Hasson Hajjaj was born in Morocco, Larache in 1961 and is known as a contemporary artist based in all London, Morocco, UK and Marrakech where he takes fashion inspired images in different cultures. He is also known as the ‘Andy Warhol of Marrakech’. His most well known photographic works is his collection which is being displayed in New Yorks Brooklyn Museum as well as others in the United Kingdom and in France.

He was known as a photographer, filmmaker and a designer and is self-taught with having a lot of influence from hip-hop in London which allowed him to have a diverse practice in portraiture, installation, performance and fashion. This then developed into drawing more influenced from pop art, fashion as well as his overall photography to create more studio works with Malick Sidibe.

Carrying on with the theme of film, Hajjaj’s first feature-length film was premiered in Los Angeles Country Museum of Art and it takes viewers into the world of one of his most iconic series ‘Kesh Angels’. He was also the winner of the 2011 Sovereign Middle East and African Art Prize.

His Style

• Color Images
• Portrait way up
• Full Focused- High Shutter Speed
• Are posed images
• Front facing angle used
• Low ISO
• Solo images

Mood Board

Analysation Image

Technical Analysis- Technically we can see this is a well focused image with good camera quality helping to show that a high shutter speed would have been used in addition to a low ISO allowing for there to be no graininess to the image. Along with this a high contrast is used allowing colours to be bright and for the image to be focused and stand out. We can also see an appropriate white balance to go with the artificial lighting which is allowing for the saturation of the bright colours to be well seen.

Visual Analysis- Visually we can see that the saturation on this image has been enhanced to allow the bright colours and patterns to be seen with Hajjaj’s desired effect. The male model is wearing a red and white matching suit with orange timberland boots creating a mix match effect due to the colours not usually going together. There has also been a blue and black roll of paper laid out as a background which shows this had b been a set up photoshoot. However, looking at what the models wearing and what the background is we can clearly see that these colours don’t go together. There is also a border to this image which are individual tomato canisters which can be seen as random.

Conceptual Analysis- Conceptually, due to the blue and back spread we can guess this is a set up photo shoot meaning that the photographer wanted for every aspect in the image to be as it is, otherwise it would have been edited out. Therefore I personally think that her meaning through this photograph is that she wanted to show fashion in the way that you can wear what you want even if it doesn’t’t live up to societies image of colours going together etc.

Contextual Analysis- Looking into Hajjaj’s work, as well as his images it has become clear that he has a very certain type of style where he likes to experiment with colour, patterns and the way they are worn showing his passion for fashion and art. This image specifically represents experimentation with society and how people respond to the crazy patterns and lifestyles some people wear and choose to live.

Meaning behind this choice

After looking into fashion photography, I have found that it doesn’t have to be all about fashion and I can link the images in alternative ways. I think this is a good idea as I want to base my third shoot on costuming which also links to fashion at the time the costume was bought, therefore allowing me to show fashion between dance during that year period. This is also a subject of occupation I would like to cover within my project, leading me to believe this is a good base for my third shoot.