About Game Fowl (A-02), New York , 1981 by Hiro

In Hiro's 1981 photograph, titled "Game Fowl (A-02)," captured in New York, the scene unfolds in striking black and white. The central focus of the image revolves around two fierce fowls engaged in combat, positioned side by side. The photograph portrays the intensity of their duel, evident in their outstretched wings, agitated beaks, animated claws, and ruffled head feathers. 

Game Fowl (A-02), New York, 1981 by Hiro

The "Fighting Fowl" series was started as a personal project, conceived in tandem with Hiro's photographic exploration of fighting Betta Splendens fish. These images, characterized by their tumultuous motion and charged emotional intensity, spotlight Hiro's innate ability to unearth beauty in the unlikeliest of places.

Comprising a total of 26 black and white photographs taken in 1981 and 1988, the "Fighting Fowl" series delivers a striking visual narrative of animal ferocity, seamlessly blending rapidity with grace. In these pictures, one can readily discern the influence of Asian art, both in their stylistic execution and thematic content.

Art Style of Game Fowl (A-02), New York, 1981

This monochromatic photograph was created using the Gelatin Silver Print technique, a classic and timeless photographic method renowned for its exceptional tonal range and sharpness. The process involves exposing light-sensitive silver salts suspended in a gelatin emulsion, resulting in a high level of detail and contrast. This technique has long been favored by photographers for its ability to capture and preserve the subtleties of black-and-white images.

Hiro's Photographic Odyssey: A Journey from Apprentice to Fashion Icon

Hiro embarked on his photography career at Harper's Bazaar New York, initially focusing on fashion, still-life, and portrait photography. Shortly after his arrival in America from Japan in 1954, Hiro secured an apprenticeship at Richard Avedon's studio. Within a few years, he ascended to remarkable heights in the realm of fashion photography. By 1963, he had become the exclusive photographer under contract at Harper's Bazaar.

Hiro possessed a deep passion for exploring the extraordinary, infusing his images with unexpected elements, anomalies, and touches of Surrealism. His expertise encompassed fashion, beauty, still life, and portrait photography, featured in publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Rolling Stone, and numerous others. To behold a photograph captured by Hiro is to encounter a visual narrative teeming with unconventional lighting techniques, surprising perspectives, juxtaposed elements, and vibrant colors.

faq
More from the Gallery
View All
Featured Drops