smoking diptych

I end my first week slash theme with a couple photos and infos....
Aside from being a non smoker I have been drawn to photograph people when they smoke- to try to figure that out i looked into what smoking evokes:
Over the hundreds of years smoking has become associated with a persona of the lone cowboy (thanks Marlboro) being lost in thought or contemplation, independence and sexuality. What got its boom with the creation of the new middle class has now become a symbol for lawyers and bohemians a like.

But that doesn’t really answer why i am so drawn to photographing smokers - at times (especially during my beige-tastic summer job at an insurance company) I find myself jealous of smokers- the romantic act of stepping outside for fresh air (no matter the weather) to take a quiet moment to yourself. It acts as an excuse for being outside in such awful whether- or for even being alone.

oh to be a pipe smoking bohemian smoking/swimming against the current towards an art school education... but for now ill stick to my favorite drug of all.... the jittery headache inducing latte!

smoking couple

smoking in the sun

Continuing the smoking trend this week with this photo taken in the fall.

As I said yesterday I have many photos of people smoking in my collection. As I looked closer I realized that all of the smokers in my photos were women - this is very interesting because that up until the early 20th century women who smoked in public were seeing as promiscuous, the act was even associated with prostitution. The act of women smoking in public was frowned upon greatly. Women were not seen as being graceful or proper if they smoked in public.
Compare that today- my friend here is smoking at the front of Emily Carr -a very public place- yet one would hardly criticize her of appearing improper or ungraceful.

Ill look more into the psychology of smoking and style on Friday.

smoking out front

i'm continuing on a smoking trend with my photos. a teacher noticed last semester that i photographed a lot of people smoking - especially women (which used to be taboo- more tomorrow). i think the reason for smokers appearing in my photographs so often is that when they are out side (they are in good light), relaxed, and being active (if you can call smoking active).
more tomorrow on the social changes of smoking, and how it affects ones personal style

black smoke

detail of tights

under eye circles

"Under eye circles are my thing"