Both
photos ran in the same issue of French Bazaar. I took the
editorial shot on the left; Herb Ritts took the advertising
photo on the right (we've never met). By the way, much of
the fashion advertising photography done for European
designers can be shot in an "editorial" style.
I characterize
Ritts' photo as being cool, and "intellectual." His use of
light, shadow, and contrast serves to produce a somewhat
abstract , highly sophisticated image which begs a cerebral
involvement of the viewer. There is an inherent mystery in
the Ritts' picture. The shadow on the model's back (which
creates the abstraction) appears to be the function of an
assistant blocking the direct sunlight.
By contrast I feel
my photo is a more predictable, albeit lush, and sensual
photo. One can appreciate the model's sexuality. I would
characterize my photo as being approached in a visceral
fashion.
This is not to say
that Ritts does not often opt for the lush, sensual, and
visceral approach in his photographs. I recall a sensational
series of photos of Kim Bassinger around the beginning of
this decade. I believe they ran in American Vogue, but they
had such a wonderful sexiness to them that I'm sure the
editors at Playboy would have been envious.
If one were to ask
Herb Ritts what he thought of my critique, he might agree,
or perhaps he would find it rather droll. SM