Zoomorphism

    When thinking about what i am going to project onto my models in my images, i have considered what will be aesthetically interesting, as well as having connotations and meaning. I have decided to use an animal theme, using animal skins/patterns and projecting these onto the bodies of my models. Initially this thought came about because i imagined that animal prints will be a simple theme to keep- i can choose 4 very different animals, with distinctive patterns, that will be easily recognisable. Similar to in Solve Sundsbo images, where the spots and stripes look animal-like, however i am going for a more clear look as in Eva Muellers work. 
   
     I then thought about which animals to use, and realised that animals are interesting in fashion photography because they can be used to give the model a character to play. Certain animals are often used as symbols/metaphors for human traits.When researching this i came across the term 'Zoomorphism' which is defined as 'The tendency of viewing human behaviour in terms of the behaviour of animals'. This sums up exactly what i think i can represent when using animal projections onto human models. Zoomorphism is very present in religion. Examples of Zoomorphism in Christianity include the common representation of the Holy Spirit as a Dove, and Mark as a Lion. There are also many Gods whose images are represented as animals- the hindu God Ganesha has the head of an elephant, and the Ancient Egyptian 'Horus' who is often represented as a man with a falcon's head.

Zoomorphism in Fashion Photography

   I found a set of images by 'Helmo', a photography group, called 'Betes de Mode (fashion animals'. These are an example of people being likened as animals in fashion images- the models faces have been carefully posed to correspond with that of the animal. In the two images below, it is interesting to observe how although the models have a similar pose in each image, the cheetah photograph has a powerful, defiant look whereas the bird looks more elegant and delicate.
I will consider this idea when choosing which animal skins to use in my images.