A Collective Frenzy

I will now obsess over the late, great Irving Penn.

The triangular shape of the figure is naturally what draws people to the image, but her expression is what is so magnetic. Gripping her neck, she expresses what seems to be a concern. If you wanted to be imaginative, you'd say she was a woman of esteem who has just been poisoned. You might say that she's a woman who overdressed for her diner date. The background is just abstract enough to leave the setting up to the viewer. It's a very clean image, although being slightly overexposed.

This image is framed not only by the white negative space, but the space between the woman and the veil frame her even more. Her big eyes seem to pierce through the screen itself, and she has the almost iconic Vogue scowl on her face. The simplicity in this is what makes it so elegant. I'm very drawn to her neck and collarbone, and the definition in her cheekbones creates enough shadow to accentuate her lips and eyes.

This image is one of my favorites. I love the distortion the bottle creates, and it complements the slender figure of the woman. I love the way her face pokes out from behind the bottle, pursing her lips to her cigarette. Her padded shoulders add interest to her attire, and there is a mystery surrounding the man with the lighter. The bottle being half empty fills the negative space, and also adds purpose to the wineglass on the left side of the image.