i heart Guy Bourdin

I absolutely lurve the photography of Guy Bourdin. Famous for his fashion photos from the 60's thru the 80's, his sense of composition is impeccable. He has a very graphic sensibility and uses color and light to its full, heightened effect. I think its accurate to say his work is surrealist (in fact he was a protege of Man Ray) with underlying sadistic sexual desires. Looking at his fashion photography I always thought he over exaggerated the objectification of women to make a point against the fashion industry, taking it to such extremes as to point out the absurdity of it all. But the more I read, the more it seems this was personal, coming directly from his life and own misogyny than some statement about the fashion industry. But he was very private and guarded about himself so much of his reputation is shrouded in mystery and based on speculation. Credit is owed to French Vogue for giving him absolute freedom, and daring to run these pictures in a mainstream magazine. "In his introduction to ''Exhibit A,'' Luc Sante writes, 'For Bourdin, beauty never appeared without its accomplices death, filth and laughter.'" But apart from his personal issues, it is the sheer beauty and genius of these photos that take my breath away. I can stare at one photo just soaking it in and marveling at the composition, color, light, and mischievous deviance of it all.