Morris-Cafiero’s recent project called ‘Wait Watchers’ includes many public reactions. Since she’d always been a bigger woman she was prone to bullying and many people would look at her strangely. Instead of ignoring them, she was interested by this concept and began to take self-portraits of herself in the middle of busy places. Morris-Cafiero’s aim was to capture strangers looking at her and see their facial expressions. Her interest for stranger’s reactions towards her body image began with one photograph. She was sitting on some stairs in Time’s Square and a man behind her was pulling a face at her. Since she saw that image she’s become fascinated and takes many public photographs. She stated: “When I got the film back  even though we were in the visual overload capital of the world he was looking at me. I had nothing to do with him, and to capture something so quickly is interesting, so I’ve been doing that ever since.”

Here’s Morris-Cafiero’s original shot:

She describes her project in the following quote:

“I now reverse the gaze and record their reactions to me while I perform mundane tasks in public spaces. I seek out spaces that are visually interesting and geographically diverse. I try to place myself in compositions that contain feminine icons or advertisements. Otherwise, I position myself and the camera in a pool of people…and wait.”

I found it quite astounding how every single person in the family seems to be staring at her at that moment in time. It’s uncertain whether what their looking at or why they are. It could be due to interest, repulsion or they could simply be reacting to something else. To me, it’s very interesting to record their facial expressions as it says a little bit about them.

Morris-Cafiero put’s her camera on a tripod and set a self-timer of about 5 seconds. She then places herself in position doing ordinary things. The girl behind her appears to be staring at her upper leg. She seems appaled due to her parted upturned lips and her slightly closed eyes. However, this could be due to the fact that she saw the camera and did that as a result.

This image of hers was taken on a very busy area. Morris-Cafiero’s workout gear suits her surroundings of worked-up gym men. In our society, especially in the media it’s seen as shameful to be large. Therefore, the photographer probably isn’t as accepted by others as she should be. It’s intriguing to notice that all of the are looking at the woman at the same time. They could be thinking various things and be enticed by overcoming interest as she seems to be performing some sort of physical activity. Currently Morris-Cafiero is completely comfortable with her appearance instead she comments: “the idea that a glance and gaze is able to be captured is just really thrilling and interesting to me”.

In this image the photographer seems to have a frustrated expression as she pretends to talk on the phone. Oppositely the two policemen are looking as one of them is about to place his hat on her. It’s unclear whether they are being rude and taking advantage or if they are just playing an innocent joke. Nevertheless, it’s rather fascinating to contemplate on it.

For this specific shot, Morris-Cafiero is kneeling over to pick up something in a very crowded environment. Pedestrians look on as she evolves into a quite awkward and venerable position. Personally, I believe that this is a very good experiment to try out and would like to experiment with it.

She goes on to add:

“The images capture the gazer in a microsecond moment where they, for unknowable reasons, have a look on their face that questions my presence. Whether they are questioning my position in front of the lens or questioning my body size, the gazer appears to be visually troubled that I am in front of them.”

This photograph is another from a beach setting. A young and fit couple seem be casually strolling along. The young woman’s laughter comes across as making fun and she is obviously looking at the woman, Alternatively, she could’ve been smiling at something the boy said. However since people are becoming more and more obsessed with being ‘perfect’ according to the media’s standard’s, women may be becoming harsher to each other and judge solely on appearance.

The Media – Quick Overview

Whether it’s on the internet, magazines, newspapers, television, movies or photographs, the media is full of thin women with slim bodies and perfect curves. New technology allows for every single part of their bodies to be airbrushed even going as far as including people’s knees and armpits. For instance:

Models are a crucial part in influencing millions of people. They said on the ‘Mirror’ website (http://www.mirror-mirror.org/perfect-body-image.htm) :

“The modeling industry is an important aspect affecting the female’s body image. One popular issue is the promotion of the perfect and skinny body. Modeling industries strive to only have the most attractive and skinny model.”

The ideal body image has constantly changed overtime and is know very different. Apparently to be ‘healthy’ you mustn’t have excessive fat on you as that is seen as ‘shameful’.

Over the years ‘body modification’ was present and still is today. For example in prehistoric tribes which included pursuits to: flatten their skulls, elongate their necks and stretch their earlobes:

Women’s ‘ideal’ body over the years:

• 1880’s – wide hips/ medium small waist/ large breasts:

• 1900’s – with new technology and media spreading worldwide, people’s views changed:

• 1960’s – thin supermodels like ‘Twiggy’ popularized the ‘thin’ look.

• 2000’s – body image became more dramatized and people desired fitter and better figures.

 

• 2013 – now women are: concerned with their bodies and if they’re attractive to men and are viewed as objects for sexual gratification. Plastic surgery is more common and viewed as the ‘norm’.