Thirty three and a half years as one of the most successful models on the planet and Naomi Campbell has only just completed a mainstream fashion shoot with a black photographer for the first time.
Few names come to mind quicker than Naomi Campbell's when you think of supermodels. Both Campbell and Kate Moss have been titans in the industry for decades and remain relevant and important today. With such an expansive career, you can't imagine there's much Campbell hasn't seen in the fashion world, least of all a shoot with a black photographer. However, Campbell's recent shoot for British publication The Guardian in their "Weekend" magazine was just that, teaming up with photographer Campbell Addy.
Campbell writes "It’s my first time in thirty three and a half years, shooting with a black photographer in mainstream fashion." I had to double take reading that the first time. I'm aware of imbalances in professional photography and here on Fstoppers it has been discussed many times, but I don't think I quite appreciate the disparity in representation of different ethnicities. Fashion as an industry has been called out on this regularly this century, with a lack of diversity in almost all facets of the profession. I just hadn't considered how prevalent that imbalance might be in photography too. Upon sharing the image, Addy wrote:
It’s a very surreal moment after the longest flight of my life and to see this be shared with you all. Firstly to have shot the icon that’s Ms Naomi and two for her to reveal that it’s the first time in over THREE decades that she’s been photographed by another black person in mainstrean[sic] fashion... let that sink in people... I am very blessed to be alive and working today, so thank you to everyone that’s made my existence possible. Here’s to many more shoots together
Is the lack of diversity in photography something you have noticed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Lead image by Christopher Macsurak via Wikimedia used under Creative Commons.
You mean the one where you use semantics and try to pass the ball to me yet again? Since you "never said it needed to be balanced".. right..
So let me answer this then and you can answer my questions, fair enough right?
No, you did not say it needs to be balanced, but you literally brought it up and unless you feel it needs to change why even bring it up?
Regardless if you said it or not, are you incapable of sharing your opinion on it?
So now I expect you to answer my questions, thank you.
Edited to keep the conversation on track
Well, I prefer white men who do not care about race or skin color, maybe you prefer white men who judge your person and performance based on your race/skin color ?
Please don't assume what I "prefer". I think some white men (like me) are not affected/concerned by the lack of diversity because we are the majority in the photo business, clients, agency folks, photographers, directors, crew, etc. so maybe we don't see it as a issue, it is just how it is... I noticed that the LA market is more of a diverse reflection of the community than the Detroit market was.
So who is the white guy you are referring to in your first post? Dennis Williams ? Regardless of who you are referring to aren't you making assumptions as well?
Not to anyone specifically but I guess I did assume, and I will edit previous my comment now.
So what? Who cares?
If you're a part of the minority group then you do care. If you're not, you should also care but ignorance is bliss right?
I'm part of a minority group in my country, I couldn't care less what the color of your skin are. I do not treat people differently based on their skin color, nor do I expect people to treat me based on it either.
Good for you but it is about representation.
Good for me... yeah, I guess it's good not play the victim and use the color of my skin as an excuse for everything.
As for representation, representation of what? Color/race?
Either. Each. Both. We are talking about under representation of those in minority groups. I get what you're saying, Paul and that is fine but it is beside the point of the article.
So if you do not judge people by color/race why do you need colored people to be represented to the same extent as white people?
Should white people be represented equally in other professions that are mainly inhabited by people of color?
Unless you attach a value on the color/race it really doesn't matter.
What matters is the person and their work nothing else. If you can't live by that standard you can't expect anyone else to live by it.
The point of the article? The article ended with a question so not sure what the point was rather than to put the article out there for people to discuss and reflect on.
Spot on, Paul.
Not enough white people in basketball and football. No Muslims in the White House, no gays in carpenting, no women in crab fishing, no transgenders in schools. I can go on and on. Why people still bring up the differences is beyond my understanding but yeah let’s keep it up.
I think in her industry, she had the power of helping promote who ever she wants to for a loooong time.
The fact that is something to talk about is scary.
I've long wondered why the vast majority of professional photographers in the U.S. are white males. I mean, I know it appeals to certain personality types, and, like certain sports, it requires access to resources that aren't publicly available. Still, it strikes me as odd. That said, many of the high school students in my "pre-college" photography classes have been girls and non-whites. So, maybe things are changing. I wonder if those kids will go on to become pros in numbers that will help balance the profession.
Why are most engineers male? People are constantly promoting engineering to women, and yes, it is having some effect (one of my daughters is studying engineering for instance), but still engineering is male dominated. In terms of ethnicity, a lot of engineering is probably over represented by those of Indian and Asian descent (many not yet or becoming US citizens).
Yeah, why? It's interesting, and I doubt anyone around here actually knows the answer. Some folks sure don't want to find out, though, and would prefer that nobody even notice.
Has she not worked with Matthew Jordan Smith?
I don't think they've actually worked together before which is interesting. I guess he wouldn't be considered mainstream fashion, but more so in beauty/makeup anyhow.
Him and all the photographers over those years shooting for black publications like Ebony and Essence.
Let's make an issue where clearly there isn't one. Typical of our times.
Could it be that many times she was not actually in charge of hiring the photographer? Probably.
Or maybe it's because she developed a relationship with certain individuals and felt comfortable working with them REGARDLESS OF THEIR SKIN COLOR, ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND SUCH?
Maybe.
But hey, that would not make a story with waves of tweeter comments...so let's make a big deal out of nothing.
I cannot express just how much I value the strongly held views of privileged white men...
“Privileged white male“ when you know nothing about the author or anyone posting here. By that context that automatically makes you a privileged white male, it must hurt to be that stupid. Sure, you use big words to try and showcase your intellect, but all you are is a whiny beta, stick to your island and don’t concern yourself with what America does.
Keep listening to that mindless brainwashing you’re receiving, it just shows how weak willed and easily manipulated you are.
I am a priviledged white male.
Interestingly, I write technical reports for a living; I don't need to "try".
Your comment says more about you than me.
Try again, try harder.
Well I’m glad that you admit it, that you’re content with self loathing.
"Privilidged white male" is a factual statement as opposed to a moral statement.
Do try to keep up, darling.
Actually it’s not, there’s nothing factual about your meaning of privilege. Privilege is earned wether by someone else or oneself despite what everyone will tell you. My dad worked his ass off to give us things, I work my ass off to give my family things, had I expected my “privilege” to provide for me I’d be living on the streets.
I will agree that there are very biased judgmental people that hold roles of power. As the generation of acceptance gets older you’ll start to see a shift with all of this. At the end of the day the majority of us all just want to get along, right?
My meaning of privilege.
That right there is funny shit.
"I cannot express just how much I value the strongly held views of privileged white men"
I believe the words you're searching for are "vanishingly little". Unless my sarcasm detector is on the fritz.
The lack of diversity in the commercial level of photography is noticeable when you're the demographic that is affected. I am a sole believer that your skill, knowledge, and portfolio should speak for itself rather than your outward appearance. That isn't the issue, but if Naomi Campbell is saying that she's never worked with a photographer from her demographic in over 30 years! To me that is alarming and shows that we have a long and arduous road ahead of us to enter the professional field as photographers.
"Why? You cant force certain genders or races into a creative industry if they don't like it or want to do it". - Travis Pinney
You're right you can't but who says that the majority of us aren't interested, who says we don't like it? Who made you the talking head for us? You ever consider the fact that there are barriers that prevent us from reaching positions we would love to do such as Creative Direct campaigns.
I know several women photographers that outshine their male counterparts but aren't given an opportunity to thrive, so I'm not shocked by this admission by Ms. Campbell when I've seen and encountered it on a daily basis in my community with other skilled creatives.The privilege in this comment section is appalling. Things will change for the better because if the industry prevents you from occupying the same space, we'll circumvent it and create our own lanes and succeed no matter what pitfalls this racist nation places before us. Believe that!
I'm speaking merely from numbers. OBVIOUSLY there are other issues at play, OBVIOUSLY there are still people in power that discriminate. Do I think it's bullshit? Absolutely. Like I said before, 1 in 9 people is black, that spread exponentially increases when you throw lifestyle and career choice in the mix.
Are there industries that need an internal change? Yes, but those industries (especially creative) also tend to house some of the most "progressive" people in them at the top, so tell me why this is such an issue then?
Take photography as a whole, how many sub-genres are there? As you start to split up into the different specialties, because lets face it someone of that level is a specialist, your talent pool begins to shrink. As that talent pool shrinks, the percentage of certain demographics begins to shift rapidly, it then becomes increasingly difficult for someone outside of the majority group to get selected just based on exposure alone.
I'm not saying it's easy, where I live there are more Hispanic and Asian automotive photographers, I look like the outsider, but it is what it is, I continue to push myself and learn to try and develop ways to stand out.
If you're a black male and photography is your passion then you should be doing anything you can to make sure you put yourself on the right path, nobody is going to hold your hand. People will be mean to you, and tell you no, and talk shit to you. If they can't see you for who you are and how talented you are then fuck them and move on to the next venture. Me being white has not prevented me from having guns pulled on me and people insulting me and looking down on me I'll tell you that much.
Morgan Freeman FTW
https://youtu.be/kOiQgleiRtU?t=60
I have a question: what do they mean by “mainstream”? Naomi was on the cover of last years Essence magazine’s September issue shot by Jamel Shabazz. Does this not count?