>> I didn't think I'd be posting such a tribute but seeing as I'm surprised Sonny Groo isn't making a bigger shout about this shoot, I thought I'd do it for him. Reasons aren't anything to do with the fact that I'm obsessed with all things Michael Jackson-related. It's just that from the new issue of Mykromag, Sonny's current pet project, this shoot stuck right out and jabbed me in the eye in its singular and I think, unique instance.
They wasted no time in paying tribute to the King of Pop and on the day of his memorial service in LA, they managed to organise a shoot with Dutch duo Petrovsky and Ramone on location, in amidst the fans, the shrines and the chaos. These images are both strictly speaking a fashion shoot and a genuine bit of compelling documentary photography. Entirely void of fashion credits or any notes of styling (though clearly, outfits were pre-considered), this does tip the balance more towards being a documentary portfolio. Exactly how onlookers, fans and police forces took to this seemingly impromptu shoot going on is beyond me. However, judging by sparkly tee dude doing a moonwalk, don't think it caused too much of a kerfuffle and perhaps the fashion tribute was acceptable as part of the mourning/celebratory fanfare. There's something jarring between the posing model and a background situation that is entirely un staged and not set up which surprisingly works for me in a way that models placed in 'exotic' located shoots (Asia/Africa/South America/TakeYourPick) don't.
oh wow, what a tribute! i love photo journalism and adding fashion into the spectrum makes it so much more appealing. very very nice.
MJ<3 A great musician, style icon and fashion legend.
It’s a cool shoot. Having random people in the background erally makes a shoot more interesting for me – although I’ve got a feeling if it got done where I live all the people in the background would be swearing and pulling faces at the camera the whole time…
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what a great idea. love MJ, and love these images. thanks for sharing X
It seems like an amazing shoot overall that was made even better by being a tribute to the late MJ.
Wow, this is brilliant. Amazing photos, really.
-Meream
Perfectly executed and a very interesting concept.
The black and white adds to the ambience – good call all round.
Its completely fabulous
The pictures are filling me with an akward feeling tbh. All those people gathering together to pay tribute to MJ and then there is fashion shoot amongst the crowd which in its defense is also paying a tribute, or not? Isn’t fashion too much of self-indulgence? I mean there are limits or not?
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First off, I agree completely how oddly fitting it is to have a quasi-fashion-shoot amidst a scenario like that. I too, of course, think the pictures are fabulous.
I also wanted to add to the post you made a few down, about being so busy and keeping a blog. Don’t fret. I have literally only found out about your blog this past week, and it’s such a pleasure to know about it now and be able to visit. No matter how old and tired it may feel, fresh eyes will always be there to look. You’re an inspiration to me (and others, too, I’m sure) to break out of super-engrained tendencies and habits to just throw on a T and jeans every day just so that I won’t stand out from the crowd, won’t draw attention to myself, won’t be looked at differently. Even when I visit fashion blogs so often, every day, I still have the innate, pesky fear of being “the weird girl in weird clothes.” In some ways its such a little thing, but with only one life to live, why shouldn’t I wear what I really think is totally awesome? You do this, and pull it off, ending up looking not like “the weird girl” but instead, “oh my god… she looks amazing and beautiful and so interesting.” And we love it, so thanks.
Bette, I had that same initial thought…there IS something slightly questionable… and somehow if this was in Vogue or a mainstream publication, I would be questioning it somewhat in its intentions…but knowing what Sonny was trying to do with it an knowing it was a genuine tribute sort of rectifies that for me… but I do know what you mean…
wow, it’s been a loooooong time since i’ve seen such a gripping photo shoot, and although some might consider this inappropriate, I actually love how everything is just “happening” around the model, it’s kind of eery, but amazing they way it’s captured at the same time, thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow this photoshoot is definitely keeping up with popular culture!
Also Susie, I was flicking through the new Elle that hits shops tomorrow…I’m guessing you know full well you’re in the mag…it’s such a cool article about you!
Brilliant tribute!!!
It is a great shoot, it almost has a casual feel to it, like anyone could have just placed themselves in that moment (and so many wanted to) and it just happened to be a beautiful woman in high fashion clothing. Thanks for sharing…..
xoxo
This is brilliant. I don’t think I’ve seen the cross over of documentary journalism+fashion much recently. or at least ones that are done well. The models here appear very posed but it definitely works here with the MJ crowd/theme. I LOVE these.
Whoa.
This concept and the execution…wow. I love it. What an idea to have. The timing. Wow.
I can’t really convey how awesome this is in proper words, but it is awesome.
The first pic is a winner. lovet. RIP MJ
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am also obsessed with everything Michael Jakcsonish. There´s so much to look at, the sequins, the socks, shoes, jackets, hats, glove.
I adore him and miss him dearly.
first i was like ahh not more MJ, but it is a really great shoot
I think a fashion shoot at someones funeral is probably inappropriate but more than anything I think the resulting images are pretty poorly executed. Im also surprised that despite being “obsessed with all things Michael Jackson-related” his death seemed to go over your head, but this shoot jogged your memory. Considering the quote from Coco Chanel that is you blogs tagline, its weird that it didnt warrant a mention before this. A lot of blogs took the stance of ignoring the news as it is a pretty touchy subject that I myself am ambivalent about. I dont think these images are worthy of you changing your policy.
It wasn’t the funeral I believe but at the memorial service where the public participated in many different ways…. moonwalkers, costume tributes and otherwise… in my opinion, the shoot was part of that fanfare which I believe wasn’t all weeping and sorrow but about celebrating the life of Michael Jackson too….
Fair enough if you feel the images are poorly executed….
His death didn’t go over my head and in fact I did make reference to it earlier in the month with the Repetto shoes which was also a wee mention… this shoot didn’t ‘jog my memory’ but I felt like commenting on it because I personally loved the images in their own right and as an odd cross section between fashion and documentary which they are…
I don’t see it as a ‘touchy subject’… what ambivalence is there? He died, he was an icon, let’s celebrate all that was great about him…. that’s my take on it… end of.
LOVE this shoot. I don’t find it disrespectful at all (in fact, based on what I saw up by the Apollo in NYC, it seems like an apt tribute!). Thank you so much for sharing.
pic #7 – *GASP* SHOWING ME UP, NOW??
Nice pictures, odd concept…if there is one. It’s bizarre to me, I don’t know why… That last pictures especially makes me uneasy. the serious face paired with a peace sign…the message from that pic seems like “Peace or DIE” ???
Peace or Die….rather Heal the World! Thanks for the comments…Petrovsky and Ramone are Brilliant.
Oddly compelling.
Totally with you on the juxtaposition of model-and-unstaged-background front. It really does have an effect much more potent than ‘exotic’ alternative…
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scale simulations model thus