Post by Ace on Dec 28, 2004 11:18:08 GMT -5
National Post: Dunea and Nigel Parry found celebrities' favourite body parts are often their least perfect ...
Samantha Grice
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Celebrities aren't often known for their modesty. Magazine covers are airbrushed and publicity appearances orchestrated to show off the stars' best assets lest they do anything to dissuade the movie-going, TV-watching, CD-buying public.
Similarly, when celebrity portrait photographers take on a job, it's often tied to a new movie, book or disc and thus they are meant to portray their subjects according to someone else's view.
Two such photographers, couple Melanie Dunea and Nigel Parry, celebrated for their portraits in such major publications as Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine and Newsweek, were looking for an opportunity to peel away the plastic layers of stardom and involve the celebrities in the photographic process.
"It's a luxury you can't often afford, asking the subject to choose the way they would like to be photographed when you are employed by a magazine or an ad agency," Parry explains.
While delayed at a tiny airport in the Bahamas, the two, who are accustomed to photographing whole faces or entire bodies, settled on a plan to ask celebrities, "What part of you is precious?"
The ensuing book of 97 subject-chosen body parts is often surprising considering its multitude of "imperfections" deemed most precious. And yet, the balding heads, hands badly in need of a manicure, wrinkles, calluses and scars, as seen through Parry and Dunea's camera lenses appear as beautiful as the seemingly perfect lips, legs and eyes chosen by others.
Tony Bennett picked his hands. So did Pierce Brosnan, explaining, "They help put my trousers on!" Billy Crystal chose his mouth, and Ellen DeGeneres selected her ass.
Speaking of which, Parry says more than a few celebrities picked X-rated parts as their most precious but, appropriately, changed their mind after considering all royalties from the book go to the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Mind you, model Brooke Burns chose her bare bum and actor Eric McCormack was photographed nude, albeit discreetly covered by a newspaper.
Designer Tom Ford also chose his hands and posed defiantly sticking up his middle finger. "One of the most precious things in life is the ability to say 'fuck it' when unimportant things start to weigh you down," Ford said in the quote accompanying his photo.
"That was a great surprise," says Parry. "I didn't expect him to say that, but given the stuff he was going through at the time [Ford quit his job at Gucci in March], understandable."
Parry was also pleased with Harrison Ford's choice of his feet, as his quote explained they are the only excuse he has to buy shoes. "It gives insight into Harrison Ford, that he is into shoes. You would never imagine that -- well, at least I wouldn't have."
There is also a starkly beautiful and insightful photograph of Johnny Depp and his breath. "This was very surprising," says Parry. "And a very thoughtful thing."
================================
I thought I mentioned this book, Precious before but did a quick search and couldn't find any mention. For anyone interested the photo of PB's hands is not one photo but a multitude of small B&W's scattered over the page of him opening a champagne bottle.
Many of the rest of the photos in the book ar interesting as well. It's worth a look, at the least.
Samantha Grice
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Celebrities aren't often known for their modesty. Magazine covers are airbrushed and publicity appearances orchestrated to show off the stars' best assets lest they do anything to dissuade the movie-going, TV-watching, CD-buying public.
Similarly, when celebrity portrait photographers take on a job, it's often tied to a new movie, book or disc and thus they are meant to portray their subjects according to someone else's view.
Two such photographers, couple Melanie Dunea and Nigel Parry, celebrated for their portraits in such major publications as Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine and Newsweek, were looking for an opportunity to peel away the plastic layers of stardom and involve the celebrities in the photographic process.
"It's a luxury you can't often afford, asking the subject to choose the way they would like to be photographed when you are employed by a magazine or an ad agency," Parry explains.
While delayed at a tiny airport in the Bahamas, the two, who are accustomed to photographing whole faces or entire bodies, settled on a plan to ask celebrities, "What part of you is precious?"
The ensuing book of 97 subject-chosen body parts is often surprising considering its multitude of "imperfections" deemed most precious. And yet, the balding heads, hands badly in need of a manicure, wrinkles, calluses and scars, as seen through Parry and Dunea's camera lenses appear as beautiful as the seemingly perfect lips, legs and eyes chosen by others.
Tony Bennett picked his hands. So did Pierce Brosnan, explaining, "They help put my trousers on!" Billy Crystal chose his mouth, and Ellen DeGeneres selected her ass.
Speaking of which, Parry says more than a few celebrities picked X-rated parts as their most precious but, appropriately, changed their mind after considering all royalties from the book go to the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Mind you, model Brooke Burns chose her bare bum and actor Eric McCormack was photographed nude, albeit discreetly covered by a newspaper.
Designer Tom Ford also chose his hands and posed defiantly sticking up his middle finger. "One of the most precious things in life is the ability to say 'fuck it' when unimportant things start to weigh you down," Ford said in the quote accompanying his photo.
"That was a great surprise," says Parry. "I didn't expect him to say that, but given the stuff he was going through at the time [Ford quit his job at Gucci in March], understandable."
Parry was also pleased with Harrison Ford's choice of his feet, as his quote explained they are the only excuse he has to buy shoes. "It gives insight into Harrison Ford, that he is into shoes. You would never imagine that -- well, at least I wouldn't have."
There is also a starkly beautiful and insightful photograph of Johnny Depp and his breath. "This was very surprising," says Parry. "And a very thoughtful thing."
================================
I thought I mentioned this book, Precious before but did a quick search and couldn't find any mention. For anyone interested the photo of PB's hands is not one photo but a multitude of small B&W's scattered over the page of him opening a champagne bottle.
Many of the rest of the photos in the book ar interesting as well. It's worth a look, at the least.
More likley, he wants to cover up some hideous speedo. 
