Through a Photographer's = Eyes

Fashion through the Eyes of a=20 Photographer

The Sights, the Stories, and the = Glamour=20 of Milan Fashion Week 2008!

Milan Fashion = Week has once=20 again come to a close. As a fashion = photographer, one of=20 the most exciting things to do is photograph the = top=20 fashion shows in Milan, Paris, London, and New = York;=20 even if everyone in the fashion industry claims = these=20 shows to be total madness!

Having always watched and followed the = international=20 fashion shows on T.V. and the internet, I felt = that this=20 year was the year to do, instead of = watch.=20 I have always been fascinated by women=E2=80=99s = fashion, and=20 can remember photographing it as early as the = 9th grade=20 of high school.

Haute Couture has always drawn and captivated = me to=20 the point that, given the choice, it is all I = would ever=20 shoot. Milan Fashion Week 2008 was no = disappointment in=20 this regard, and provided enough fashion shows = (103 to=20 be exact) to satisfy even the most die-hard = fashion=20 junkie such as myself; but I still must do=20 Paris!

Photographing Milan Fashion = Week

All the top design houses were represented at = Milan=E2=80=99s=20 2008/2009 Fall Fashion Week, like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci, Armani, and Fendi. Even with a press = pass, I wish=20 I could tell you that it's easy to get into = every show;=20 but, unfortunately, it's not. Everyone wants a = piece of=20 the runway action! With the traffic situation as = it was=20 in Milan, and the top designers limiting access = to=20 shows, you really have to selectively pick and = chose=20 which shows you are going to see. I decided to = shoot=20 only some of the top names, and mainly focus on = the=20 middle to lesser-known design houses. In my = humble=20 opinion, I feel the people who are striving to = make a=20 name for themselves are apt to put more creative = energy=20 into their work. So by the end of the week, I = had shot=20 48 shows and captured over 10,000 = images.

The Process of Photographing = Fashion=20 Week

As a photographer, you get to witness the = best of the=20 best fighting their way into the shows. At the = Giorgio Armani show, for = example, most=20 people (including press) tried to push, shove, = moan, and=20 bully their way in. Press are always trying to = get the=20 best photo position to shoot from, and others = (even=20 those without invitations and not on the guest = list)=20 feel compelled to see the show and assume they = have=20 earned the right to be there. I watched as the = great,=20 and not-so-great attempted to get into the Giorgio Armani show (held at = his own=20 facility). Believe it or not, there were even=20 celebrities who couldn=E2=80=99t get into some = of the shows=20 throughout the week, which I found very = intriguing and=20 somewhat amusing. Of course, the paparazzi were = still in=20 full force attempting to photograph every = celebrity who=20 made an appearance. =

I will let my images tell the rest of the story. = But I=20 will, however, give my final thoughts on what = it=E2=80=99s like from=20 my perspective as a photographer:

=20

After spending a week immersed in the = seductive=20 world of fashion, I=E2=80=99ve realized that = print media=20 (myself included) always have the best seat in = the=20 house at the end of the runway.=20
The models continue to be tall, thin, and=20 gorgeous; and not in short supply.=20
Backstage at every runway show is = organized chaos,=20 but a beauty to behold with all the dressers, = make-up=20 artists, and hairstylists on the go.=20
One model will most likely always be late, = and 10=20 people will descend upon her to get her ready = in time=20 for the show.=20
Everyone=E2=80=99s a fashion critic and = you'll even find=20 yourself in debates with complete strangers = about the=20 fashion.=20
The lines will be very long everywhere you = go,=20 especially at the shows for the top design = houses.=20
The ideas showcased on the runways will = definitely=20 vary, but all the clothing will be incredibly=20 appealing nonetheless.=20
The smaller and less likely to be known = designers=20 will showcase outfits that are just as = appealing as=20 the larger design houses. =

See More Fashion Week=20 Coverage!

Also = Try...
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Article Written By: Dwight = Mitchell;=20 Free-lance photographer Dwight Mitchell, photographs=20 everything from fashion editorials to resorts = assignments.=20 Mitchell specializes in fashion and beauty, but also = shoots=20 glamour, portraiture and covers a wide range of = commercial=20 assignments as well. Learn more here.

Images By: Dwight = Mitchell

Fashion through the Eyes of a=20 Photographer

The Sights, the Stories, and the = Glamour=20 of Milan Fashion Week 2008!

Photographing Milan Fashion = Week

The Process of Photographing = Fashion=20 Week

See More Fashion Week=20 Coverage!

Also = Try...