One of the photographers that I often come across when researching controversial work is Bourdin. In 1950, Bourdin met Man Ray and became his assistant; creating a range of interesting and beautiful fashion pieces. He was one of the best known photographers of fashion and advertising of the second half of the 20th century. However, he started to develop a love for controversy and stylization - but because Bourdin had such a formal narrative power, he overcame the boundaries of controversial advertising photography.
Bourdin was the first photographer to create a 'complex narrative' - then quickly take a moment - sexual, provocative, shocking, surrealistic, sometimes even sinister. That was why to the outside world, his work was so controversial. These narratives that he created were often strange, mysterious, and filled with violence and sex. I really like his images because hardly any of them include the model's face. I think this is really interesting because instead he has chosen to just photograph their feet and/or legs. The composition in all of his images is first class and the colours in every image draws the eye straight to the model.
Although I do like Bourdin's images, I am wary that it is rumoured that he was incredibly cruel to his models during shoots. Bourdin is said to have arrived on the back of a camel to the offices of French Vogue and attempted to dye the sea a deep blue in the days long before Photoshop! He was an interesting character and this is definitely seen in all of his work...but that is why I for one love it.
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