Destroy the dress
series
A Woman * A Wedding dress * A Divorce
She has finally escaped a bad marriage.
It’s bad luck for anyone else to wear that dress.
What was once the indication of a beautiful new life to come
is now, simply, the symbol of the memories
that she wants, desperately, to put behind her.
As she stands, it ignites.
As it’s in flames, she smiles.
And as it burns, she leaves.
DispAIR
– the loss of hope
Awakening
– a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness
Freedom
– the condition of not being in prison or captivity
Rebirth
– a renewed existence
- Location: Westminster, Maryland
- Date: 12 November 2020
- Style: Fine Art Composite
- Model: Michelle
Photoshoot description
Destroy the Dress by Fire
I was contacted by Michelle about photographing her destroying her wedding dress. She mentioned the ideas of splattering paint on it and cutting it up.
I thought for a moment and said, “What if we burn it”?
She said, “Yes”!
Then I said, “What if we burn it off of you…? It would symbolize a rebirth, of sorts”
Without hesitation or even concern for her own safety she replied, “YES! I trust you”!
While Michelle was never in any danger, there is nothing in these photos that isn’t ‘real’. A real person, a real dress and those are real flames….. but there is a lot of magic that went into the construction of these photos so that they told Michelle’s story properly.
Interested in this exhibition?
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