David LaChapelle Claims Pop-Art Throne

One Of The Most Sought-After Photographers Deemed Heir To Warhol

(CBS)  "I don't wanna reinvent people," LaChapelle said. "I wanna take the iconic pictures of them that say who they are. If there has to be one picture that they show in 20 years to describe the person, to narrate who they were and illustrate that, I'd like it to be one of my photos. That's the goal."

And it’s a goal he’s reached time and again. So much so, that as he approached 40 years-old, LaChapelle began moving beyond the gilded cage of celebrity portraiture. The result is his critically-acclaimed documentary "RIZE," which follows the lives of dancers in the poorest neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles. Their moves are so speedy, LaChapelle actually begins the film with this disclaimer which declares: "None of the images in this film were sped up."

"I had to put that in there, because their bodies are moving so fast, it actually looked like a film trick," he said. "The only effect in that film is the effect that those young artists, those kids have on your life."

"RIZE" revealed an unexpected side of LaChapelle, stripped of his trademark sets, lighting and celebrities. Instead of trying to create something, he said he allowed a slice of life to simply unfold.

"It took three years, and it revealed itself," he said. "I was just praying that it would get finished. I didn't want it to just be a bunch of tapes on a shelf. And I think I read somewhere that one out of a thousand documentary films ever makes it to a theater. And I'm glad I read that after I finished the movie."

Just last weekend, LaChapelle unveiled the next step of his development at New York's Tony Shafrazi gallery. Inspired by Michelangelo's "The Deluge" – a fresco in the Sistine Chapel – LaChapelle has created a series of flood-inspired photos. But don't worry; there is still plenty of pop left in this artist.

[luv2travel33]

Personally, I think that he took a person such as Paris Hilton---someone known only in an excullusive "gated" sub-culture---and through the magic of his talent with lighting, setting, and lenses create an "icon" that draws attention across the board (hence launches her career) makes him not only an artist but one of amazing talent.
Let's face it it wasn't your average "snap-shot" and not even the average "super-model photo shoot".
Maybe the real question is not "What's wrong if he's considered and artist?" but "What is wrong with our society when an artist of that caliber is not as well known as the "icon" he created"?

[abclexie]

What does it tell us about the condition of our culture that someone considers a persons' work to be unfit to be deemed as "art" because of the name it's accosiated with. Maybe if you can't look past your prejudices against the subject of an art peice to admire the creativity then you don't know what art IS.....

[moteyboat]

Our culture is diverse and that's what I love about it. To be open-minded about life and people and be able to create his art is inspiring to me. I don't think Paris Hilton's "career" launching is all he's about.