Round here we celebrate photographs. While they sometimes tell stories of love and laughter, they also sometimes tell stories of sadness, horror, or otherwise unsavory-ness. These mugshots of some of the most famous rock stars the world has ever known fall somewhere in between. Check out the confluence of stoicism, ego, and genius in this shot of Frank Sinatra (other greats from Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Sid Vicious, David Bowie, Axl Rose and a dozen others after the jump…]
These images clearly have cultural value. Are these portraits? Where does the mugshot fit along this spectrum?
So I ask you again. Are these portraits?
[and if, like me, you can’t get enough of these, head on over to HowToBeARetronaut to see Janis Joplin, Bill Gates, Jane Fonda, Kurt Cobain, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, and about a dozen others. Thanks FlavorPill for the tip.]
I’d say yes. Each shot captures them at a specific moment and circumstance with some feeling of their mood, portrait.
If a portrait tells a person’s story, even an instantaneous one, then these are indeed portraits. Isn’t this about life? Sometimes you’re the bug – sometimes the windscreen!
If you`re in to vintage mugshot, check out the collection housed by the Historic Houses Trust. From The Sydney Justice & Police Museum.
They`re not only mugshots, but also really cool portraits of humans which in this case are a bunch of criminals. The composition and overall look of these photos makes me come back over and over again to this site.
I am in no way trying to glorify violence or criminal behaviour. I just liked the look of these photos.
Cheers from Norway 🙂
YES!
I think all the pictures tell a story. And i think that they are wonderful portraits.
Ha, reminds me that I’d love to get a copy of my mugshot from back in the early 90’s someday.