Connecting essay 5- Dazed, Rosea Posey and Lipstick misconceptions

Dazed Magazine

Rosea Posey

Lipstick Misconceptions

The above images by Dazed Magazine and Rosea Posey are both vastly different however have both inspired my final image series Lipstick Misconceptions in their own ways.

The image from Dazed magazine is a prime example of a glamour head shot which is used commonly for mediums such as magazine covers.  These images use a portrait orientation with a deep depth of field in order to achieve an even focus on the entirety of the image.  A solid colour is often used on the background in order to allow the subject to stand out and appear bold.  A bold masthead is also often featured on a magazine cover featuring the magazine name.  

The image by Rosea Posey also incorporates a portrait orientation and a deep depth of field however the subjects leg is photographed opposed to their face.  The image has a more political meaning than a simple magazine cover as the writing on the back of the leg which reads phrases such as "slut" or "proper" are displayed next to marks resembling a ruler on the back of the girls leg which indicate that the length of a women skirt dictates whether she is for example a slut or proper.  This image addresses rape culture and the idea that many rapists will say that because a girl had a short skirt that she was asking for and that therefore their rape was justified.

The image series which I have created Lipstick Misconceptions incorporates both the glamour shots of Dazed magazine and the political ideals behind Rosea Posey's image.  A deep depth of field is used as well as portrait orientation and the face is the focus of each shot.  An even coloured background draws the viewers focus to the subject as well as the bold and striking mast head used.  The mast head has been repurposed in my series by reading slogans such as "Prudish Nude" and "Whore Red" opposed to a magazine title.  The idea of slogans is to challenge the misconceptions that people may have behind lipstick colours in a similar way to how Posey challenged popular belief regarding skirt length for example many would associate a bold red lipstick with passion and promiscuity whilst others may associate someone whom only wears pale nude lipsticks as being a bit of a bore or a prude.  

If I were to recreate my final images I would mark the position that the subject should stand in in order to allow for their position to be uniform throughout the shoot as they have to move repeatedly to change lipstick colours and as a result the subjects distance from the camera varies occasionally.

In conclusion although both of the images which I found bare little similarity they have both influenced my work in their own ways and have created a deeply interesting end result.