Photo of the week: Virgin Katrina

In some country like mine (Iran) , having sex before marriage is a taboo that can be very dangerous for the women. They can be killed by their relatives or goverment easily. Although in big cities like Tehran or Shiraz ,You can see many couples that are not married and having sex. these relationships are usually hidden from families (specially the girls family). Some parrents can guess but pretend to not know anything.

In small town and villages these kind of relationships are forbidden, and will be punished heavily by families at first and the goverment.

Comment posted by Ali Yazdi on August 27, 2007

The above image is tender, but the portfolio taken as a whole says this to me: Virginity past the teen years is something for lonely, alienated, docile people who are completely sapped of energy.

(I would love to see the smiling out-takes.)

Comment posted by Terry Carroll on August 27, 2007

but is that the loneliness of abstinence or is the sex a misguided attempt to quench that loneliness?

Comment posted by Matt on August 27, 2007

... or by the work of the photographer? That's my point.

Compare these images to the earlier feature on Wayne Miller's "Chicago's South Side."

What is missing here? Humanity? Warmth? Dynamism? Don't these virgins go out, have friends, laugh, dance, cry? What do these pictures have to do with virginity? I can tell you what Wayne Miller's highly dynamic images have to do with Chicago's South Side in the late 40s: Everything!

These images are of a style. Personally, it's a style that bugs me deeply. It is the style of a-dynamic alienation. It is "zombie photography." That's my point.

At the young age of 47, I've become an old fogey. I've only been a fan of Magnum for half its existence, and yet I find myself actually losing sleep over photography like this that has entered its ranks! I have to remind myself that there are still many great humanists doing dynamic, multifaceted, multi-dimensional work that capture life (and death) in action at this venerated agency. But "zombie photography" bugs me deeply.

Maybe it's because I know that the sensibilities that I look for -- the stuff that Magnum was built on and countless lesser photographers like me have long been inspired by -- are diminishing in the growing world of "art" photography. A-dynamic photography (what John Szarkowski described as "Mirrors" versus the dynamism of "Windows") has been growing during the past few decades. And Magnum now features photo essays of parking spots and guard towers and sad virgins, all with the same zombie expression. (I urge viewers to browse all of the work of Lise Safarti and find any facial expression other than her trademark "death mask.")

Sorry for the rant, but I feel like this is an Emperor's Clothes situation here, friends. Time to speak up against the zombies!

Comment posted by Terry Carroll on August 27, 2007

i would argue that "zombies" are as much a part of life as dynamism, particularly in this age where people live more and more of their lives secluded and emotionally vacant. Virgins captures this in a different way than Sarfarti's other work, adding sexual seclusion - particularly in light of the testimonials from the virgins themselves who express longing for real companionship before physical companionship. Then compare that to "Sasha & Sloane #21." It's a tragic and ultimately failed attempt by two teens to share the human experience.

My point is that this is equally valid photojournalism. You compliment those who seek to capture life and death in action - this is both.

Comment posted by Matt on August 28, 2007

First of all, I find the pictures entirely uninteresting. Suspect a bit of a publicity deal. The text provided with them just a little bit more interesting. How 'sex' in the christian tradition has evolved into something 'sacred' and associated with 'love', 'support', and 'respect'. Keeping in mind that it is not so long ago that sex was considered a healthy coincidental act. Talking about 'healthy', I spent a few years in a particular African Capital city and worked alongside a young, well educated and well-to-do young woman who had decided against sexual relationships because "sex will kill me". Not an overstatement in that town which, at the time had a 30% HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. Years later, I still correspond with her and, ....she remains single.

Comment posted by Peter on August 28, 2007

And, Peter, I bet that young African woman who pro-actively abstained from sex didn't have the zombie, "emotionally vacant" look that all of Lise Sarfati's subject seem to have. Maybe what Sarfati is doing is "photojournalism," as Matt contends. But my hunch is that, unless she's got an incredible network of zombies to work with, the "emotionally vacant" aspect of her pictures is coming from within -- using photography as a mirror rather than a window.

Comment posted by Terry Carroll on August 28, 2007

LOL Terry, you'd be surprised at the depths of the Zombie Network. We can certainly agree that Wayne Miller's "Chicago's South Side" is more interesting.

Comment posted by Matt on August 29, 2007

One more uninteresting picture...!Pity.This photo if has any life at all it owes to the text that accompanies it.Without the text and the context(the undercover of incompetence)this is no more than a sad(aesthetically speaking)snapshot that only the girl's family has to enjoy.For a photographic aydience doen't deserve the time not of looking at it.As far as the photographer's name who cares?

Comment posted by Nikos Roccos on August 30, 2007

Hi, Just to inform you that I'm recommending this site as part of BlogDay 2007. thank you

Comment posted by vincenzo on August 31, 2007

The pictures are very serene and tender. I especially like portrait no2, very beautiful light.

Comment posted by Serge on September 3, 2007

I have to agree with prior suggestions that these portraits make virginity look more desolate than I remember it. Lacking any animation, these lovely virgins look like Stepford wives (with the exception of Paul who could Charlie Brown searching for the Great Pumpkin-- an allegory for virginity if ever there was one).

In New York City (formerly Sin City) it takes a lot of strength of character to endure the irresistible siren call of sex without succumbing, especially when you're young and magnetic. The model's autobiographical texts testify to this but I'm not convinced this selection of images does. What the images do project, quite elegantly-- with their creamy yellows, demure browns, Billy Holiday blues, and smug-to-melancholy blacks-- is the loneliness of narcissism. But I suppose this says more about Sarfati's eye for virgins than her subject's identities as virgins.

Comment posted by verninino on September 5, 2007

What a bunch of boring photos - if the word virgin were not attached no one would look twice at them - staged in a really unimaginative way - lets get virgins to pose on beds - wow! how provocative! My question is why does Magnum buy and promote this dribble. Nice colors and text, but very ungeniuine superficial images - and no its not the virgins fault.

Comment posted by Victoria on September 17, 2007

"..a fear of not wanting to get pregnant before I got married."

Afraid of not wanting to get pregnant?? That can't be right.

I assume you mean "a fear of getting pregnant".

Comment posted by jarle on November 21, 2007

Hello Everybody and happy new year from me you all ,.

i have to say its my first comment on the site .Regarding the photos of Lise Sarfati i think when i look at the photo is ...a girl looking into the ceiling , there is a pure light in the room and the girl might look like one model you will have in the magazine as emotion is transladed more easily with disgreatful peoples the image would have gain in intensity i think ..if she was not so pretty .there is the cushion details to prove she does sleep alone again a little bit to arranged ... but still a lovely photo .

x Best
Stephanie Methven

Comment posted by stephanie on January 8, 2008

To Ali Yazd

Ali Yazd you are a complete moron. In Iran in small towns or villages girls in the age of 16 are already getting married (or like in Saudi Arabian even quicker) in the age of 25 (as mentioned in this blog) they have at least 3 children so this compare is completely idiotic and makes no sense.

PS Look up the word ‘compare’ in a dictionary.

Comment posted by Arican on May 24, 2008