Documenting the Creative Process

Ruth Fremson's creative solution to designer Joseph Altuzarra's restrictions on
photography during the creative process of designing his clothing line.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/shooting-fashion-but-not-too-much-of-it/

     This photo is part of a series by Ruth Fremson, who photographed designer Joseph Altuzarra for the Times. Not only were her photos presented on the Lens Blog, but they were also used for the profile piece "Another Season, Another Show" published on the first day of Fashion week. In this series, Ms. Fremson documents the creative process of Mr. Altuzarra as best she can, due to his many stipulations and restrictions on her photographs. Seeing as these photos were coming out before his clothing was going to hit the runway, there were several creative roadblocks in Ms. Fremson's way. As a journalist, they frustrated her, but as an artist, she was inspired to use what was in her surroundings (such as mirrors), and open up her field of vision to an intriguing point of view.
     The image is of half a model (all the photographer was permitted to show), with the designer shown in the mirror on the right hand side of the image. The two subjects are kept neatly in their own separate backgrounds, that are connected by the exposed pipe on the white wall of the work space. I feel that this is what gives the photograph some artistic resonance, and a meaning to the image itself. The entire series of work is meant to show the creative process of the designer, and the connection he has with his work. The composition of this piece perfectly showcases how a clothing designer may be detached from his pieces, be it by gender, physical distance, or something else, but there is always a deeper, personal connection with every garment the designer may lay hands on.
     I was drawn to this image because it was different from everything else I'd been seeing on the Lens Blog, and as important as war photography is, I feel this is documenting something I can not only understand, but something that makes me get interested in the back story of the photograph itself. From the series of photos presented, I feel as thought I'm getting to know Mr. Altuzarra, but at the same time, I feel like I'm intruding on a moment of fierce focus and concentration on his work. The passion that is conveyed through the photos is very compelling.