Ford Prefers His Feet
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http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=2f
a0e33c-d7bd-4bf2-a215-228eb98f72dd]
Precious parts: Peeling away those made-up, dressed-up starlit layers,
photographers Melanie Dunea and Nigel Parry found celebrities' favourite body
parts are often their least perfect ...
Samantha Grice
National Post
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Celebrities aren't often known for their modesty. Magazine covers are
airbrushed and publicity appearances orchestrated to show off the stars' best
assets lest they do anything to dissuade the movie-going, TV-watching,
CD-buying public.
Similarly, when celebrity portrait photographers take on a job, it's often tied
to a new movie, book or disc and thus they are meant to portray their subjects
according to someone else's view.
Two such photographers, couple Melanie Dunea and Nigel Parry, celebrated for
their portraits in such major publications as Vanity Fair, The New York Times
Magazine and Newsweek, were looking for an opportunity to peel away the plastic
layers of stardom and involve the celebrities in the photographic process.
"It's a luxury you can't often afford, asking the subject to choose the way
they would like to be photographed when you are employed by a magazine or an ad
agency," Parry explains.
While delayed at a tiny airport in the Bahamas, the two, who are accustomed to
photographing whole faces or entire bodies, settled on a plan to ask
celebrities, "What part of you is precious?"
The ensuing book of 97 subject-chosen body parts is often surprising
considering its multitude of "imperfections" deemed most precious. And yet, the
balding heads, hands badly in need of a manicure, wrinkles, calluses and scars,
as seen through Parry and Dunea's camera lenses appear as beautiful as the
seemingly perfect lips, legs and eyes chosen by others.
Tony Bennett picked his hands. So did Pierce Brosnan, explaining, "They help
put my trousers on!" Billy Crystal chose his mouth, and Ellen DeGeneres
selected her ass.
Speaking of which, Parry says more than a few celebrities picked X-rated parts
as their most precious but, appropriately, changed their mind after considering
all royalties from the book go to the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Mind you, model Brooke Burns chose her bare bum and actor Eric McCormack was
photographed nude, albeit discreetly covered by a newspaper.
Designer Tom Ford also chose his hands and posed defiantly sticking up his
middle finger. "One of the most precious things in life is the ability to say
'fuck it' when unimportant things start to weigh you down," Ford said in the
quote accompanying his photo.
"That was a great surprise," says Parry. "I didn't expect him to say that, but
given the stuff he was going through at the time [Ford quit his job at Gucci in
March], understandable."
Parry was also pleased with Harrison Ford's choice of his feet, as his quote
explained they are the only excuse he has to buy shoes. "It gives insight into
Harrison Ford, that he is into shoes. You would never imagine that -- well, at
least I wouldn't have."
There is also a starkly beautiful and insightful photograph of Johnny Depp and
his breath. "This was very surprising," says Parry. "And a very thoughtful
thing."
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