The seven photographs that changed fashion

Vimeo Link to: The seven photographs that changed fashion

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In this short film, John Rankin Waddell better known as his professional name 'Rankin' explores fashion photography over the last century. He started his career in 1992 as a magazine publisher with a business partner opening a path way for photographers, stylists, writers and designers. He has worked with many different brands such as Nike, swatch, dove, pantene and other significant brands. He has also worked with Harper Bazaar, vogue and other worldwide magazines creating cover shots for them. He is often seen as a celebrity photographer but he has also photographed the Queen of England. he also shoots for national charities. Rankin recently turned his hand to creating documentaries with the BBC and the seven photographs that changed fashion is one of these documentaries. 

I found this documentary very interesting and it gave me an insight more into the world of fashion as I believe I need this if I want to be a make up artist in the fashion industry.

He explores seven photographs that he believes changed the fashion industry in the last century. Whilst recreating these photos for himself with current and well known models and celebrities such as David Gandy (swoon), Sophie Ellis Bexter, Erin O'Connor and a few more. 

(Images right are the original images and the images to the left are the modern versions taken by Rankin)

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The first photograph Rankin recreated was an image taken in 1934 for Vogue. The fashion photographer for this image was Cecil Beaton who worked for Vogue and Vanity Fair. He became famous for creating images with unusual backgrounds. 

Rankin used the singer Sophie Ellis Bexter and added modern twists like styling and make up. He also took the image on a variety of cameras to see how the image would have turned out in 1934 and in these modern times. I really like this image and the make up in particular. As you cant really tell what make up was used in the 1934 image as it was taken in black in white the make up artist could really design anything with a strong bold lip. I like the purple and the strong contour. 

http://magazines.famousfix.com/tpx
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ngdom-january-1950/

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The second photograph Rankin  recreated was an image taken in 1950 in Germany for a Vogue cover. The fashion photographer was a man named Erwin Bulmenfeld. The interesting fact about this image is it was first taken in black and white, bleached out. And then the colour added in the retouching stage. The older image looks modern and kind of like pop art. The model used for the modern version was Heidi Klum, Rankin wanted to use her as she enjoys the creative process and is one of the most versatile models in the fashion industry today. I really love this image and I can see why it is very iconic in the fashion industry.

http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/20
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The third image Rankin recreated was an image that was created for Harpers Bazaar in 1955. It shows a model standing with two live elephants. It was called 'Dovima with Elephants'.  The photographer was called Richard Avedon who is known for his portrait and fashion photography and for a big part of his career the leading photographer for Harpers Bazaar.  According to Rankin the composition of this picture is almost perfect and the drama and spectacle that makes this picture so special in the fashion photography industry. The modern version Rankin created features model Erin O'Connor who is well known for her work with M&S but also because she was perfect for the modern photograph because she had worked with the original photographer, Richard Avedon at the beginning of her career.

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iley-Jean-Shrimpton_01.jpg

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The fourth image that Rankin transformed into a modern image was an image created in 1963 by David Bailey. The photographer of this photograph is a man called David Bailey.  When Rankin came to recreate this image he had none other than David Bailey there with him standing over his shoulder (talk about pressure!!!). Rankin used his girlfriend who was a model to recreate this image and I think it turned out beautifully, a modern take on the original fashion image. 

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The fifth image Rankin recreated was a fashion image from photographer Helmut Newton. This inspiration for thi image came from Newton's childhood in Berlin. The original Model came and helped Rankin on this shoot and help him set up shot with herself stepping in as model. The modern image by Rankin came out like this.

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The next photograph that Rankin recreated was as image from 1970 for vogue. The photographer is called Guy Bourdin. Rankin's recreated image to me only has similar styling to the original. The model looks completely different to me but I can still see the approach he took and I understand it. 

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The final image Rankin chose to recreate was an image from 1984 called 'Fred with Tyres' by Herb Ritts. Rankin chose to use model of the moment David Gandy for his modern recreation. This image changed the way men where portrayed in fashion so Rankin thought it would be a good image to finish on and recreate.


Overall I found this documentary very informative and interesting to watch and then research upon.