Man Ray saw the future.

Man Ray was ahead of his time, indeed, way way ahead of his time. He’s the kind of photographer that will always inspire and scare other photographers – forever – b/c he did things first and best that will continue to come and go from fashion. What does this mean? Well, it means after I use solarization in my next story, later whilst I’m loafing around Cafe Gitane pontificating on the trends I’m setting, I’ll have eating away in my conscious the fact that Man Ray already hit that nail on the head nearly 100 years ago. (This goes even for artsy lesbian pornography, which I’m not shooting yet, but which Man Ray already did.) I really have noticed solarization is trying right now in fashion photography. It’s hard to gather enthusiasm about it in it’s modern Photoshop-filter form, at least compared to Man Ray’s pieces…just look at this pic and how timeless it is:

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photo: woman with folden arms, © Many Ray (date unknown)

vs. this recent pic by Ruven Afanador (with Art Dept), who’s other work I’m fond of,

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photo: © Ruven Afanador (publication and date unknown, found here)

Or if you’ve seen much of Inez and Vinoodh’s portraits (at Art and Commerce), you’ll see an – intended or not – development upon Man Ray’s blurred faces.

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photo: La Marquise Casati, 1922, © Many Ray

vs. this portrait of Philip Seymour Hoffman for the New York Times 2006 Great Performers Series (slide show here).

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photo: Philip Seymour Hoffman, © Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for The New York Times

All fantastic work.

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