Fashion as Photography

As I was sitting in the laundromat a few weeks ago and biding my time until the dryer was finished, I picked up a pretty recent copy of a fashion magazine that was just laying about for people to read. I was sitting outside since it was still sunny and warm at this point and a small little blurb in the magazine caught my eye. It mentioned something about a recently published book based on this one guy's blog who took photos of creative outfits all over the world. He originally started his blog in New York as a stay at home father, and decided to start a blog of people he found on the street wearing great clothes and combinations of. He'd post the picture and then comment on the outfit, or sometimes wouldn't post a comment at all.

When I got home that night, I checked out the blog The Sartorialist at www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

As a lover of fashion and everything vintage, the images just blew me away. I want every outfit, every accessory, everything! except I can't afford it all, so I admire the images and wish.

The colours just pop off the screen. In most images, the foreground is in focus with the emphasis on the people and their choice of outfits and the background is out of focus allowing your eye to keep on what is important. The people, the colours, the accessories.

Some of the people made me smile and some look sad, but they dress impeccably. I never got that feeling of wanting to know what that person was thinking about, what were they looking at, or why weren't they making eye contact with the lens, but I've fallen in love with clothing all over again as a result of these photos.

These images are so strong for me because they are about style. The clothes are important of course, but also the exposure of the picture, the lighting as most is natural lighting outside, and not just a great concept.

Not only is this artist photographing what he loves, but he's got a book now published of the same name, The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman. This is sure to be on my holiday wish list.

Here is what I want to do: Take my camera and spend 3-4 hours walking around my neighbourhood. I want to find 5 people who fit my definition of impeccable fashion sense, stop them in the street and photograph them. They might say no, but they might say yes!