Week 5- Colour Contrasting and complimentary Practitioners

Guy Bourdin

(2 December 1928, Paris – 29 March 1991, Paris)

Guy Bourdin was born to a spanish father and Belgian Mother but when Guy was only an infant his parents separated and he was sent to live with his grandparents. Guys father was only 18 when he was born and soon re- married after leaving Guys mother. Guy says that he only saw his mother once and remembers her having red hair, pale skin and heavy makeup. You will notice in some of Guy Bourdins images that he photographs pale white models with ginger hair, just like his mother. 

Guy Bourdin was a French fashion photographer. In the 20th century he was known as the one of the most successful Fashion and advertisement Photographers. Most fashion photographers capture the beauty of the fashion and the model but Bourdin added a different dimension to his photographs with vibrant colours and models in strange poses.

I really like this photograph because of the colours. I wasn't too sure what colour the background was but i decided it was a red-violet and that the one piece that the model is wearing is a Blue-green. On the colour chart Blue and Red a contrast colours because they both come from opposite segments of the colour wheel, Blue comes from the cooler half and Red comes from the warmer half. This means that the Red violet background and the Blue green one piece are contrasting colours which are really effective in this photograph. 

The colours in this photograph compliment each other nicely and I really love how they are not bright and in your face, these colours are a pale almost pastel colour. The models skin almost looks blue aswell which I feel pulls the image together nicely. On the colour chart Blue and Orange are complimentary colours which is why this image works so well. So simple yet very stunning.

Mario Testino.

Mario Testino was born in 1954 in Lima- Peru. Mario Testino is a famous fashion photographer and his work has featured in two of the most well known magazines in the USA, Vanity Fair and Vogue. Ever since Mario was just a little boy he had 'passion for fashion' he was known to get his school uniform altered by a family tailor so he could look different. When Mario was young adult he went to many different universities until he moved to London to study photography. Mario actually lived in an abandoned wing of an old hospital when living in London. Over the years Mario has published 11 books. Mario has photographed Madonna and Princess Diana and actually became the royal families favourite photographer, he took photos at Prince Harry's 18th birthday and Prince Charles and Camillas first wedding Anniversary.

I love the contrast of the warm reds, orange and yellows in this photograph, and how he has that splash of green in her dress. It ties the image together nicely. 

I find this image odd because of all the different patterns and how there are no solid colours. But you can distinctly see the use of the cool coloured background and dress then the Warm red floral head dress.