David Bailey

David Bailey is a hugely successful photographer especially during the 60' at the same time as Brian Duffy. His work was first discovered when he was an apprentice and not only did people love his work but also him because he came from a working class family.

 

The model in this image has been portrayed as a strong woman. Bailey uses her hands by placing them on the lower part of her body and the top to connect the whole image together. In these positions; a line is created down the centre of the image which the models body lines up with. The clothing that she is wearing looks like the upper part of a backless leotard suggesting that the model is actually a dancer. She would have to be strong to be able to put up with the strain that the body has to go through. Naturally she is also trained to hold some very awkward positions for long periods of time so she could easily allow Bailey to create any image he wanted. When he photographs women he likes to make them feel comfortable; asking them to tell him a story or show him a movement. Which would get them into a completely natural state for when he takes the photograph. The model looks very still and the edges are well defined. The hair however has movement this would suggest that Bailey has used something to keep it moving whilst the shot was taken. I think that two lights would have been used for this image. One would have been positioned above the camera, facing down at the model and the other would be from the left focusing on the backdrop.

This photograph goes against the common conception that models used for fashion photography are made to look almost perfect. The make up was done to a very high standard which is to be expected, the eyes and lips are the main focus points looking at the face. The hair however if a complete mess. This may have been done in order to portray that nobody is perfect, that everyone has something about them that they wish could be better. Imagery like this might not have been perceived this way at the time; however at the present a lot of the magazines are being criticised because of the amount of photoshop is used on a model and how they are "idolised" as perfection even though it is impossible to achieve.

I think that several lights may have been used in this image. Two or maybe three could have been used on the background in order to completely eradicate all shadow and make it a completely clean white background. Then I think that a single light was placed infront of the model and slightly above the height of her head in order to create the shadow under the nose, jaw and cheakbones. However I think that this light used a softbox diffuser because the reflection in the models eyes are square which would explain the even coverage across her face and hair.

Numbers and film borders are visible around the image