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Irving Penn's Unique View of Fashion Photography

1/6/2016

Now that we have all survived holiday parties and New Year celebrations, we may be ready for a fresh dose of inspiration. Creativity never stops and there is always an interesting art exhibition to visit and new things to learn. If you have time, stroll through the "Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty" exhibition at the American Art Museum in Washington D.C.

This show will introduce you to the magical world of Irving Penn. This American photographer, who passed away in 2009, is known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. He worked for Vogue and did advertising work for clients including Issey Miyake and Clinique.

Penn was among the first photographers to pose subjects against a simple grey or white backdrop and he effectively used this simplicity. His black and white prints are notable for their deep contrast, giving them a clean, crisp look.

I was, no surprise, most drawn to Penn's fashion photography. His work is so interesting! A lot of fashion photography focuses on the product - the thing to sell. Penn completely disregarded this and used models and garments/shoes as shapes to be organized in a visually appealing way. Take a look below and get drawn into the mood Penn creates in each of his photographs.

I promise that you will enjoy this photography exhibition. Even if fashion is not your passion, Penn's work is magnificent. He had a great understanding of beauty and creativity and will pull you in.