Photos: Chester Higgins Jr. and 'Posing Beauty'

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Photos: Chester Higgins Jr. and 'Posing Beauty'

“Posing Beauty” at Spelman College and “Unseen Spirit” by Chester Higgins at the Dawkins Gallery pose stark questions about the notions of beauty

"Posing Beauty in African American Culture" features Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright whose "Plastic Bodies Series" blends photographs of real girls with images of Barbie to comment upon unrealistic beauty expectations. Photo credit: Image courtesy of Sheila Pree Bright. HANDOUT PHOTO - NOT FOR RESALE

Considered the first African-American photographer in Atlanta, a representation of Thomas Askew's images of the city's prosperous African-American residents like "Four African American Women Seated on Steps of Building at Atlanta University, Georgia" from 1899 or 1900 are included in the exhibition "Posing Beauty."

The conventional and unconventional ways African-American beauty has been defined is the subject of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art exhibition "Posing Beauty in African American Culture," an often fascinating mix of fine art photography and historical photographs like John W. Mosley's "Atlantic City, Four Women," from the 1960s. Photo credit: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. HANDOUT PHOTO - NOT FOR RESALE

Erecha Female Temple. Higgins takes regular trips to Africa to document the day-to-day life as well as the spiritual rituals of various communities.

One of Chester Higgins' most recognizable photos, "Moslem Woman" was taken as this woman and her family walked past Higgins' New York City home.

The Maafa Procession was actually taken in contemporary New York. The group is participating in a ritual that symbolizes freedom and celebrates new life. "I look for the spirit in people," Higgins said. "You see something, but there's something else you feel but you don't see."

Higgins was on another trip to Ghana when he took a this picture of a man named Kweku meditating. "You don't have to have person's face in the frame in order to do a portrait," Higgins said.

This woman, dressed as the Yoruba goddess Oshun, was watching other costumed performers at a Brazilian festival in New York City. Higgins said she appeared lost in her own thoughts. "I'm more interested in what goes on inside of people," Higgins said.

Higgins was in Africa when he shot this photo. The man was a worker on a water taxi and he took a break to rest in between trips. Higgins said he likes to shoot photos while facing the sun to create drama in the image.

Polka Dots. Gordon Parks was an early mentor for Higgins. Both photographers are known for their sensitive portrayals of people of color.

Higgins said he believed this little Ghanaian girl was on her way to school one morning when he took her photo near a bus stop.

Resistance. "Nobody's impartial, nobody's objective," Higgins said. "So in the context of that you produce something we all can be proud of."

Higgins grew up in a small town in Alabama. He has returned to his home state many times to document all that has and has not changed since he left decades ago. "My pictures are always sympathetic," Higgins said.

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"Posing Beauty in African American Culture" features Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright whose "Plastic Bodies Series" blends photographs of real girls with images of Barbie to comment upon unrealistic beauty expectations. Photo credit: Image courtesy of Sheila Pree Bright. HANDOUT PHOTO - NOT FOR RESALE

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