brides-of-march-san-francisco

 

Brides of March by Herve Blandin

The Brides of March started as an annual Cacophony Society event that takes place in San Francisco around March 15th. Intended as a pun on the term Ides of March and a parody of weddings in western culture. The event, which began in 1999, is basically a pub crawl while wearing a thrift store wedding dress. Brides may be of either gender, but the wearing of traditional white wedding dresses, or something resembling them, is generally encouraged (Wikipedia).

 

Website: Herve Blandin

 

69 thoughts on “herve blandin – brides”

  1. Joshua Beckman

    I really love the multitude of focal points – both on camera and off – in this photo. You did a wonderful job collecting each face into the shot and capturing the many emotions.

  5. Patricia Lay-Dorsey

    Herve rules today! This photo ROCKS! Talk about capturing THE moment. You go, guy!

    Patricia

    P.S. Herve emailed me this pic shortly after taking it. What you see is what you get. No manipulations here, simply a hell of a great eye and a quick shutter release finger!

  6. Sidney Atkins

    Herve,

    I love it! A whole Robert Altmann film in one frame. I often try to take pictures along these lines, but this one is both more ambitious and more successful than any of mine.
    Before I read the text I was thinking perhaps this really was some kind of mass wedding… but it now sounds more like a Spring alternative to Halloween. Ah, San Francisco! Good job.

  7. bodo (subhrajit)

    31 faces (if i am right)…none looking at our photographer…all different expressions!!! i also like the filling-the-frame with faces only. i keep looking at the different faces and trying to think what was in her (by default) mind. i find the center-trio looking at the camera the most interesting somehow.

  8. bodo (subhrajit)

    Herve, I have a question. Did you take it looking through the viewfinder, or did you take it from-the hip? I ask because in situations like these, sometimes shooting from-the-hip ensures that none of the people is aware of the fact that the photographer is shooting, so nobody becomes camera conscious. Just interested to know.

  10. bb(homer)

    I LOVE THIS PHOTOGRAPH! :))))))))))))))))

    first, damn you sidney ;))), i too thought of Altman…the collision and madness (voices running concurrent, like twining rivers) of all these faces, AND NOT 1 FACE LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPHER (us)…that’s some brilliant visual cue!….what happens then: WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, WHAT IS THEIR STORY?….just absolutely mad-brilliant, the collision of all these stories: this mad-hatter in the front with the sepia-tint glasses, this Angela-Jolie bride in the front (leaping toward who?), the god-damned chicken (wtf? ;) ), the chrystal, the 2 men, the black-hat’d bride, cacophonous in the most MUSical sense…..

    and you know Old Man, i IMMEDIATELY SAW Gericalut…

    your pics IS A JOYOUS contrast to Gericault…

    the raft of the medusa

    http://www.delacruzarts.com/controversy/raft_of_the_medusa.jpg

    YOur pic is the Raft of the bacchanalia! :)))))))

    love u for this…

    RUNNING
    bb(homer)

  11. Homer (bb)

    I LOVE THIS PHOTOGRAPH! :))))))))))))))))

    first, damn you sidney ;))), i too thought of Altman…the collision and madness (voices running concurrent, like twining rivers) of all these faces, AND NOT 1 FACE LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPHER (us)…that’s some brilliant visual cue!….what happens then: WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, WHAT IS THEIR STORY?….just absolutely mad-brilliant, the collision of all these stories: this mad-hatter in the front with the sepia-tint glasses, this Angela-Jolie bride in the front (leaping toward who?), the god-damned chicken (wtf? ;) ), the chrystal, the 2 men, the black-hat’d bride, cacophonous in the most MUSical sense…..

    and you know Old Man, i IMMEDIATELY SAW Gericalut…

    your pics IS A JOYOUS contrast to Gericault…

    the raft of the medusa

    http://www.delacruzarts.com/controversy/raft_of_the_medusa.jpg

    YOur pic is the Raft of the bacchanalia! :)))))))

    love u for this…

    RUNNING
    bb(homer)

  14. Patricia Lay-Dorsey

    Regarding the question about why none of these “brides” are looking into Herve’s camera, I’d guess there was a crowd of photographers–including TV & newspaper photogs–around Herve taking this very shot at the same time. If you look closely, you’ll see that a good number of the brides on the right seem to be posing for a photog over there. Herve was just one among many that day. Lucky him because I’d bet he got the best pic of the day!

    Patricia

  16. david alan harvey

    PATRICIA…

    yes, i was guessing the same….but however he did it, my hat is off…one figure in the foreground to draw you in, and then you start wandering and wandering and wandering, with nobody paying any attention at all to our beloved attention seeking Herve….a modern day French Impressionist is our boy Herve…

    cheers, david

  19. Patricia Lay-Dorsey

    As they love to say, “…only in San Francisco”! That city is the only place in the U.S. that cultivates silliness for silliness’ sake. How I wish the rest of this country would take a leaf from their book, especially in these tough economic times. Silliness doesn’t cost a cent and it’s worth a million bucks in terms of good mental health!

    Patricia

  23. david alan harvey

    MARCIN…

    you have your OWN eye…and your OWN personality….your work should and does reflect who you are, not someone else….sometimes i wish i could be more DARK..but, it just doesn’t work…same as you, same as you….

    cheers, david

  24. Reimar Ott

    Wow! What a picture!
    Herve, you are the master of the group shot masters! Never seen a better picture of a group of people and never seen a funnier one!
    It is such a joy to look at all the faces and the many little moments within the frame!
    Big smile on my face!
    Reimar

  25. marcin luczkowski

    David,

    The funny thing… I always try to show this bright part of life not dark :)
    Who said I am dark?
    hmmm… my works I suppose…
    …anyway I see many influences from you in my work. Many. :)

    Herve,

    Where are you now??

  26. HERVE(!!!)

    (can’t see the pix or anything, got to this thread thru “recent comments”)

    Thanks for the great encouragements, everyone. I do not like my coffee sweetened in the morning, but today is an exception! :-)

    No “banned” words so far too…. All good!

    Bodo, no hip-shooting. Basically, you had a lot of photographers, and that’s what every face is responding too, 31 faces to as many photographers. I just stole everyone’s shot and made a bunch with it!

    I usually find that when you operate at your own pace, you can be within a crowd of photographers and chances are the shot will bear that little “self-portrait” touch (proof in the pudding, no one is looking at me!), which anyone knowing me a little, will recognize there…

    Cathy, back, yes, that’s my response to the friends and family asking me about post-trip depression…:-)

  27. Herve

    YOur pic is the Raft of the bacchanalia! :)))))))
    ————————-

    Now you’re giving me ideas, Bob, just when I have started taming the pig I (all french) have inside me… Next, the Rape of the Sabines???? (Arghhh….Back to Sobol)

    :-))))

  29. Akaky

    In any case, Herve, I am absolutely positive that I will positively worship and adore this photograph, that I will consider this photograph the apex, the acme, and the summit, all of which are just three ways of saying the exact same thing, of the photographer’s art, the greatest photograph ever taken by man or beast, that this photograph will be able to cure the sick, raise the dead, and set the lame to doing the lambada at near hypersonic speed, and I will do all of these things once I actually see your photograph. Trust me on this one.

  31. Sidney Atkins

    For ‘ERVE and Monsieur BOB BLACK,

    Song Lyrics: (to the tune of “Joshua Fit the Batttle of Jericho”)

    Zere’s a peekchoor of a shipwreck by Gericault,
    Gericault, Gericault,
    Zere’s a peekchoor of a shipwreck by Gericault,
    And it ‘angs in ze Louvre Musèe!

  33. andrew b

    This is the second time I’ve not been able to see the “selected photograph”…can see all of the page but the image. The other one (still can’t see it, just checked) was James Chance’s classic beef.

    There’s clearly something about either the way these two images were posted or the images themselves that is making them not show up for some of us…

    Can someone throw me a link to Herve’s page, if it’s out there somewhere? Really would like to see this…

    And I’ll leave with a quote from an excellent TED talk that KLJ posted on her FB page (thanks Kelly!):

    “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” – Sir Ken Robinson

    Certainly made me think about the amount of time I spend worrying if I am doing things “right” with my own work….

    good light all,

    andrew

  34. Eric Espinosa

    Andrew b,

    Same for me…I could not see the image of Herve nor the one of James….not sure what is worog but thanks Herve for posting the link. Great image indeed, full of life, nice moment!

    Eric

  35. Akaky

    Saw it. Great shot, Herve. I do notice that the grooms are nowhere to be seen, which I assume is because they are off somewhere wondering what the hell have I got myself into here?

  37. mike peters

    FUN!
    i like the way everyone is looking at each other, like they are just as mesmerized by the scene as i am sure by standers were (are here).
    wedding photographers often say “its all about the bride”…here, Herve shows its all about the brides!

    :)
    mike

  40. Michael Hassoun

    Chapeau Herve

    I can’t stop smiling and wandering from point to point in the picture.
    I would use this shot to cure depression :-)

  42. Kathleen Fonseca

    is this OUR Herve? aaayooo..this photo is THE neatest..love those wonderful whites, really great color..so real makes me feel i’m standing there right in front of this fun group. I am just really enjoying all the different faces, dress styles, wigs, cleavage, smiles, hats, veils, hairstyles, and of course the requisite bouquets! The multiple interactions are fascinating..love the guy in the red shades and that knot of four in the center looking at photos while they’re simultaneously the subject of someone else’s, or multiple someone elses’ cameras. Happy stuff, i like this so much!

    best
    kathie

  43. Kathleen Fonseca

    Wendy!

    “A pyramid of brides”, sooooooooooo right! The structure of this group is intriguing..there’s no visible means of support because of all those voluminous outfits, they almost seem to be going around a little curve building into a stack like they’re part of some big wedding cake with lots of white and pink frosting and everyone’s head like some colorful rose bud..they’re all so wired and happy they look like they’re gonna start popping off the stack like they’re spring loaded, boing-boing-boing onto the streets of SF, sewing merry mayhem and consumating their marriage vows with great abandon at the first opportunity.

    great-late-night viewing material..

    best:
    kathie

  46. Kathleen Fonseca

    Michael Hassoum

    I just saw a gallery of your hospital work, i was extremely moved. I should just sell my cameras. Your work is so exquisite i can’t even hope to emulate you. So many moments, so many emotions and always with the utmost respect. I really think your work is great..as in great not as in GREAT!, i mean the real stuff g-r-e-a-t.

    Sorry to distract from Herve’s photo..now back to our regularly scheduled programming..forgive me all..

    kathleen

  47. Herve

    On the absence of grooms, I assume David put my “text” under the shot (i am one of those who see nothing on their screen), a Wikipedia entry, which explains the event is called BRIDES Of MARCH.

  49. laura montanari

    me too…I see a black screen! May be my calibration is once and for all dead? Really enjoyed the picture from the link Herve posted. Is it possible to post somwhere also the text Herve?

  52. Gordon Lafleur

    I still can not see the photo when I open the page, however I clicked “archive” and poof, it appearred. I’ve still never seen classic beef.

    Wonderful photo by the way.

  53. andrew b

    Thanks for posting the link earlier, Herve – I missed that.

    Still can’t see the picture here. Tried Gordon’s click-on-the-archive link and got….well, the archives ;)

    But HERVE! What a fun, fun photograph. I am drawn into and wander around, not wanting to leave. Nicely done!

    best light to all,
    a.

  66. Jan

    This works on many levels.

    It unravels a surprise: At first another bride orgy of sorts. Like honeymooners at Niagara Falls, but wait, there is a chicken, and a guy dressed as a chic, and John McEnroe, and some fun girl with cleavage, and funky pink wigs. So there must be a story behind this, and that is what is so involving about the surprise.

    Balanced and complimentary composition: First off it is taken from a lateral angle rather than from 30 degrees further to the right. This breaks-up the obviously poised positions of some of the participants, into something looser and more candid. The angle also favors a vanishing point up toward the “SAKS” letters and that in and of itself adds to the association of kitsch, brides, materialism and fun that the event and the picture catch so well. The play with words continues with the text on the monument : “the Unit[ed]”…and yes marriage, is about being United, but the farse makes it fair to interrupt the word.

    The monument obviously plays to a pyramid composition, but this is reinforced by the three girls in the center with cameras, and on the left by John McEnroe and his arm that leads from the corner up into a diagonal that ends with SAKS, and on the other bottom corner the girl, the bouquet and the bosom. Even the darker wigs and outfits on the left balance the darker building on the left quite well.

    Nice.

    , and yet keeps a spontaneous quality about it that makes all very real and fun.

  67. Kyunghee Lee

    Hearve,

    I can see your picture.
    It’s very interesting and funny..
    I feel the mood of that situation.
    Thank you, :)))

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