The Godfather of Trashing- John Michael Cooper (alt f) June 14, 2007
John Michael Cooper coined the phrase, “Trash the Dress”. He has also pioneered a new creative, artistic, movement in the world of wedding photography. This blog was started as a direct result of an article written by John Michael Cooper. We are happy to give credit where credit is due, and although every photographer in the world has probably visited his site, we want to encourage everyone, including the Brides, to check out his phenomenal work. You won’t be disappointed.
those last two are priceless!
Beautiful work John! Love your sense of adventure, and pushing the envelope!
John and his wife Dalisa are truly Maestros at this. I’ve always found both their work AND their attitude so incredibly inspiring. I’m so glad to know them and call them friends. They are two of the most relentlessly genuine people in this industry. And that’s what makes their work so incredible.
No doubt that this is great work… I was just wondering… Didn’t the bride get hurt when she was set afire?
LOVE his work! Never get tired of seeing the images!!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these pictures. You both are such amazing photographers and I can’t wait to meet you!!
- Heather Cole
Heather Cole Photography
On second tought… Maybe this isn’t a Trash The Dress shoot, but a Trash The Bride shoot… Anyhow, the result is great!
Simply amazingly beautiful.
absolutely amazing photography - and very original - disturbing subject matter though Not a bridal shot for the wall thats for sure . . . unless you are a Tarrentino fan !! lol
just super super sicky sicky sick.
sickly sick….
cheers mucho bad arss photos!
Matt
disturbing, violent and misogynistic. yuck
The photos are eyecatching, yes, but I find them disturbing and misogynistic.
LuLu..Tell us how you really feel!
Great job John…People are finally getting it!
Women on fire interesting, women drowning haunting (but maybe a little disturbing), women stuffed into a trunk of a car? that is just disgusting, brutal and yes perhaps misogynistic
Those last two photographs are disgusting and violent. What is romantic about the image of a dead bride and a groom who is apparently about to bury her?
This isn’t creative or artistic, it is vile. These photographs perpetuate the notion that violence against women is neither prevalent nor problematic.
This blatant display of ignorance makes me sick.
“disturbing, violent and misogynistic. yuck”
misogynistic? - poop, now i have to look that up in the dictionary… the ladies are always try’n to confuse me with the long words..
Don’t worry. I’m sure that no brides were hurt during the shooting of either of the attached photos. But to know exactly how John does it, you’d need to sign up with altF studios and ask him to produce something incredible for you.
I think the hallmark of great photography is when it not only makes you LOOK (and each of these diametrically opposed photos do that in spades), but truly makes you think and puts you in the same “space” as the subject, forcing you to wonder what’s on their minds. That’s story-telling, besides making just a stunning picture.
That’s why I like these so much.
John: You are a genius. Don’t listen to the “disturbing, violent and misogynistic” remarks.
Every bride that has worked with you, chose YOU based on what they already knew you could or would do. I for one, begged you to trash my dress. Guess I’m disturbing too? Or, maybe someone else is just jealous.
cool Cece. thanks… for a little background info… Cece is one of those rare brides that not only trashed her wedding dress but did it on her wedding day and not as a after session! her and her groom both in the fountain of the four seasons… they were uber cool pics…
.john.
how do you know the people that people who felt the photos were misogynistic were “ladies”? do you have to be a woman to think that it is a little sick to make light of violence against women?
your photography is amazing and I love the trash the dress concept but please think about what you are putting out there…
I remember the Four Seasons Fountain pics! Don’t get me wrong - I really loved the lady in the water (the famous mossy creek one), but when I saw the pics of the couple in that fountain, that’s when I knew I wanted to destroy my dress! I wouldn’t worry too much about the comments on the dead bride pics - not everyone wants things like that - or to be set on fire! But what it all comes down to is, no matter what you want, John will give it to you. And not only will he give it to you, but he will do it FABULOUSLY! I’ve never seen a pic I didn’t like on his site. AWAY YE NAYSAYERS!
“This isn’t creative or artistic, it is vile. These photographs perpetuate the notion that violence against women is neither prevalent nor problematic.
This blatant display of ignorance makes me sick”
Wow, if a conceptual bridal portrait makes one feel so strongly, I’m afraid what a trip to the movies or even a single episode of CSI might do to you..
Anyway, much thought was put into whether I should respond to the negative comments or should I just sit back and enjoy them for what they are, because silence would have been a much harder critique for me..
But once going to dictionary.com and looking up misogynistic I thought I should at least explain a little about the shot so that people don’t think I have a mistrust or a hatred of women.
The trunk and shovel shot. well I’m known for anti-bridals and always looking for ideas and inspiration for portraits that are outside (well outside anyway) the box… the original idea was from my wife (who by the way watches a lot of csi and coldcase files) .. she thought that a bridal portrait in a trunk would be cool, CSI style… I agreed and we backburnered the idea for some time when we saw a Jimmy Choo ad with Quincy Jones and a model (gasp..) in a trunk… seeing that, we thought dang that’s our idea (‘cept for the shovel) anyway we ended up using the original idea with some inspiration from the ad and then married it with an “american gothic” theme, which by the way we shot in front of about 400 photographers because we were teaching at the digital wedding forum’s convention… and by the way the shovel now has its own site, thetravelingshovel.com
So I’m not misogynistic, I nether hate women or mistrust them, rather I just like to make cool photos and happen to have a little dark side along with being influenced by fashion, art, and tragic romance (ala Shakespeare) ..
.john(nexttimei’llblamejimmychoo)michaelcooper.
altf.com
John,
This is a technical question about weddingownfire.jpg….. and my profession is as a safety director at a university, so I play with advanced fires. I could recreate this image by providing protection under the torso of the dress, and addressing wind and time of exposure issues but the shear fabric on the arm and the flame licking over it seems…. overly risky…
How did you pull that off?
When I first saw John’s “Joan of Arc” anti-bridal image I nearly fell of my chair. I had never seen anything like that image before that day. Not from a wedding photographer. Not from that cheesey guy who cracks jokes at your wedding and carries enough schtick in his pocket to beat a horse dead. Not from that guy who uses the same tired 5 poses every wedding that he has been using since 1972. From an artist.
This image made me stop and say “I don’t have to shoot the way everyone else does to keep my business going”. I realized that I can be my own artist and it’s ok. That was a thought that changed my career forever.
You may not find these images to be your style, but that’s ok. Work like this is changing the future of wedding photography for the better, and who knows it may even influence the photographer that shoots your or your kid’s wedding. I for one think that would be a good thing.
OBTW, I own 2 original JMC prints. So, these aren’t only for the bride to appreciate.
Oh,
BTW, I was not disturbed by the images, just fascinated. That being said, I can see why some may be upset. It’s about expanding your intellectual / emotional playfulness. Darkness exists only because of light…. The darker it gets the brighter it gets (contrast brings out the details) Yin/Yang etc.
Over….
“How did you pull that off?”
chuck, the bride was not in the dress at the time of the burn.. she wasnt a stunt woman or anything like that, though her grooms a firefighter.. easiest way to explain it: she’s in the dress, the dress is on fire, just not at the same time…. btw the dress burned completely within 10 secs. dont catch fire while wearing a dress.. to fill the form of the dress for the burn we used a blow up doll we bought from an adult store just before the shot, saving it from its intended destiny and sacrificing it as a virgin… so to speak.. there is a video of what we did on simplephoto.tv just click on most viewed and look for “altf lights a bride on fire”
In response to some of the negative comments you kind of addressed, it’s not the intent of the bride or photographer that those labeling the work misogynistic are criticizing, but how these images (which I agree are beautifully shot) contribute to a culture or repertoire of imagery (and CSI is included here too) where beautiful “dead” women are seen as a norm. The more images of “beautiful violence” there is, there more people may be desensitized to it and deem it acceptable in real-life and not in conceptual photography.
To clarify: What I was trying to get across in my previous comment is not that it is your ability or style that is problematic, but rather the message you are relaying with photographs like the last two. The photographs are, in my eyes, misogynistic because they send the message that the image of a dead woman (who, it is suggested by the photograph, was killed by her husband) is beautiful, which undermines the fact that domestic violence is rampant in our culture and perpetuated by normalizing images and discourses such as these photographs.
I am not offended because I can’t stomach images of death, but rather because I can’t stomach images of domestic violence. And to me, that is what these images are. The groom with a shovel and a smug look on his face while his dead bride awaits her burial in a desert seems pretty straightforward to me. Yes, violence occurs everywhere (television and movies included), but when the image of domestic violence is represented as something beautiful, that is when domestic violence starts to become normalized, and the seriousness of what is in fact a huge problem in our society is trivialized.
While the majority of the photography on this website is indeed beautiful, and while the concept is certainly an interesting take on traditional bridal photography, I would argue that as a photographer and an artist, you are responsible for the messages that are communicated from your art. Whether or not someone else has done similar work does not lessen the fact that the message is damaging.
John, what an excellent explanation about the background of your “Joan of Arc” bridal. I think the title of this photo is just as important as the photo itself because anyone who has talked to you personally about this image and how the concept came to be developed (I’m glad you didn’t reveal the “secret in the sauce” of its complete creation, BTW) knows how you feel about women, and most of all how you feel about great STORY TELLING.
And that’s what these photos are: They are complete or at least nearly complete stories in themselves (even better when seen as a series rather than stand-alone). Their tales are drawn from well-known themes in literature, and given a completely turned inside-out twist by a couple who have a delicious love for life and for people (in my personal experience).
ou my god !
Mark I just wanted to say your work is awesome I really enjoyed speaking with you today I wish you guys the best of Luck….I am sure your going to go very far take care and may GOD keep blessing you
When I look at the bride-on-fire picture, I think “literal-bride-burning.”
Like, “our son’s wife’s family didn’t pay enough dowry. So, we’ll light her on fire and make it look like she died from suicide or a kitchen accident. Then he can get married again. Good plan!” bride burning.
It still happens sometimes (India is the place famous for it, but it happens elsewhere).
I also think “suttee.”
I know America isn’t India and all, but still, this is a globalized world, and blogs are global culture.
These pictures are technically awesome, but they still make my skin crawl.
I think the photos are very artistic and creative, but I tend to agree that some of them (bride in trunk specifically) really aren’t what most brides would like to hang on their wall after their nuptials. Definite art gallery material, though
Usually I dig the pics on here, but the one with the bride on fire is kinda… stupid.
Your images are awesome, you have been my inspiration for all the TTD photos that I have done…keep on being YOU!!!
Denise Neufeld
What an incredibly consumeristic and wasteful use of a perfectly good dress. Way to promote wasting of resources. How about donating the dresses to people who could actually reuse them? How about recycling them?
Only in america would such a blatant and disgusting display of wasteful ignorance be gleefully promoted with pride.
Also, I really ought to have pointed out, that bride-immolation is now illegal in India. The values that underpin the practice are not favored by most folks, either. Yeah.
So, India has moved on from thinking it’s a good idea to light brides on fire. That’s telling us something, I think.
The pictures still make me uncomfortable. I’m going to stop looking at them now.
I tend to want my brides to look gorgeous and sultry… But these images blow me away. Very creative.
Has anyone else realized that this post got 10 times as many comments as most of the others on the page. Bottom line is that controversy gets you noticed.
Doesn’t that tell you something? Congrats JMC!
Nice point, Jessica. What’s interesting is that I doubt John and Dalisa actually intend to start controversy with these images and concepts. At least that’s not my sense of them. They are both some of the most quiet and unassuming people I know. Ever.
But John IS fearless. Completely. When he and Dalisa have developed an idea over time and then execute it they way they envision it, there’s no holding back. If others want to talk, that’s fine. As with most professional photographers worth their salt, they just want you to look at the image. And then look again. If you’re not looking at the picture, what’s the point?
I agree with Jessica who’s comment is #16. I think this photogher is giving any would-be spouse abusers or serial killers Sadistic ideas to bring more unwanted violence against any bride.
He’s already criminal in my mind. His pictures should be taken off this site NOW!
Ed,
“He’s already criminal IN MY MIND. His pictures should be taken off this site NOW!”
Do you honestly believe that those whom YOUR MIND considers “criminal” should be punished by virtue of the fact that YOU disapprove of what they say/think/create? Do you also want to burn the books that say things YOU disagree with? Fortunantely for the rest of us, YOU are not the one to make that decision here.
The last century of human history is replete with examples of people who believe this way and act upon those beliefs, and the results of that are buried from Poland to Siberia and beyond. That sentiment is FAR more dangerous than these photographs. And while I do believe in defending your right to express it as I do my own, and as I do John Micheal Cooper’s, please do not try to enforce your personal prejudices on me or those here who choose to come here and see the art of those who post here. There are plenty of other places on the web that you might find more in tune with your opinions, or you can always create your own pages without infringing on the rights of others here.
Hey John… next time put the groom in the trunk, that’ll make all the women happy
You ROCK babe. I love your controversial style!
I just have the hardest time imagining that someone who’s really pushing the envelope and using a creative gift to the fullest would come up with these trunk or fire images. It seems like you could be so much more provactive in a real, convincing way than this yes, misogynistic but-otherwise-kind-of-tired image.
I love the idea of the anti-bride. But this just totally misses the boat.
I love it. All of it!
Lets not forget that the people in the pictures ASKED for them to be done.
I say, keep them rolling, well done.
Great photographs… the burning one looks awesome …
but I think the theme is more Trash the Bride than Trash the Dress … LOL!
To the issue of “Trash the Bride” versus “Trash the Dress;” in painfully too many cases, the point of the wedding day is a sort of psychological “fantasy feeding frenzy” for The Bride, and The Bride *is* The Dress. (In other words, there’s no separating the two; a major point to being The Bride was to have The Dress…
Misogynist? Well, the extreme selfishness wedding cases are themselves an encouragement to misogyny.
Those that think the pictures are criminal are engaging in wishful thinking; in effect, they are falling into a different edge of the “Fantasy Wedding” problem that inspired this in the first place…
Unlike all the whiny oversensitive people on this page, I love the photos, and would love them all the same if it were the bride stuffing her groom into a trunk. Get a sense of humour. Geeze.
For those freaking out about these creative photographs:
This is 2007, welcome to the Internet.
“I love the idea of the anti-bride. But this just totally misses the boat.”
I think this is sort of a funny comment….JMC invented the ‘anti bride.’
Based on John’s responses, I would hesitate to describe his as “misogynistic”. Rather, he sounds like he’s just ignorant and oblivious to reality.
Pushing the envelope is one thing. Pretending “this is art” and has nothing to do with the very real issue of violence against women, is simply irresponsible.
By the by, newsflash for those of you who think you’re somehow “enlightened” for supporting this garbage: you are not ‘edgy’, or cool. Your passive “follow the trend” mentality only contributes to the problem.
I usually don’t take the time to comment, but wow! At first glance I thought the photo’s were gross, disturbing, whatever… And then I had to sit and think, “Why do I feel like that about these photos?” Is it because violence against women is an outrage? Ummm Yes! But it’s real and these photos aren’t saying it doesn’t happen. They are an expression of something real of some kind of cynicism toward the traditional “man” & Wife dynamic. This is something I am sure my husband and I would think was hilarious and twisted. I don’t think the dead woman thing is meant entirely as to be beautiful, but it’s real and shocking and representative of a truth. So all you outraged feminists (I am one too) get your heads out of your butts and recognize a little art!
By the way JMC I would love to do this!
thanks,
Awesome!
Alyssa
Yes, they are cool. yes, they are kinda trivializing the domestic violence and kinda insensitive. But the biggest issue I have is why the bride? not the groom? The fact that you perpetuate a cliche is the issue I personally have with these images.
Why not a crazed bride with a shovel in her hand with the unfocused eyes looking over her shoulder into the trunk(remember the term, bridezilla?) and shiny black shoes of the groom with a white tux in the trunk of a white car? Why wouldn’t that be equally out of the box? why not the groom but the bride who gets to be in the trunk?
You could even try to be in line with ‘trash the dress’ theme - do an after-burial shot where the dress is all covered in dirt and ripped apart with the relief in the eyes of the bride standing over a mound of dirt. No, that’s not as cool as the dead bride, you say?
Awesome! Totally looks like she was raped! How cool! I hope I get raped and murdered on my wedding day too!
This “art” makes me sick. Art should be original and provocative…this is the same old thing we’ve all seen hundreds of times..especially in ads. The “artist” should be proud that he was able to upchuck yet another series that is a)completely commercial and bland and b) tows the line that makes violence against women acceptable in this country and around the world. Violence against women is VERY real, especially violence purpetrated against women by their husbands and boyfriends. Countless women die every day from domestic violence. Do women deserve it? NO! Stop normalizing violence.
An artist has something to say… A poser says the same thing that’s been said a million times before.
I absolutely love the last two with the bride in the trunk and I would hang it on my wall if it was me..or if it wasn’t me..lighten up people..its called art for a reason
Bride burning and murder? How wonderful - why don’t we throw in a little lynching of an interracial husband….. maybe burn a gay couple for witches?
The artist was never called mysogynistic, the photos were. And by definition, they are. If you don’t like your artwork to be critiqued, or criticized, as it were, don’t permit their being posted to public Web sites.
“For those freaking out about these creative photographs:
This is 2007, welcome to the Internet.”
For those freaking out about dissenting and conflicting opinions, please take your own advice.
Art is a matter of personal taste. That means people are allowed to hate it as much as they are allowed to like it. So, “lighten up people”.
Not only is the theme disgusting on a deeper level, the photographs are also shockingly stale…kind of pseudo-hipster. Not counterculture at all.
You’ve been linked:
http://writingevolution.blogspot.com/2007/07/misogyny-as-art.html
Am I the only person who saw these pictures and had the initial reaction of, “Wow, this photographer is sick and tired of violence against women. Look at how depressing those shots are. Look at how tragically beautiful.”
I saw it, instantly, as a cry AGAINST violence toward women. Maybe the fact that you people see sexism and anti-female propoganda in what is clearly NOT meant to be sexist or anti-female says more about YOU than about the photographer.
[...] Ok, so maybe I wouldn’t immerse myself in swamp water. Or light myself on fire. Or lay in the trun… But I could totally see myself standing in a fountain, running through the ocean, or laying under a waterfall in my post-bridal glory. (Geez, now I have to pee.) It’s just a dress. If there are a few gals out there who want to put on their dresses and take some more pictures of themselves – first, congratulations on fitting INTO your dress (I don’t think I could fit mine over my ELBOW these days) and second, you go girl! Why the hell not? You bought the dress to look and feel beautiful, and if taking some more photos of yourself in that dress doing whatever you want to do helps you to achieve that feeling once again, I say go for it. [...]
The bride wasn’t caught on fire you goobers.
They took a picture of the bride standing like that. And then they took a picture of a dummy in the dress and set it on fire. And with the help of Photoshop or some picture editor program, they put the girl in place of the dummy and kept the fire. So it looks like she’s on fire, but she’s not?!
Derrrr.
But these are sweeeet.
I love the TTD idea; lots of creative photography (and ignoring the American worship of the wedding dress) going on. Too bad traditional male-female violence plays such a role in this corner of things… if you want to be dark, at least dare to mix it up a bit! A bride covered in a blood after putting the husband in the trunk, etc. Good luck pushing yourself to something new!
art is in the eye of the beholder… it is one’s vision to create art as we feel deemed.
bravo.
m purvis
Part of what’s brilliant about the subject matter of these photos is that they do make you uncomfortable by acknowledging that violence against women exists in the world within the context of a wedding (an event at which we all pretend the violence doesn’t exist). The viewer is forced to consciously recognize things that they would rather not in this context, but in doing so is able to explicitly reject the idea. To me the brides/couples are giving voice to the darkest fears of the unconscious and by doing so are making a commitment to never act in such a manner. I mean seriously - who is going to pose for a photo like that with any ill intent in their heart? Beautiful pictures, great ideas, and best of all - it makes you think.
at first i was disturbed.. extremely…. and still know that i would not want these pics for my wedding. BUT when i went to his website it is clear that he has a great range and variety of “feels” to his photos…. these were grossly taken out of context and this site, should have done a better job at showing his range in all fairness. for example, in terms of the whole fire issue…the picture with the fireman saving the bride has such a different feel to the one with her on fire… it seems that the most shocking images were chosen from many a brilliant photos.
the ones featured here are still not my vibe, but come on… be fair to this man and his talent and feature his range (even while discussing the controversial nature of some), not just images for shock value.
Sorry J. We used every image that John submitted. These were the images that he chose to have featured. We didn’t pick and choose, we used exactly what he gave us.
I agree, his work is very diverse and unique.
markeric: thank you for clarifying! my apologies to the site for my assumption.
its interesting that he would pick those specific pictures from so many. just looking at this post i dont get a feel for his full style and capacity… oh well…
Awesome pictures! I love a photographer that can think out of the box, not be afraid to shock people, and create interesting original photos.
I also love a bride and groom who don’t take themselves too seriously, and could have fun with a shoot like this.
Kassandra-
I don’t think people believe that the bride was actually torched to death for a photo shoot. Rather, they object to the IMAGE of a woman being burned alive, regardless of how that image was created. But big maturity points to you for calling people who have different opinions “goobers.”
Artistic values aside, could these images be the result of frustration…frustration born of a not-so-creative process that seems to result in the “seen one, seen ‘em all” wedding videos? Or could they be the influence of anything goes “reality tv” that seems to be ramping up the tension with a “wait till they see this?” Should the true artist even get involved with production of videos that depict an often routine and structured wedding event?
My personal take. Anything that diverts the attention away from the natural experience and essence of the day…is NOT a wedding video anymore. It has become, at best, an artistic statement made by the shooter/editor, and at worst, a contrived, self-indulgent exercise.
I heard about the “trash the dress” following this afternoon and had to see the famous fire picture. Interesting approach for the unconventional, or editorial. I suppose a bride will never wear her dress again - but how about recycling it into a cushion or other garmet? Then again - a picture like that is a brilliant memory in itself.