Mikael Wardana “Candy Colored Fashion”

Mikael Wardana has captured lots of contrast in this series for “KAREN” magazine. I chose these images for my research as they stand out and grab the viewer’s attention, not only from the colour choices but also the poses, composition and lighting.

Compositionally, Wardana has framed these images so the subject either fills almost the whole frame or around a third of the frame. The two images where the subject fills the frame are impactful because the model and her outfit are the only thing that we have to focus on. The model with the blue wig is staring out of the frame, to the right, and has a strained look on her face. Her clothes are dark with different textures which add depth to this image, as well as contrasting starkly with the background and her bright hair. The model looks distressed in a way, and the emotion of the photograph speaks to me and draws me further in. Wardana has used harsh lighting which give off defined shadows and bright highlights and the drama from this technique adds to the unsettling feeling given off by the subject’s expression. This furthers the drama caused by the contrast of the two main colours: red and blue.

Wardana has shot this woman in an impactful way; he has used hard lighting and styled her in heavier textures which all contrast with the soft and delicate aspects of her facial shape and skin. By doing this, as well as photographing her with a strained expression on her face, this image gives off a feeling of discomfort to the viewer. Perhaps Wardana is trying to convey a message to his viewer that they should welcome the discomfort, and that it could open up new doors for them. The main audience for these images are the readers of “KAREN” magazine.

In all of these images from this set the model is posed in a very powerful way; we are looking up at her and she is posed in way that looks statuesque. This, along with the powerful way in which Wardana has used colour to create contrast make these images stand out and grab the viewer’s attention.

Bibliography

Online Sources

• WARDANA, M. 2012. Candy Colored Fashion. [online]. KAREN magazine. Available from: https://www.mikaelwardhana.com/KAREN-13_1 [Accessed 9.10.18]