Photo Analysis

I have asked twenty people their personal view on the two images bellow. The first image is of Ella Harper, known by her 'Freak' name of Camel girl. Harper is a human oddity and was born with a rare orthopaedic condition in which causes both of her knees to bend backwards. The second image is of Maria Jose Cristerna, also better known by her 'Freak' name of Vampire woman. Unlike Harper her body was alternated by her own cause, Cristern from a Farley young age was modifying her body to create her ideal Vampire identity. Cristern currently holds the world record for the woman with most Body modifications and tattoos.

Photo taken by: Charles Eisenmann.

Image found on: http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2015-02/3/4/enhanced/webdr04/enhanced-23414-1422955823-13.jpg

Both images got a similar response which I wasn't actually expecting. I initially thought the majority of people would have little emotion or opinion to either image due to society cooling down to body modifications and tattoos. In fact everyone I asked said that both images were 'Scary' and 'frightening'. 9 people out of the 20 I showed the images to said that the more they looked at the image of Harper the more they felt sorry for her. The image of Crister also got an open response, one man who I asked had quite a large collection of tattoos on his arms. I did think that he would have a positive reaction to the image but instead he suggested that the image was 'Extreme' and 'Ugly'.

From this I have the understanding that possibly we are not quite at a stage were 'Freaks' are accepted in society. I have decided that through my research I think it would be interesting to find a way in which I can use 'Freaks' in my images that create a closed response. Therefore I am going to take an outsiders view and alienating them, not looking into their stories and ignore them as characters but instead underpins them with forms of objectification therefore my images views will feel no engagement in their true personality's.