This is my first fashion show. I’m excited, not even an ounce of nervous. The enthusiasm to be doing photography in 2020 is overriding. The host, designer, photographer, and director is Anh Pham (theanharchist), and this isn’t her first. Her technique is precise, calm, and she has calculated demeanor that is a contrast to the loud technicolored surrealism she creates. Most recently she’s featured in Art Wired 2020 Feature Process.
Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, Farscape, and numerous other science fiction shows, I want to see this as a norm for clothing. I’ve never seen high fashion practical nor casual wear, but Anh’s designs felt more modern and closer to something I’d see on a random Tuesday. Amongst the models, I didn’t feel like their clothing was separated by a spatiotemporal bubble.
Do not take that as an implication that the attires were too normal or dull. Quite the opposite. It’s 2020 that has been proving to be the origin point of the echo of our past’s science fiction. The clothing is fashionable, but it seemed practical, familiar, a vertex of my youth’s television and today’s modern look.
The intent is to produce something that was against the grain, a form of anarchy. I wonder if anarchy is suppose to feel familiar. It’s probable that says more of my character than anything else and perhaps every person who agreed to the event too. There wasn’t a single bad vibe exchanged between any of us. One model threw herself into this to try something new and outside of her comfort zone. An idea I know too well.
Such a unique event. Another reminder, much like my friends’ wedding, that the human condition is to adapt. We pivot when pushed against. I’m glad to be able to be part of something that could only exist during this exact time. Together we all scream into the void, “We’re here!”
I’ve learned a few things and was reminded about a few more from this event:
Double check your camera settings. I shot more than half of the event in Velvia JPEG only.
Take more head shots. I wanted to be full documentary mode, so I chased after only candid moments. Nothing is wrong with taking headshots when it could expand the work. It’s useful for certain events… like a fashion show.
There was a lot of background noise, so I took less audio than I normally do. I know on the field audio won’t be perfect. I let perfection get in the way of goals.
Composition. Move more. I see a few shots that if I had moved, would have been better.
Make sure to text your significant other more. I get wrapped up into work easily. My focus goes from scattered on a normal day but changes to laser intense when doing photography.
Write down people’s handles so you can use them later. I added mostly everyone and would love to post them here, but I did forget a few people’s Instagrams. I know better from my journalism days.
If you’d like to see a slideshow, my Youtube has it here.
In no particular order, the ones I can remember:
https://www.instagram.com/heartshapedvanity/
https://www.instagram.com/slugsushi/
https://www.instagram.com/corbohydrate_vd/
https://www.instagram.com/darianxdasean/
https://www.instagram.com/reelnipple/
https://www.instagram.com/aneurcyst/
