Haris Nukem

The lighting in this series by Nukem is harsh on the models; creating blown out highlights across the skin where it is coloured red and blacked out shadows underneath their jawlines and breasts. This, along with the use of the plastic-like-painted-on-covering gives the subjects a shiny and doll-like look but with very human faces. Even the posing is stiff and doll-like; particularly the image of the two women holding hands. The monotone red gives this series a racy and dangerous feel to it; the red makes me think of blood, anger, and lust. This along with the scantily-clad women and interesting posing choices, namely the model pretending to shoot herself in the head, further this feeling of discomfort. In one photograph the model tears at the red paint coverings; giving off the idea of peeling off her skin as if being herself is uncomfortable.

Nukem has chosen to increase the saturation and clarity on these images which continues to facilitate the surrealism and bizarre doll-ism achieved by the palette and posing choices. I can’t decide whether these images are erotic or violent; perhaps they are both. The red of the background is much flatter than the red on the models and so they stand out from the background instead of melting into it.

The drama from these images are tied together with the lighting, posing, style choices, as well as the dark and bold make-up that the models are wearing. I feel that this series says to the viewer that these women are threatening and yet in the last image they hold each other tenderly, perhaps they are a Bonnie and Clyde type duo: them against the world.

Warren Du Preez & Nick Thornton-Jones “Dreamland”

From this photo-series “Dreamland” Preez & Jones have a variety of different kinds of images all running along a similar theme. All images have been exposed for more than once, some more than others, and they look futuristic, particularly the bottom right image. The subjects are all women, some clothed and some nude, and all have been shot with the photographer looking up at the subject which gives us very statuesque imagery from the model’s; we are looking up at them and them down on us. 3 out of the 5 shots are posed so the model has her hand on her hip, a posing choice which signifies power and confidence from the subjects.

The photographers have used colour well to further this idea of futurism; the green and red contrast each other sharply but the addition of the muted pink exposure of the subject in between the red exposure and green background soften this contrast so it is not as jarring. The use of different exposures and different posing within them cause these images to feel uncertain in a way, almost as if the subject is stuck between 2 or more minds and the confrontation is separating her from herself. Additionally, in the bottom right image the model’s face is partially filled in with white as if she is only half human and, in my mind, half machine.

The audience can take from this the idea of uncertainty from the different poses and exposures, they could also take away feelings of being an “other” to oneself or not knowing oneself fully.

Alex Prager “RENEE”

Alex Prager’s “RENEE” is the perfect combination of bizarre and humorous: we are looking at a model from a very low-down perspective and can just see the expression of anxiety and disgust on her face as two birds fly overhead. The lighting is not soft; giving white highlights on the top of the hair and midnight shadows underneath it as well as almost completely voiding the birds of all detail. By using lighting like this as well as the choice in tonal range it gives this image a very cinematic feel, “Birds” comes to mind. The red and yellow of the jumper are brighter than the colours of the sky causing them to jump out and lead us up to the subject’s face and then on to the birds.

The way Prager has shot this is almost as if the subject has accidentally taken a photograph of herself whilst running away from a flock of birds and I find it pretty comical and straight up weird; it seems like an odd choice of positioning however, it works well to convey a sense of confusion and distress from the subject and communicate those feelings back to the viewer. I feel the audience of this image would see the startling nature of the situation and read those feelings from the subject’s face. I feel that this work isn’t about beauty or any kind of lifestyle but in fact demonstrates chaos and communicates a lack of control from the subject and the discomfort she feels from said lack of control.

Bibliography

Online Sources

• NUKEM, H. 2018. [online] Available from: http://www.harisnukem.com/image [Accessed 17.10.18]
• NUKEM, H. 2018. [online] Available from: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0jXdlBEiB/?taken-by=harisnukem [Accessed 17.10.18]
• THORNTON-JONES, N. PREEZ, W. 2013. Dreamland NUMERO 143. [online] NUMERO Magazine. Available from: http://www.warrendupreeznickthorntonjones.com/category/fashion-beauty/ [Accessed 28.09.18]
• PRAGER, A. 2010. [online] Available from: http://www.artnet.com/artists/alex-prager/renee-a-ZM8Dju8kQZYkHIdTzGT3xQ2 [Accessed 22.10.18]