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 think in a way they’re portraits, but not really photography because there’s no creativity involved… I would rather consider it a visual story than a photograph…
I love these, actually. I think they have value for history.
… and my, oh my, David Bowie is even shiny and gorgeous in jail! My hair will never look as good after hours of primping as his does here after whatever he’s been up to!
I beleive they are portraits. They reveal something rather scary about society however. These people are/have been role models to many people. So these show that jail is a rather acceptable thing by having them in the main public eye. Jail isn’t supposed to be cool.
very cool!
check out these Glass Negative Vintage Mugshots from the 1920’s Amazing!!!:
http://anthonylukephotography.blogspot.com/2011/06/vintage-glass-plate-negative-mugshots.html
I wouldn’t say they are artistic portraits but they are portraits. Love those glass plates Anthony. To bad the photographer wasn’t recorded.
Glass Plate Criminals – PHENOMENAL piece of history. Much more artistic flair than one would find today. Especially the choice to photograph Frederick Edward Davies in front of the toilettes! This whole series really seams to romanticize criminal life or even life on the streets.
I think these are not only portraits byte could be considered more interesting portraits than many that are “professionally” taken as such:
the sitter is clearly posing, the photo exists because of him/her…and rather than being a timeless headshot, there are the intriguing circumstances of a specific time, place and reason.
Great stuff!