Physiognomy - The Project
It was simple. I had a studio space. I wanted a project that I could wrap my mind around throughout the year. Inspired by two phenomenal photographers, Mark Seliger and Richard Avedon, the project slowly took shape and I set out. Instead of inventing the wheel - again - here’s the letter the participants received.
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Dear Business Owner:
Take it as a compliment or a curse . . . but, somebody thought your face would be an excellent candidate for this project. What project you ask?
Imagine the human face - it’s a landscape of amazing complexity. Have you ever looked at someone’s face and wondered why one has crow’s feet and another none. Or why one has smile marks and another has jowls? Is our face fingerprinted with our life’s experiences? Can we deduce who one is, by the mere physical characteristics of the face? If yes, then you just might happen to believe in the term, physiognomy.
Physiognomy / fizzee ognemee (plural -mies) n.1.FACIAL FEATUTRES of somebody’s face, especially when they are used as indicators of that person’s character or temperament. 2. JUDGEMENT OF CHARACTER FROM FACIAL FEATURES the use of facial features to judge somebody’s character or temperament. 1.[1]
My project is simple. Can we judge a book by its cover, specifically a person’s character by their face?
In 2008 I’m aiming to photograph 100 business owners in search of the answer. As a thank you, for your time you will receive a free 8×12 print of the sitting.
If you’re interested in participating, please contact me.
-Steve
[1] St. Martin’s Press, Encarta World English Dictionary (New York, NY, 1999) 1360.
[1] St. Martin’s Press, Encarta World English Dictionary (New York, NY, 1999) 1360.
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I quickly found out, my dedication existed, but so did my dedication to paid work and my project was quickly shelved to service clients - mind you, I love serving my clients - and the project drifted to the dusty bookshelf of my mind. Now, with a almost a year under my belt in-and-out of this project, I realize that it’ll be a multi-year project. Originally I wanted to photograph 100 business owners in a year, and record their expressions to a list of predetermined questions. Well, as of now I think I almost have 20 . . .kinda missed the 100 mark.
Now, my goal is to keep the project going, but with no quota of how many photographic interviews per year. Sure I have a secret number, I’m not telling - that’s why it’s secret.
Long term, I hope to have an interactive part of my site, where you can guess a person’s profession from the characteristics of their face. Until then . . . . a few of my favorite expressions . . . .
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
I love her shots . . . I had to include two.
What do I do?
What do I do?
Wanna participate? If you’re a business owner (non profits included), then give me a shout.
-Steve
