I was inspired to write this short introduction to this film from 1978 starring Faye Dunaway called “Eyes of Laura Mars” by someone on a photography forum that said that some of my imagery reminded him of the film. I had totally forgotten how affected I was by this film as I had not yet been a photographer, nor had I ever considered the profession at that time.
In watching this vignette about the film, I was struck by the mastery of the images being shown and it dawned on me that none of it was manipulated in Photoshop. That is how I learned photography, never considering what will I do in post production once the photo shoot was a wrap. Yes there might be a painted by hand fine paintbrush skin retouch and some dark room manipulation, but not at all what we are capable of doing in post production today.
Images were shot by Helmut Newton who was also the visuals adviser on the set. They are also reminiscent of images by French photographer Guy Bourdin. The models were definitely the Top Models of the epoch like Lisa Taylor in the outdoor location girls fight scene.
Some great lighting and great photography from a film that really did (and this is rare) depict an epoch in fashion that no longer exists. It was this film and Blow Up that I believe had a very powerful and subliminal influence on my vision as a photographer.
PS… and thanks Rudra for the reminder
