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: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78634514@N00/
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.
Herve,
Your soul is in Asia.
Great your last photos are!
Best wishes from poland my friend.
I hope we will meet again soon.
:)
Is it a composite Herve? No-one is looking at the camera.
Mike.
Way to go, Herve!
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!
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.
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.
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.
well done herve – that´s brilliant.. strange.. busy.. could be a painting..
love the central focus of the photo viewers..
:ø)
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)
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)
and here is the OTHER painting this reminds me of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LevequeBacchanalia.jpg
running
bb
really enjoying this one, herve. :)
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
Now that is fun!
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
A pyramid of brides..
love it…
xox
This is great! What a strange and fun event.
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
Herve you have a great eye to capture the joy and bright part of life just like David has and… ehhh… I have not…
:)))
Good for you Herve!
I guess this means you are back in the US.
Welcome Home.
Classic! This is great. What a fun moment.
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
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
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??
(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…:-)
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)
:-))))
Herve, I can’t see the pic either, so how do you know if they’re talking about you or Gericault?
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.
I can’t see the pic either
—————————\
No problema:
http://www.pbase.com/uc/image/110233409/original
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!
love it!
reminiscent of renoir’s ‘boat party’ but cheekier!
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
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
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?
Cannot see it either …
But enjoyed the link very much!
Guess the grooms are the photographers, huh Akaky? :-))
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
An excellent moment! I couldn’t see the pic here as well, thanks for the link Herve
This is a single photo essay :-) – aMAZEing, Herve.
I like #1, #4, …. :-|
Honorable mentions go to the guy with the beard and b**bs (there you go Herve, a banned word was inevitable), the chicken, and the dood with christian shades.
31 flavors of pleasant heart attack.
cheers
Nice. I could and will look at this for hours.
Chapeau Herve
I can’t stop smiling and wandering from point to point in the picture.
I would use this shot to cure depression :-)
The only thing missing from this photo is Reverend Moon and Waldo! :-) Stories within stories…
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
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
pop corn…
Absolutely fun. Which is what we need in challenging times like these. congratulations.
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
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.
ALL..
traveling Madrid -NYC today…back on for a new posting tonight or first thing in the morning…
cheers, david
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?