feel that this shoot really does help to convey one of the many reasons that I love the black and white format.

Currently playing: Flashback ft. Lupe Fiasco - Jack Splash

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