Discovering wildly talented individuals is one of the joys of our profession, and this year we flipped when we saw the work of Boston native and Brooklyn, New York based photographer Itaysha Jordan.
You’ve read our previous post on Jordan where we extolled her creativity, skill and eye for great imagery. If you haven’t, you can read it by clicking the link below.
STORY: Photographer Itaysha Jordan Is An Image Maker You Need To Watch!
Several weeks ago we spoke to Itaysha by phone in order to discover her thought process behind her work for clients like Arise and Essence magazines and with celebrities like Cassie and Vanessa Simmons. What we learned confirmed what we thought: she is a genius behind the lens.
Jordan is someone you should aware of because she makes iconic images that last over time. Several decades from now you will remember this twenty-something photographer who made you stop in your tracks.
This is witnessed in her work with Arise and with Somalian model Fatima whose dreamlike beauty was captured in an almost surrealist fashion for not one, but two publications this year.
Fatima’s image is above. A portrait of the photographer may be found on page two.
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Jordan’s images have resonance, are palpable and can easily be added to a cannon of great 20th century art. Her understanding of lighting for different skin textures and features sits side by side with the great photographers of yesteryear, photographers and artists like Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin, Helmut Newton and Tina Modotti.
Jordan, however, sees her work and approach differently.
“I don’t necessarily have a favorite photographer,” the daughter of a musician and painter told us. “I really respect Richard Avedon when I was studying. I didn’t go in saying he was my photography god! What I am really inspired by, which isn’t necessarily representative of my work, are street photographers and documentary photographers, people who capture, real, true emotion.”
Jordan elaborated further, adding, “I think that goes back to my wanting to create iconic imagery whenever I can. I really love when people are able to delve in and create images that stop you, especially when everything has been done. The image of Fatima makes you stop. I have a great appreciation of many photographers. I really don’t have just one.”
Fatima is Fatima Siad, the model on page one of this story. She is a former contestant on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10 which aired in 2008.
2011 has brought her much success after a relative absence on the scene. She’s walked quite a few shows this year and even landed a campaign.
“Fatima is great, she’s excellent! She’s spent years in Boston and I’m from Boston. She is capable of so much and that’s one thing that I do,” Jordan told us from her base in Brooklyn. “I try to bring something else out of [the models]. That shoot didn’t take much planning, we just went with the flow. I went in knowing I wanted to do something that was classic,” Jordan said, explaining her motivation behind one of 2011’s best images.
“I try to make images that last over a long period of time and I went into the shoot knowing that I didn’t want too much going on, a complicated lighting scheme and so on. Sometimes that’s the best work, when it’s not contrived.”
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Jordan was introduced to photography at an early age and recalls being bussed to the suburbs to attend school. When asked why it appears that her photography seems to favor women of color, in our opinion, she answered thus:
“I think it’s innate. I’m from Boston and I lived in the city but I went to school in the suburbs. I was bussed from the age of 7. I’ve been around a variety of races all of my life and I’ve always had a very diverse appreciation for music and imagery. I think I am able to translate that photographically. I wonder, [however] if it’s that we’re not used to seeing beautiful images of women of color, and that’s very broad statement. I pay a lot of attention to the details, the hair, the make up. I feel like [women of color] are not given a fair chance or displayed properly and I pay attention to that.”
Jordan has an extensive client list including celebrities like Vanessa Simmons, Cassie and singer Solange.
“Solange is awesome!” the seven year New Yorker enthused. “Solange is one of the few artists who knows where she wants to go. I think there’s a fine line between being very controlling of your image and not knowing what you want. Solange knows what her style is and I think that’s rare.”
Jordan’s parents are artists and musicians and we wondered if they had encouraged her to pursue the arts. This was her response:
“Early on my father, who is musician, went to Berkeley College of Music and was primarily a drummer. He also plays guitar and he’s a musical genius. He can hang with the best of them when discussing almost any genre music. My mom was at Boston University for fine art, for painting and sculpture. I wasn’t really encouraged to stay within the arts, it was natural. I think they understood my nontraditional decision to pursue a photography career. I think they’re supportive because I’m continuing something they weren’t able to do. I make my living solely off photography.”
