By Steffen Francisco
The world of high fashion is often portrayed as a great
bastion of unassailable density, approachable only by those anointed few that
are deemed to have the ineffable qualities required. Scott Schuman’s work
is in direct opposition to the elitist default of that world. He
photographs people around the world in many situations, locations and outfits
where the main thread that draws them together is that these are people living
their lives and he showcases the fashion that exists in the everyday world
rather than on the runways of the fashion capitals of the world.
The main thrust of this body of work, The Sartorialist,
is a version of street photography that is centered on the fashionable everyday
appearance of people going about their lives.
Schuman takes street photos, sometimes posed and sometimes candid, but
always of people wearing what he considers to be striking styles. In addition to the photos, each post contains
a comment that is usually either positive or open ended in regards to the
subject
The work is wonderfully shot with an eye to both fashion as
well as lighting and technique. What makes
this blog especially interesting and has contributed heavily to the rise in
popularity of the artist’s work is the overall positive tone. Schuman eschews the highly critical and often
abrasive nature of the fashion world with his blog.
The photographer’s eye for lighting in natural situations and
backdrops that complement without distracting from the subject are both
techniques that I want to work on in my own photography. The ability to walk up to people, talk to
people and convince them to be in a photograph is something that I have been
working on in street situations but I have yet to become adept. Conceptually, I enjoy the artists message and
his ability to take fashion out of traditional hallowed halls and move it to
the new media of the internet.
No comments:
Post a Comment