Image called into question at new exhibition

Flawless skin, thick glossy hair and tiny waistlines. These are the images presented to women-and young girls-on a daily basis, whether it is in fashion magazines or advertising campaigns. One Liverpool photographer, and former fashion model, however, has vowed to take a stand against the airbrushed and altered images which are leaving women with such distorted body images.

Stephanie De Leng’s photographic exhibition ‘Body Landscapes’ is currently on display at The Gallery Liverpool, and consists of photos of ordinary people and the parts of their bodies that they feel insecure about. De Leng approaches the project in the same way as a landscape photographer, aiming to reveal as much detail and definition as she possibly can.

She said: “Just as looking at images of perfection is depressing, I decided that looking at humanity as it really is-warts, scars, cellulite and all-could be paradoxically uplifting. I have asked random people to confront their deepest insecurities by revealing to the camera the parts of themselves they struggle to like.”

It would seem that the images have had the desired effect. Flicking through the gallery’s guestbook, many visitors’ comments include the words brilliant, poignant, excellent and brave. There is no doubt that some of the images provoke a very strong reaction, which is exactly what the photographer intended.
 
Each image on display is accompanied by a short quote from the subject, either a short explanation of the root of their insecurity or often a snippet of conversation between the subject and the photographer. When looking at some of the photos it’s hard to notice what the problem is, but by reading the accompanying comments you gain an understanding of how deep an effect the ‘flaw’ has on its owner.
 
De Leng describes her hopes that seeing images of normal people’s bodies which have not been ‘touched up’ will encourage people to view their own bodies differently, she said: “The more you look at photos of people’s bits as they really are, the less abnormal they look. We all have bits we do not like. It is uplifting to realize this.”
 
The model turned photographer also has strong opinions about the excessive use of airbrushing in the fashion industry, on this she says: “I do not think the bodies of humans should be distorted by Photoshop. In general. There are always exceptions. I myself, as a photographer, have a lot of pressure on me from clients to do the same.”

‘Body Landscapes’ is currently a work in progress and a project which De Leng hopes to carry forward into 2010, Liverpool’s Year of Innovation, Health and Wellbeing.