Thursday 1 December 2011

Research; Nude Pregnancy - Magazine Covers

Due to me wanting to have my model as the main focus point, with a plain background in my image, I looked at some old, famous magazine covers. 
Although they are fashion-like poses, they still capture the mother-to-be's beauty and own personality, as well as her baby bump.


This image is by photographer Annie Leibovitz, that graced the August 1991 issue of Vanity Fair, illustrating a famous movie star beautifully bursting with life and proudly flaunting her body.
At this time, this image was an instant culture buster. The audience were full of constipated critics, cranky subscribers and fidgety news stand buyers, who the editors and publishers surely knew would regard a pregnant female body as "grotesque and obscene." Demi Moore's hand bra helped to elegantly frame the focal point of this dramatic symbol at that time of female empowerment. To me, this image is a brave, stunning work of art for that time, which conveyed a message that challenged a restraint society.


Monica Belluci also posed naked for Vanity Fair, in protest against restrictive new laws regarding fertility treatment in Italy.
The actress poses against a tree supporting the idea of 'natural beauty'. The way her hand holds her bump emphasizes the curves of her body along with the arch of her back.
Her arm which is draped across her chest directs the focus point to her bump, which is the main point to the photograph.


This magazine cover is more recent. This image still strongly reflects the mother to be (Christina Aguilera) own personality and style. The make-up and leather jacket is very fashionable, just like herself. Although she is carrying a child, she is still her own person. Christina is presenting that being pregnant is beautiful and by her facial expression and pose, being pregnant can still make a woman sexy and admirable.
The way the light highlights down the center of her body, draws attention to all her curves. For example, the highlight on her neck, reveals her collarbone, the second highlight is on and to the side of her breast, the light then spills onto her bump, emphasizing the roundness and smoothness of her tummy, then the final highlight on her skin is near her hand, highlighting her hip bone. This shows the contrast between how small her hips are in comparison to her bump.


This photograph of Myleen Klass is also very recent. She looks very dominant in the way she holds her posture. Her facial expression expresses that she is honored and proud of what she's achieved. - To be carrying a child. Her skin has a very healthy, peachy glow to it, as does her face. This may be due to the idea of that when a woman is pregnant, she 'blossoms'. The minimalist use of make-up, highlights the idea of the natural form. Also with being nude, not only is it natural but it represents the way we come into the world, as will her baby when the time comes.
The way Myleen is standing, the viewers focus entirely on her bump. Her pose also gives an 'S' shape to her figure, similar to the popular and admirable hourglass shape every woman aims to or wants to have generally.

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