"Parisians" by Vee Speers
- 1. Vee Speers - Parisians Presentation by Harriet Horscroft
- 2. This is a collection of photos from Vee Speers’ photo series, Parisians. Speers was inspired to create this piece after touring circus shows in France. Talking about her time doing this piece, Vee said "Paris is one of those cities where people can express themselves as they like, and no-one bats an eyelid. It’s easy to be inspired here." Each of these people pictured are people Vee met on her trip to Paris. She then moved to live in Paris in 1990. Personally I really like this collection of photo's. The photographer has used an amazing range of juxtaposition; the weird and wonderful people in the picture mixed with everyday scene in a black and white Parisians - Overlook
- 3. FACTUAL: This picture, took by Australian portrait photographer Vee Speers, is of a woman called Amanda. This was took in 2005. CONTEXT: This is the first photo in the “Parisians” photo series. All of the people in this photo series, including Amanda, Vee met in France.In an interview, Vee said everyone in “Parisians” were eccentric Parisians she had same across. “The Parisians were mostly strange, unusual or different.” TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer used a black backdrop, which could be a wall. There is also a chance she might of used softboxes and other various forms of lighting to make the picture clear. AESTHETICS: I absolutely adore the beautiful range of tattoos on Amanda. The fish, which looks like a carps, spreads beautifully on her body. I also like the effect of Amanda’s back being to the camera, and facing the wall. Not only does it create simplicity, but it allows the viewer to see and explore nothing but the model, as there is nothing else in the picture. #1 - Amanda
- 4. FACTUAL: This is the second photo in Vee Speer’s “Parisians” series. Vee moved to Paris in 1990, and published these photos in 2005. CONTEXT: It is of a little french girl, called Avril, coupled with her mysterious surroundings. There seems to be a man sitting down on the cobbled ground, wearing what I think is a lion mask, and holding a dog. The little girl looks like a young school-girl, holding a hula hoop. TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer used a street or an alleyway to shoot this in, preferably for effect. There is also a chance she might of used editing software to change contrast, focal point etc. AESTHETICS: I find this picture very fascinating. The photographer has specifically chosen top set the photo in a street or alleyway, maybe give the photo a deeper meaning. This meaning could be a number of things. But i like to think that the photographer is using juxtaposition to make the viewer thing about the meaning behind it. When seeing this photograph, I think about if the people in the picture are poor or not, or if they lived on the streets. The photographer may have wanted to get that thought to the viewers, or it could just be my personal interpretation. #2 - Avril
- 5. FACTUAL: This is the third picture in Vee Speer’s “Parisians” series. Speers studied fine art and photography at the QCA in Brisbane before working as a Stills photographer at the ABC television centre in Sydney in the 80’s. CONTEXT: Like all of the photos in this series, this was taken in France. The picture seems to be of a woman in lingerie being terrorized by bats. TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer used a decadent changing screen in the background. This picture is also indoors. There is also a chance she might of used advanced editing software to design and edit a frame around the picture. AESTHETICS: I really admire the creativity in this picture. It is so wonderfully random that bats are attacking this woman. The detailed changing screen and lingerie give an eccentric feel to the piece, whilst the bats add an element of mystery and excitement. #3 - Bats
- 6. FACTUAL: This is picture is the 4th picture in the “Parisians” series by Vee Speers. Vee Speers is widely famous portrait photographer from Australia, with pieces like this one being sold for about £6,500 worldwide. CONTEXT: This picture was took in France. When talking about this photo series, Vee said this series was all about showing to exterior, but not revealing much. She has definitely done that in this picture. TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer used a stairway inside a decadent looking house. There is also a chance she might of used softboxes and other various forms of lighting to make the picture clear. AESTHETICAL: I love the weird juxtaposition in the picture and how the picture leaves you asking lots of questions. Like the fact that there are some random shoes on the floor, and the person is wearing no shoes, and why is the person covering their face with a bizarre picture of a bulldog? I believe the photographer was trying, and succeeded, to get the viewers ask these question. I really love that about this photo. #4 - Didier
- 7. FACTUAL AND CONTEXT: This is the 5th pcite in Vee Speers’ photo series, “Parisians”. It is of a woman and a dog Vee met in Paris, called Dominique and Indy. TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer used a what looks like as a barn, for the background. There is also a chance she might of used softboxes and other various forms of lighting to make the picture clear. AESTHETICAL: I really like the quirkiness and oddness of the picture. The photographer has used an odd choice of surroundings, coupled with the quirky characters in the picture, makes a beautiful and subtle contrast. The fact that the image is black and white gives the picture a classic and refined look. The picture also give you a lot to think about, as the focal point of the picture (the woman and the dog) are so interesting to look at. #5 - Dominique + Indy
- 8. FACTUAL: This picture was taken in about 2004/05 by Australian Portrait Photographer, Vee Speers. CONTEXT: This is the 6th picture, out of 12, from Vee Speers’ “Parisians” series. TECHNICAL: This picture could have been taken with either a black and white film camera, or a DSLR professional camera. The photographer has used a sheet to cover up what might be a too interesting background.There is also a chance she might of used softboxes and other various forms of lighting to make the picture clear. Also, she would have probably used an advanced photo editing software. AESTHETICAL: The cute simplicity of this picture makes me smile. Looking through the photographers choice of models in this series of pictures, you can definitely tell they were chosen for a reason. For an effect. A standard picture similar to this would be boring. The photographer has cleverly used the tiny additions and quirks of the scene to make the picture interesting. The cute little dog jumping up makes a nice touch to the picture. #6 - Hortensia + Ruby
- 9. Vee Speers, an Australian artist, has lived and worked in Paris since 1990. Speers studied fine art and photography at the QCA in Brisbane before working as a Stills Photographer at the ABC Television in Sydney in the 80′s. After moving to Paris she began exhibiting her series ‘Bordello’ , followed by The Birthday Party, Immortal and Thirteen, engaging viewers with the dramatic tension of her portraits and her unique pallet of colour. Speers has exhibited in London, Paris, Miami, NYC, Atlanta, China, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, Italy, Tunisia, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, Norway and the United States, and her work has been published on the covers of Fotomagazin Germany, Zoom, Public Art, Photo International, Images Magazine, A Conceptual Magazine, The British Journal of Photography, The Sunday Times UK, Russian Photo and Video, Swedish Photo with features in Zoom, Art Investor, Germany, Shots UK, Photo District News NYC, Photographica Tokyo, EYEMAZING, American Black + White, Milk, Fotomagazin, Chinese Photography, Bloom, Arte Al Limite, etc. Speers’ book ‘Bordello’ with a foreword by Karl Lagerfeld is available world-wide, and her second book ‘The Birthday Party’ was released in October 2008 by Dewi Lewis, UK. About Vee Speers