Modeling Journey

I recently had the immense pleasure of viewing the Peter Lindbergh exhibition entitled "On the Streets" at the C/O Berlin exhibition space. I have been an avid admirer of Lindbergh's photographic work for most of my adult life and to see examples of his work up close and on such a grand scale was a dream come true. Lindbergh's influence on shaping the supermodel phenomenon throughout the eighties and nineties can be witnessed in the pages of Paris, British and American Vogue, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar during that era. Polish-born Lindbergh spent his formative years in Duisberg Germany, before moving to Berlin to study design and painting, and to pursue a career in photography. Lindbergh is recognised as one of the most renowned fashion photographers worldwide and has worked for high profile clients including Prada, Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani. 

Lindbergh's unembellished black and white photographs of mostly female models, even when carefully staged, often lend the appearance of a snapshot or documentary style photo. Many of Lindbergh's images are constructed without the use of dominant backgrounds or outre styling, focusing rather on naturalism and a purist aesthetic. In doing so Lindbergh is very much a visual storyteller and a bearer of people's inner souls. Lindbergh's book entitled "10 Women", features supermodels Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Tatjana Patitz, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Christy Turlington, Kristen McMenamy, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss and Amber Valletta in their most powerful and fragile, straight forward and playful, and emancipated and sensual states. Many of these images are iconic and continue to influence today's generation of photographers, stylists and models.

i-D Magazine delivers another set of innovative covers for it's Summer 2011 issue featuring a diverse group of models truly worthy of the "Super" tag. Amber Valletta, Behati Prinsloo, Stella Tenant, Kristen MacMenamy and Daphne Groeneveld pose for Craig McDean, Matt Jones, Paolo Roversi, Josh Olins and Dan Jackson respectively sporting the trademark i-D wink. Prinsloo looks uber cool with ghoulish Joker style makeup covering half of her face and ends up bearing a striking resemblance to Elle MacPherson. Valletta works it to full effect with electrifying, neon highlights and a hair style which pays homage to Blondie whilst McMenamy looks positively regal with her now trademark silver grey tresses encased in a crown of thorns. Rounding up the covers are hippie chick Groeneveld and the fashion's perennial favourite Stella Tenant.