One feature that shows up in this series a lot: shiny swimsuits.
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| Photo: Walter Iooss Jr |
Is it some primal attraction to reflections? Is it the way the glare seems to focus on points of the model’s body like a magnifying glass? Is it the subtle shimmers that help outline the contours of the curves?
Who knows? I like shiny swimsuits, and I’m obviously not alone, because there are a ton of them. This wasn’t even the only shiny Stacey pic in the running for this post.
In any case, I very much disfruto this image. It’s a great representative from the all-bikini 1997 issue — the bikini is perfect, and not least of all because Stacey is occupying it.
Stacey has so many beautiful shots. Usually she’s smiling warmly or leveling those languid, hypnotic eyes at us. But here she’s gazing off, momentarily oblivious in her own world, fingertip to mouth, clearly fantasizing about some intensely pleasurable activity, like maybe drinking a Coke.
The pose is a variation on the classic Buddha pose, but her top leg is pulled up a little, like she’s absently writhing, luxuriating at the feel of her own skin-on-skin.
It’s an almost unforgivably gorgeous photo of one of the all-time greats.
Absolutely great choice of photo! Leaving aside the obvious beauty of Stacey, this is also a masterpiece of mass-market commercial photography: The colors, the lines, the curves—notice how the long curved line that runs through the word "Coca-Cola" is echoed by the curve created by Stacey's right leg, right forearm, right hand, and right fingertip. Not an accident!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great observation, and I'm ashamed of myself for not seeing it before.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, it took me years and years to learn to take my eyes off of...the obvious parts(!), and instead learn to refocus on the subtle artistic elements of a photograph like this.
ReplyDeleteI'd also note that these subtleties aren't really meant to be noticed consciously—mass-market commercial photography is not designed for academics and pedants like me to analyze out loud. These subtleties are designed to work on the subconscious part of the brain.
Another great thing about this photograph is how well it flatters the model's body. Stacey Williams was known in the modeling industry for her very feminine hips, and this feature caused her some grief and frustration in other, more high-fashion corners of the fashion world. Here, however, without hiding Stacey's hips the photo manages to flatter them: through the sharp "V" angle of the swimsuit bottom, through her pose, and through her elongated legs and feet and toes.
ReplyDeleteFYI there is an alternative version of this photo that is cropped much differently: You see relatively little of the blue pedestal at the bottom, and above the Coca-Cola logo in huge blue stenciled letters is the name "G I S E L L E" , and there is a lot more white wall space all around.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer the version you chose though :)
With this pic I end up seeing the background and it just reminds me of the Elle Macpherson "Obsession" pic. Not that the pose or suit are similar. Must be just the red and white of the background.
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