Helmut Newton's Diversity / Unicorn Factor Explained

I went to the library last week to look at the photography books to see if photographers followed the same conventions of non-diversity as brands do now when choosing their modes. Interestingly, while I was flicking though a large Helmut Newton book, I found these images:

 

 I adore the image above. It shows an elderly woman dressed up to the nines sitting alone in a bar. Her makeup is very reminiscent of Berlin in the 20s with her dark eyes, thin strait brows and small doll-like lips. But what I love about this photo is that she's completely going against the conventions of how to look like an elderly woman. Shes taken the time to make herself up and shes going to show it off! It's fabulous.

 I like this image because although the model is young, she is completely different to the rest f the models that Newton usually shoots. The image is still provocative bu the model is barefaced with her hair scraped back which gives it a sweeter coating. She has an engagement ring on but she is still posing provocatively, throwing away the conventions of the promised woman. Her face and body are full of freckles, something that usually would be seen as a flaw, but she is still glamorous and gorgeous. She is revealing her freckles, not hiding them. She is diverse and not ashamed of it.

 The above photo helped me illustrate my point when trying to explain "THE UNICORN FACTOR"

I have coined the term 'the unicorn factor' to explain my idea of truly beautiful diverse people - when somebody is physically diverse but completely confident and sees it as something that makes them unique and fabulous rather than an outcast.

The woman above for example. The photo is not particularly stunning. She looks sad, embarrassed and self conscious. She could be dressed and styled exactly the same way but if she held her head up and posed for the photo like she was the most stunning person in the world it would be beautiful! She would look more beautiful and her flaws would become individual trademarks. I thought this image was a good contrast to show the unicorn factor.

These images have also helped me decide o two of my shoots, an age based one and one based on facial flaws.

Further Understanding of Diversity

I came across this photo of an Albino turtle swimming amongst regular turtles and thought it perfectly symbolised the idea of diverse beauty. Although it is different to all the other it looks graceful, majestic and beautiful.

This is the kind of thing that I want my photos to portray at the end of the unit - that being different, eccentric and unique is something to be admired, not mocked.

THE UGLY DUCKLING

The Ugly Duckling is something else that has helped me understand diversity. The tale is that the duckling is brown and grey and all the others are yellow and pretty, so he is sent away into hiding until he realised he has transformed into a swan, and is accepted again.

There are to ways of looking at this:

1) its a shallow story that tells people you'll only be accepted if you are beautiful

2) its a lovely tale that's explains that he was ALWAYS a swan and therefore ALWAYS beautiful it just took the right people to see it.

I take this tale in the second way. I think it can be applied to people. Don't judge them on looks because you never know who they're going to turn into.

This has helped my understanding of diversity through looking at it though other peoples eyes.