I have to admit that I have a special penchant to
the paintings of Tamara de Lempicka. Not because she brought cubism to Art
Deco, nor because she painted duchesses and socialites. Rather because of how she
wanted to capture people. She simply stated that her goal was “to return elegance to my models.”
As a street photographer, my “models” are always
people. There are no grand dukes in my photos, just everyday folks who without
pretending, have similar attitudes toward routine acts. Indeed, I have taken
photos across four continents and I have captured amazing similarities to
walking, sitting, being happy, being scared and about wondering. And, as de
Lempicka said, I have found elegance in the simplest of human behaviors.
… My favorite painting of de Lempicka is “La femme
en vert” a socialite dressed in satin green and a wide-brimmed hat. There is
something about the body posture of that young woman. I think it is how she
holds her left hand: her fingers are parted and she seems to be pushing an idea
away. Her posture is both calm and emblematic; she seems to invite with her
right hand on the hat’s brim while creating a distance with her left hand.
Another wide-brimmed hat painting I fancy is the
auto-portrait by Diego Rivera. There he has his pipe in his right hand and
seems much more at peace. The darker and neutral shades of that auto-portrait
are a total contrast to de Lempicka’s woman in green dress. And as such they
show a continuum I often seek in people’s behavior when walking the streets in
search of a moment to frame on film.
… Perhaps influenced by the Olympic Games of Rio, I
noticed geese swimming in perfect postures on a lake nearby. I am not a wildlife
photographer, but I wanted to capture that “synchronized swimming”. Fortunately
they swam passed a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and I timed my shot to trim
that hat with live feathers!
Which made me think of Lempicka’s woman in green.
And of hats in general. So, I wanted to put together a few of my photos about
hats and people.
Prescott,
Arizona. A hat, a selfie, myself and a third photographer
all in one frame.
Kyoto,
Japan. Volunteer street sweepers. The baseball hats are
non-pretending as is the body language of these retired citizens helping to
keep their streets clean.
San
Francisco, California. The cap on this street man is honest
and with no surprises – just like his candid statement to those who would spare
some pocket change.
Baltimore,
Maryland. The head covers are both to shade from the sun and
indicate identity during an Indian religious ceremony.
Lake
Cuomo, Italy. The fedora makes a statement, even
when reposing upon a table. The morning fog upon the lake and the fancy pipe
add a feeling of that cherished fare niente.
Hyderabad,
India. The turban and the cows give a sense of harmony.
Nazaré,
Portugal. This head wrap scarf is definitely that of a
working woman. She was selling fresh sardines on a hot day.
Paris,
France. Definitely a touch of elegance with that hat
matching the coat. She was buying Rillettes
or pâté in an open market.
Ferrara,
Italy. The casquette is almost anachronistic, although
shows a life well spent. When I took this picture, I could hear his wife talk
non-stop about how wonderful was the pastry they just had with their morning espresso
at a café nearby.
Bilbao, Spain. Talking about a life well lived and casquettes, here is a pensive yet peaceful moment between two man in a park.
Hats, caps, and head coverings have always connoted social
status, expressed individual style and attitude, conveyed religious or
spiritual affiliations, and of course shielded the wearer from the elements.
And in all cases, there is an elegance associated with
head coverings. One that can make a painting memorable or give a photo context.
There is no need for frills, feathers and flowers! Just the right match of the
person with the hat.
August 14, 2016
© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2016
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