Madi McSherry
This picture was taken by the American photographer Diane Arbus in 1966. This piece is titled “A young man in curlers at home on West 20th Street“. What compelled me to this photograph is the sense of femininity captured. Diane Arbus frequently photographed men in a feminine light. From the long painted nails, smeared mascara, plucked eyebrows and hair curlers, many of the elements in this photograph emit womanly vibes. What I believe makes this photograph so successful is the black and white contrast, adding extra emotional depth to the photograph, and the man’s slim features adding to the female essence.
For this picture I wanted to relater to the color, crop and femininity of the original picture. I had my model wear lace clothing, put on smeared mascara and highlight his slim body frame to emphasize the female feel the original picture emanated.
My goal for this picture was to establish eye contact. Eye contact creates a sense of intimacy which is commonly associated with woman. In this photo I still have him wearing makeup and have the lace shirt straps visible in the background to keep the womanly aspects consistent.
For my last picture I took a more up-close approach. I added the prop of the rose to incorporate my interpretation of femininity; beautiful, but sharp and bold on the edges. The all black background but highlights on the petals of the rose and face are specifically highlighted. Overall, my main concept for this picture was to successfully capture the male in a feminine light.
Other Images From This Shoot
PhotoChronologies 