The Untold Magazine 1
The Untold Magazine 2
Sponsors The Untold Magazine
Sponsors The Untold Magazine
The Untold Magazine 3
index/ credits
credits EDITOR Callum Bird ASSISTING EDITOR Sabrina Cooke COPY EDITOR Sophie Biddlestone ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS Jade
Shaw, Rachel Whitworth & Cailyn Cox PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTIONS Hartmut Nรถrenberg, Marcos Ceballos, Szymon Sikorski, Robert Lohse, Callum Bird, Natasha Ford, Taisiya Sary & Caillie Elizabeth Lane EXHIBITION PHOTOGRAPHER Steve Taylor GRAPHIC DESIGN Rita Batalha FRONT COVER Inga Medvedeva
The Untold Magazine 4
index July 2013 ISSUE #2
Article One 8
Jade Shaw
Editorials 10
Hartmut Nรถrenberg
16
Marcos Ceballos
20
Szymon Sikorski
Article Two 24
Cailyn Cox
Editorials 28
Callum Bird
32
Natasha Ford
Article Three 38
Jade Shaw
The Untold Magazine 5
8 20
The Untold Magazine 6
16 28
Editorials 42
Taisiya Sary
48
Callie Elizabeth
Article Four 54
Rachel Whitworth
42
32 49
The Untold Magazine 7
Can A Picture Sell A Thousand Dresses? Written by Jade Shaw
The saying goes that a picture speaks a thousand words. Showing someone a picture of your happiest moment, should convey to them what you were feeling a lot more than if you were to try and explain it to them. A picture of an individual subject, a portrait should I say, is open to a thousand interpretations of what that person was feeling at the time that the picture was taken, or painting created. But can the same be said for the portrait’s that litter clothing campaigns? Does a picture really sell the dresses? Let’s start with looking at what a portrait actually is shall we? A portrait is a painting, photograph or sculpture meant as a representation of a person. A portrait should display a likeness, the personality or even the mood of the person it is intended to capture. Portrait’s truly flourished for the first time in Ancient Greece and Rome circa the 4th Century and have been a huge
The Untold Magazine 8
hit ever since. The most famous of which I’m sure you’ve heard of; Di Vinci’s Mona Lisa. But, when photography hit the scene, portrait’s became all the rage, an easy way to capture the likeness of the subject. But, how do you relate all of this to fashion?
Well, as I previously mentioned, portraits litter the pages of our favourite fashion magazines, the windows of our favourite clothing stores. In the fashion world, they’ve become almost as inescapable as they have in the realm of painting. But, if you think about it in a little more depth, what are the portraits in fashion magazines really of? Are you meant to be drawn to the men and women staring back at you from within the pages? Or is something else meant to be drawing your gaze, catching your attention? Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that these portraits are not meant to be of the models that we see in them. An multi million pound industry (and that’s under exaggerating) based around what we wear, is not very likely to base the industry, and the portraits, around the models. Perhaps, instead, we should look from a different perspective. These portraits are not of the models we see in them, but the clothes we see them wearing. It makes sense when you think about it. This is a world wide industry with one aim on it’s mind: to sell clothes. The purpose of
all its advertising, though on occasion it does bring to us a new model, is to make you want to buy the clothing you see adorning the figures in these pictures, in these portraits. After all, what use to them is an advertising campaign that doesn’t sell the one thing the industry needs to survive. So, when it comes to the fashion industry, maybe it’s time to give portraits a slightly different definition, or at least bend the existing definition to our needs. Rather than a representation of a person, think of these pictures of a representation of the clothes. Meant to display a likeness, the personality, and even the mood of the clothes. Yes, it does seem odd to give a personality and the ability to have moods to an item of clothing. But, again, here we can alter our perceptions of the words, and the meanings we usual give to them. The personality of the clothes, can be seen as the type of look that is meant to be achieved (boho, rocker, elegant, etc.). The mood, is the mood of the picture, that makes you think you could feel that way, if only you had that dress, top, those pants. It’s quite easy really, a simple definition, taken from people and
fitted to clothing. It can seem odd, to give clothing such human characteristics, so maybe I need to explain it a little better. I mentioned attributing a clothings personality to the look it is meant to help the wearer strive for. A leather jacket can help the wearer create a rock look, a gypsy skirt can create boho chic. Where we mainly think of personality as how a person comes across; a quiet person, a shy person, charismatic, kind, mean. When it comes to fashion we can give these aspects to clothing. Almost, giving them a life of their own. The personality of a dress, although something we wouldn’t normally think about, is something that draws us to them, whether we realise it or not! The mood that comes across in the portrait of a person is intended to give us an idea of what the person was feeling at the time the portrait was taken. When it comes to a fashion advertisement, the mood is created by the model, the way they look in the clothes, somehow transpires through those pages; and straight into our hearts. Our wants and needs become almost single minded; that we need
whatever item of clothing it is they are displaying to us. That that same item of clothing will make us feel that good if we owned it, if we wore it. The mood from those pictures is amazingly infectious, to those who love to look upon them. In all, it’s a rather impressive and original advertising idea. One that has since been picked up by many a different industry, but never as successfully as it has in fashion. They have personified their product, the very clothes on our backs, the shoes in our closets, the handbags on our arms, into more than just lifeless accessories. They have become items with their own personalities, that can create our perfect persona, and affect our very mood, just by putting them on. Most of us will have an outfit for every occasion, something that emits exactly what we need and want it to. We can become a seductress, a business man, anything we want, all through the clothing we pick from that campaign. The saying always went that a picture says a thousand words, but is it possible that a picture can sell a thousand dresses instead?
Written by Jade Shaw
The Untold Magazine 9
Hartmut Nรถrenberg, 27 from Germany Photographer & Retoucher
Nรถrenberg
The Untold Magazine 10
The Untold Magazine 11
Hartmut Nörenberg lives in “Ruhrgebiet” area. As the scultpor, he naturally go in education he prepareed for The Untold Magazine 12
the “Mülheim an der Ruhr” since his childhood, and feels at home in the oldest son of an orchestra-musician couple, and grandson to a painter/ touch with music and art with ease. Hartmut trusts that with his variety of the unique and creative requirements that the future has in store for him.
Motivated by his fathers abilities with photography, Hartmut’s desire to learn the tools of photography grew. After he was educated as a media designer for digital and print media, he completed his Bachelor Degree in Applied Cognitive and Media Science at the University of Duisburg/Essen. Today, he is working as a freelance photographer and digital retoucher. The Untold Magazine 13
The Untold Magazine 14
Credits for the shooting: Model: Marc Behrens from PMA Hamburg Agency Hair & Make-Up: Hanna Kurpanik Styling: Jenny Gold Photography & Post-Production: Harmut Nรถrenberg. www.hart-worx.com
The Untold Magazine 15
Ceballos
The Untold Magazine 16
Marcos Ceballos from Spain Photographer & Retoucher
The Untold Magazine 17
The Untold Magazine 18
The Untold Magazine 19
Sikorski “My area of interest focuses on the human body as a subject and an object in today’s popular culture. The commercial world induces and provokes to reflection on the problem of human appearance – what determines its norms and boundaries and how far we can go to gain esthetic perfection. Does such perfection actually exist or is it a fictitious and unattainable commercial forgery? A pursuit towards such perfection induces the use of modifications of the human body by the use of advanced tools that vary from Photoshop to the surgical scalpel and further innovations of science and technology. In this project I have explored fashion styles of certain subcultures that, in my opinion, are representative and important elements of popular culture. The appearance of these subcultures was a result of a disagreement of youth generations with established social and political systems driven by a spirit of rebellion and anarchy. It has brought a refreshing look and has inspired the fashion industry, which has broadly adopted new forms of expression.”
The Untold Magazine 20
Szymon Sikorski, 28 from Poland Photographer & Retoucher
The Untold Magazine 21
“My pictures depict unrealistic and artificial but human-like ‘creatures’ that are inspired by characteristic representatives of these subcultures. I have simplified the presence of these characters by concentrating on hairstyles and footwear as important features of each style. These created characters were produced through advanced digital manipulation in order to achieve their realistic and lively appearance and a sense of credibility.”
The Untold Magazine 22
The Untold Magazine 23
Idealistic Beauty Written by Cailyn Cox
W
hen we look in the mirror we critique ourselves based on the guidelines that society sets for idealistic beauty. When we go shopping, the images of perfect-figured and fine-featured faces of models smile back at us from billboards, magazine covers and shop window displays. In a modern forward-thinking society with freedom of expression- it seems that the way we feel about the human form and what we deem as beautiful is still very narrowminded. Beauty is the existence of applied ideas on forms yet beauty itself cannot be defined or quantified. We base our judgements on what we consider to be the social norm, and what is thought to be aesthetically pleasing. The idea of beauty differs through cultures, where one culture’s beauty can be viewed as another’s ugly (large and voluptuous women in the African culture are considered beautiful whilst in the
The Untold Magazine 24
Western world skinny is praised) yet beauty can only exist if there is reason for it to, and every age, location and social class seem to have a different view on idealistic beauty. Although our ideals can be culture bound, social science research indicates that to some extent we as the human species are genetically predisposed to find certain features of the human form beautiful, such as, facial symmetry, definition of muscle tone and body type. We specifically look for qualities which are considered strongest and formulate archetypes that are based on the health of the human body, which are then externally influenced by the stimuli we encounter each day, however, it has been noted that when our social norms shift, so to do these preconceived preferences and our standards alter to match the current influence. Beauty can also be considered as being subjective, as judgement is not always universal, but
Robert Lohse, 25 from Germany Photographer
The Untold Magazine 25
rather the object of an individual’s preference. Paraphrased by the philosopher Plato “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and what a person may find beautiful can depend on a vast range of preferences and subtleties. Whilst we may claim that beauty is only skin deep, there are still expectations for it to evoke sensuous and intellectual feelings within us and the very lengths that humankind will go to achieve this sometimes unattainable beauty include corrective surgery, the use of cosmetic products and expensive fashionable clothing. Ideas of classical beauty have influenced art throughout the centuries, with the traditions of portraiture in the West dating back to ancient Greeks and Romans, which portrayed the facial features of distinguished men or women engraved into coins. Artists have been commissioned throughout the decades to capture the appearance and opulence of the wealthy, immortalize beauty through portraiture and commemorate significant moments in the lives of sitter. Whilst the practise has been substituted by
The Untold Magazine 26
photography in modern times, the reasons remain the same, to record evidence of idealistic beauty which has been spread throughout centuries using portraiture. Similarly, in photography the photographers’ uses digital manipulation to ensure that society’s standards of beauty are achieved. Modern art has been redirected from the original portrait of the female body that celebrated a woman’s physique for being curvy and voluptuous, believed to be the ideal beauty. During the last century alone we have seen significant shifts in women’s beauty, these differences in expression, attitude, clothing and physical form further reiterate just how deeply rooted the concept of beauty lies within our culture. We can no longer compare the portraits of Renaissance women of the past to modern icons whose waif-like figures shown on screen and magazine currently dictate our ideals. During the 1900s slenderness became fashionable and the hourglass figure was the ideal beauty. A decade or two on and the 1920s saw the roles of women revo-
lutionized, as the traditional notions of femininity were challenged, women began to adopt a more masculine role within society and the work force. The short haired androgynous look became popular with the younger generation; some women even going as far as binding their breasts. Designer Coco Chanel and actress Marlene Dietrich were amongst those who altered the preconceived concepts of beauty in the 20s. Yet, the 1930s saw the breakaway from this masculine look to a traditional (by today’s standards) and wholesome feminine look with women who were tall and slim with narrow waist lines considered to be beautiful. Women that were celebrated during this time were actress Greta Garbo, Bette Davis and celebrity heiress Barbara Hutton. Fashion and economic influence changed the way women represented themselves, adopting classic and modest looks during the wartime in the 1940s. This modest, plain look became the ideal of beauty during the time as Joan Crawford, or Lauren Bacall set the standards for
beauty The 50s focused on women who were typified as being curvaceous, the focus was drawn from tall and slim women to shorter and larger built women, who were acutely in touch with their sexuality and femininity whilst simultaneously providing a look of innocence. Beauty icons during this era included Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Comparatively the 60s saw the revival of super-slim models and beauty was synonymous with a provocative nature as women found power through sexuality, society looked to beauty icons such as Faye Dunaway and Twiggy. It was the 70s that saw a more natural woman emerging, with Farrah Fawcett and Gloria Gaynor marking the return of a sexy, fuller figure. The hippie era brought with it freedom of thought which impacted this decade and the desired look was a mixture of disco, sexuality and experimentation. The 80s saw women become focused on careerism, power-dressing and tailoring became popular as did freedom of expression and individuality, it was a time
of bright, bold clashing colours and natural good looks that celebrated model Brooke Shields and Madonna. The influence of sexual empowerment brought breasts and hips back into fashion and the 90s found beauty in the athletic, curvaceous models of Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, that was until Kate Moss generated a revolution of the heroin chic look, her emancipated and waifish appearance changed the ideal of beauty from a fit figure to one that was more skeletal.
Beauty continues to have an impact on our lives, and philosophers have tried for decades to decipher as to why human nature places such significance on attractiveness. Cosmetics, fashion and surgical industries are thriving due to the immense importance society has placed on physical appearance. Plato has described beauty as a “property intrinsic in objects” which can be measured in “purity, integrity, harmony and perfection” and it seems as though this struggle for perfection will continue to absorb the human civilization for generations to come.
Robert Lohse, 25 from Germany Photographer
Written by Cailyn Cox
“These images were shot for a young, rising fashion lable with a weakness for beautiful inked people, like the wellknown, gorgeous tattoo-model Jay Jackson in this case. Last winter, we were taking these pictures in a huge industrial loft. About four years ago photography captured my heart and now I’m spending
almost all my time on searching for catchy faces, special natural lighting conditions and fine architecture, which would form an interesting motif. With the camera as my constant companion I love the documentary style, mostly very classic and minimalist. I also have an affinity to black and white photography.”
The Untold Magazine 27
Bird Callum Bird is a studio photographer based in Gloucester, and has a particular interest in fashion and portraiture.
Always trying to create unique and different images, Bird tries to stay away from normal styles of photography, and relies on post production to complete the effect that he was originally after.
The work is based around the saying ‘Behind every great man, is an even greater women’. I’ve combined that phrase with the concept of the Four Horsemen from the book of Revelations. Each horsemen’s traits have been turned into a style and applied to a female model, so that they would represent the female counterpart to each horsemen. These images also have a second series, based around the same theme but in a GIF format. The GIF’s are particularly special, with the face stationary throughout, giving an eerie feel; something that represents the horsemen.
The Untold Magazine 28
The Untold Magazine 29
The Untold Magazine 30
Callum Bird, 22 from the United Kingdom Photographer & Retoucher
Credits for the shooting: Title: The Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse Models: Lizzy Thomas, Anna Maxo, Lauren Brock & Chiedza Makuto Hair: Ellie Jones Make-Up: Bethan Brunell Designer : Siddra Syed Photography & Post-Production: Callum Bird
The Untold Magazine 31
The Untold Magazine 32
Natasha Ford, 19 from the United Kingdom Photographer
Ford
“The ‘Cheeky Sweeties’ shoot was inspired by Karla Powell’s make-up concept of ‘Vegetables’ where she used different vegetables for props to set off the make-up. We wanted the shoot to be fun, humorous and light-hearted. I also wanted the viewer to question what is around the models neck as I didn’t want it to be obvious at first sight, hence making it into a necklace/choker. The shoot was done with a home studio and an on camera Speedlite flash.” Natasha Ford is a young photographer currently based between Hampshire and South Wales, UK. Her interest in photography lies on the border of Fashion and Art, but she is still refining her style whilst pursuing her career at the University of South Wales, where she is in her First year of BA Hons Photography for Fashion and Advertising. The work she produces demonstrates elements of innovation, versatility and shows the immense amount of motivation that guides her work. Natasha’s high standard of work shapes the outcome of the images to be aesthetic and artistic as well as technically astute. Her most recent work has been described as ‘exuberant’, ‘whimsical’, ‘highly stylised’ and ‘hyper realistic’ and her concepts have been deemed as ‘limitless’, ‘awe inspiring’ and ‘inventive’.
The Untold Magazine 33
The Untold Magazine 34
The Untold Magazine 35
Credits for the shooting: Title: Cheeky Sweeties Model: Dannielle Nolan Hair & Make-Up: Dannielle Nolan Sweet Jewellery Design: Natasha Ford Photography & Post-Production: Natasha Ford Kit: Canon 5d MKii, 50mm f /1.8
The Untold Magazine 36
The Untold Magazine 37
Rankin:
A Life Behind the Lens Written by Jade Shaw Photography. Portraits. Everywhere you look you can see examples of them. Plastered on the side of buildings, of buses, across the pages of your favourite magazines. I can almost guarantee there’s been one that’s really caught your eye. If you were anything like me growing up, you cut out your favourites and stuck them to your walls, creating your own little gallery. Something about them grabs our attention, whether it be the model, the clothes, the jewellery, the setting, even the whole composition of the picture. Hardly ever is our interest created by who took the picture. The photographer themselves, who put this whole picture together, in exactly the right way, to grab your eye and keep it there. What do we really know about these people? The people behind the lens. Honestly, most of us know nothing at all about them. They are nameless to us. We’re more interested in what’s in the picture than who took it. We don’t really stop to wonder who the photographer is, or ask any questions about them. Was this their first shoot as a photographer? Or one of many? What other work have they brought to us, who have they worked with? The Untold Magazine 38
When you stop for a moment and think about it, the questions could be endless. Well, I’ve decided to try and answer some of these questions, about a certain man in particular, a man who’s work has caught my eye more than once; Rankin. A photographer who’s work has been seen worldwide.
Taisiya Sary from Moldova Photographer
The Untold Magazine 39
Taisiya Sary from Moldova Photographer
The Untold Magazine 40
Born John Rankin Waddell in Glasgow 1966, Rankin (his business name) is a British portrait and fashion photographer. Brought up in Hertfordshire, he originally attended Brighton Polytechnic to study accounting. During his time here, he discovered his heart didn’t lie in numbers, but elsewhere, and dropped out to attend Barnfield College Luton to study photography, and then moved on to the London College of Printing. It was at this time that he met Jefferson Hack. In 1992 the two launched Dazed & Confused magazine, a magazine that focused on music, art and fashion...and that’s where the story really begins.
Dazed.
Rankin is known for creating some landmark editorial and advertising campaigns. His mass of work includes some of the biggest brands, celebrated publications and even charity work. He has shot for Nike, Dove, Women’s Aid, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Elle, German Vouge, GQ and Wonderland, to name just a few! His work has always managed to question social norms, and the general idea of what is beautiful. Furthering his attempts to make us question the socially accepted idea of beauty, Rankin published a quarterly anti-fashion magazine in late 2000, made solely to celebrate Dazed & Confused the unconventional beauty magazine provided a hidden all around us, named platform for emerging simply Rank. stylists, designers, photographers and In the business, Rankin writers alike. It formed a is known for his intimate distinctive mark in the arts approach and playful sense and publishing platforms. of humour. He became It created its own cult known for his band, artist, following, and moulded supermodel and politician its followers trends. It has portraits. It’s been said he’s been thanked for bringing photographed everyone some of the brightest from “The Queen of fashion lights into our England to the Queen foreground. In 1999 Rankin of Pop,” and he became and Jefferson formed known widely as a celebrity Dazed Film and TV, a portrait artist. Some of his follow on from the success best known works include; of the magazine, which Kate Moss, Madonna, would produce a mast-head David Bowie, Lily Allen, broadcast for Channel 4 The Rolling Stones, named Renegade TV Gets Vivienne Westwood and
Queen Elizabeth II. However, not one to stick to what society expects, he has produced a number of campaigns that feature only “real women”, marking him as a genuinely passionate portrait artist, no matter his subject. He won awards for his work on Dove’s “Real Women” campaign, which epitomised his approach to his work, and he has often been said to “stick out due to his creative fearlessness.” Rankin constantly pursues personal projects which push his limits, and tend to have a high impact. Whether his work is personal or commercial, Rankin has managed to take some of the most iconic, contemporary portraits, and shown the world his ability to stay frank and his passion for our modern culture.
be a cover star, Rankin snapped around 1600 people on the streets of London, touched up there photo’s, printed and hung them within half an hour of the picture being shot. This amazing live spectacle ran for 7 weeks before going on tour to Mexico and New York, and was mainly inspired by Rankin’s love of how photography was progressing in the modern, technology driven, world.
In later years Rankin has also turned himself to the study of photography via television. Working for the BBC he has shown a number of documentaries, including “The Seven Photographs that Changed Fashion”, “Shooting the Stars”, and “South Africa in Pictures”. His love for charity work has seen him travel the world, creating As well as his number of some of the most powerful magazine publications, charity campaigns, as both Rankin has published photographer and director. over 30 books, and is regularly shown in galleries Rankin really does seem worldwide, including his to be a man determined own gallery in London. His to share his love with “Show Off” exhibit opened the world, and not settle in Dussledorf in 2012 and for the minimum’s of his drew in 30,000 visitors in 3 talent. Constantly pushing months. Proving that even himself to follow his as a British photographer, heart, and not his wallet, his work is appreciated and Rankin has created some loved world wide. 2009 of the most eye catching, was, perhaps, the biggest thought provoking portraits year for Rankin, as he set photography of our time, off his mammoth “Rankin and he doesn’t look to be Live” show. Rankin Live slowing down any time showed that anyone could soon!
Written by Jade Shaw The Untold Magazine 41
Taisiya Sary from Moldova Photographer
Sary
The Untold Magazine 42
The Untold Magazine 43
The Untold Magazine 44
Taisiya Sary is a completely self taught photographer living in Moldova. With nearly two years experience in photography, her main style in her work revolves around the most interesting creatures in the world; people. The ‘Faces’ series began when Sary spontaneiously decided to shoot a portrait of her sister that had been absent for some time. The timing was right, as Sary has just finished the completion
of her home studio, and her sister would be the first person to photograph in it. Followed shortly after, was a self-portrait of Sary, and later on this collection of beautiful portraits, with images ranging from friends to family. Throughout the series, the lighting and background remained similar to carry on a feeling on unison, and now, the series is eighteen images large.
The Untold Magazine 45
Taisiya Sary from Moldova Photographer
The Untold Magazine 46
The Untold Magazine 47
The Untold Magazine 48
Callie Elizabeth Lane, 20 from the United States Photographer
Lane Three years ago, Lane discovered that her gift was photography. Her passion is expressive, fantasy and beauty shots; particularly using macro photography. Many things have inspired her, with nature being the most important. Naturally drawn to the trees and the natural settings that she finds in the woodland areas. Not only does nature inspire her photography, but it also inspires her writing - which has resulted in her book, naturally titled ‘Beautifully Broken’, that has been created over the past nine years. Both her writing and her photography intertwine, and each contributes to the development of the other. This photo series is titled ‘The Sisterhood of Seasons’ On each model’s head lies a wreath that represents a season: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer.
The Untold Magazine 49
The Untold Magazine 50
The Untold Magazine 51
Credits for the shooting: Models: Sarah, Callie, Jaclyn & Kati Hair & Make-Up: Eclipx Photography Styling: Eclipx Photography Photography & Post-Production: Callie Elizabeth Lane
The Untold Magazine 52
The Untold Magazine 53
Portraits of Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood’s Princess Written by Rachel Whitworth
A portrait, people sometimes say, can capture a magical moment of chemistry between the camera and the person standing in front of the lens. For a portrait to have magic, the viewer must feel a sudden impact upon first glance. To test this hypothesis if you may call it that, I begin to test the theory by typing ‘famous photography portraits’ into Google images.
The Untold Magazine 54
The first thing I notice as the images load onto the screen is that the majority of them are black and white. Black and white in colour, the majority are equally as dull in charm and character, not grabbing my attention in any way. I doubt such photographic magic existed until the day Joseph Jasgur first captured the mesmerizing Marilyn Monroe in 1946.
With honey brown hair and at the naïve age of 19, the images taken that day pinpoint the birth of a superstar. From that day on, Marilyn Monroe would grow as a star and dominate not only Hollywood and the world, but the photographic world also. She changed her childhood name – Norma Jeane- and created Marilyn Monroe but little did she know that this name would become one of the most famous names to exist. Take for example, your everyday teenager placed on a chair with 4 portraits in front of them. These portraits are all of people with fame and power to their name and of course, appear in the Google search of ‘famous photography portraits’: Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Blondie and Marilyn. The only portrait the person knew was Marilyn. This is because her portrait is everywhere. It is more than an image nowadays; it has become an art form. In my bedroom I have at least 5 canvasses with Marilyn’s portrait on. Walking into my room is like walking into an art exhibition displaying the beauty of Marilyn Monroe’s portraits. You can walk
into your local DIY centre and there before you is wallpaper with Marilyn’s image, ready to be hung around the home. For my 18th birthday, my sister made me cupcakes with printed icing paper with Marilyn’s face on. As well as being able to look at Marilyn’s portrait, I could now even eat it! Whether it is her beauty alone that makes her photographic portraits so popular or whether claiming to have at least one thing in your house with Marilyn’s face on is the ‘cool’ and contemporary thing to own, it still justifies the dominance of her portraits.
teeth sum up the famous image. Taken from the film ‘Seven Year Itch’ it is not only a naturally beautiful image but the magic of the moment is created by the fun she is having, presenting a carefree feeling and a feminine charm. I cannot speak for every girl, but the emotion in her face inspires me in more ways than one. The dress blowing up could have been a very embarrassing moment, although she makes it magical, teaching women and girls worldwide a valuable lesson: this lesson being to always make the best out of any situation and to keep It is obvious Marilyn smiling. So I hang this created magic with the image on my wall next to camera, by the huge the many other portraits, amount of photographers all equally as striking. that wanted to capture her. The outfits and the My first memory of location are different on seeing Marilyn Monroe each photo shoot, but was at a relative’s house one thing remains- her amongst other Hollywood beautiful charm. It is legends such as James a charm so iridescent Dean and John Wayne. I it pierces through the remember the 2 images canvas, paper or screen. A of Marilyn painted onto personal favourite of mine the ‘Gentlemen Prefer is possibly one of the most Blondes’ special edition famous portraits of the ceramic plate. This plate star. The bright white dress now stands in my room, blowing over the drain, like the crown jewels sit the gleam from her eyes as in The Tower of London, striking as the brightness precious and unique. of her perfect Hollywood This portrait epitomises
the glow of Marilyn, with her alluring eyes and luscious red lips, she creates a healthy image of happiness and health. The still shots of this film, are said to be the inspiration for contemporary celebrity artists such as Madonna , who based her ‘Material Girls’ video around the legendary Hollywood film which Marilyn shines in. Other celebrities mimic Marilyn Monroe’s image, as they acknowledge it is a powerful one and they understand her portraits are a worldwide spectacle. Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton are all beautiful blonde women who appear as Marilyn in certain ad campaigns such as Gucci. They can all be defined in beauty terms as to being a blonde bombshell, but Marilyn Monroe is the blonde bombshell. We all know Marilyn for her blonde hair, if somebody said to me “Marilyn had black hair didn’t she?” I think I would have to assume they were from another planet that is the only justified reason for somebody not knowing Marilyn Monroe’s portrait image! It is a crime!
The Untold Magazine 55
In artistic terms, Marilyn’s features are strong in the black and white photograph, with a completely black background to emphasise her soft curls of her shiny blonde hair. Her eyes in this portrait seem to captivate you with a passionate emotion, luring you to observe the image. To look at this image, directly into her eyes, is a powerful experience. I most definitely believe the photographer had a magical moment here with Marilyn. Her skin is so smooth and flawless, her lips so full and her beauty spot sitting so perfectly and unique, that this portrait almost seems to have been painted: it is simply perfect in all artistic forms. Her portrait image is simply stunning that it is not just photographers that wanted to capture Marilyn, but artists too. Take for example, Andy Warhol, who took Marilyn’s portrait and combined it with pop art to create a contemporary piece. The pop art piece
of Marilyn includes the modern ideal of artistic expression with the glamour of old Hollywood. But this just proves that Marilyn’s portrait will never be old, and neither will she only exist in old Hollywood, as her legend lives on with the rebirth of her image in all things modern. There are many famous images of Marilyn Monroe, all of which are beautiful portraits of a beautiful starlet. I think the most natural and relatable image has to be the snapshot of Marilyn looking over fabulous New York. Every portrait I see of Marilyn I see charm and charisma. She pushes past the hardships in her life and smiles beamingly for the camera, that famous smile hiding many negative experiences. Her smile radiates and shows that even when we feel completely low, there is always optimism and happiness can always be found: we only have to look at a
Written by Rachel Whitworth
The Untold Magazine 56
portrait of Marilyn to remind us of this. But I look at the image of Marilyn in New York, beaming as the cars rush past and her hair blowing in the breeze and truly believe here she is happy, here is the place where the world can continue but she can pause and watch it go by for a while. There is a magical moment between every portrait of Marilyn and the camera, but there exists a magic in this image, between Marilyn and the camera which I do not see in any other. She is truly inspired by her environment, and her happiness is so prominent. She shows she is like every single one of us, taken aback by a new surrounding, overpowered by amazement and emotion, showing her to be a normal human being, regardless of her Hollywood status. A portrait, I believe, is an image of a person, predominantly centred on the face. However after looking at literally hundreds of images of the iconic Marilyn Monroe, I have now
created my own definition of a portrait. The lens should capture a moment, not just any moment, but a magical moment that can only exist once in time but exists forever on film. Every portrait should snap shot a feeling, emotion and moment we will never get back. A portrait doesn’t have to be beautiful, because it is the magical moment that creates this beauty: but with Marilyn Monroe it is obvious every image will be beautiful, especially with those eyes and lips! She is magical, a flawlessly beautiful woman who inspires me. She sparkles like a Disney princess, but perfects a portrait like no Disney princess could! Marilyn Monroe’s portrait will go down in history, but will never become history. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I believe this. But when looking at a portrait of Marilyn, beauty is in the eye of every beholder!
By The Untold
Issue #3
The Still Life Issue Now taking submissions
Issue three deadline for submission is August 23rd 2013. All submissions must be submitted before that date otherwise it wont be considered. Submission requirements and terms and conditions can be found: www.theuntold.co.uk/contribute
www. twitter.com/CookeEditor
www.facebook.com/TheUntoldMagazine
The Untold Magazine 57