Five pro photographers advancing the art of furry documentary.
by Patch O'Furr
Fursuit portraiture is getting ambitious. It’s more than an inward-focused service just to make con-goers happy. It’s starting to be treated as documentary art to publish and put in galleries.
These photographers often give special focus to fursuiters, a sub-section of this subculture. Furry is about more than costumes, but it makes sense to emphasize their unique, non-replaceable fuzzy glamor. News media puts them in front of every furry story because it answers a “show, don’t tell” challenge.
The photo subjects come with fixed expressions, designed by their makers. Performance brings them to life. It’s a challenge to avoid stageyness in flat images of a tactile experience. The best photographers do it by putting something personal in the relationship – a signature approach.
Fursuit-makers don’t require outside notice to be cool. But this work isn’t “ogling”, it’s inspired from within. It’s win-win for both sides.
Here’s five photographers earning notice for their Furry documentary art. Update: added a sixth at bottom. (This is a nonprofit blog only sharing to promote artists- send questions here.)
Ron Lussier
Project- “Further Confessions.” Gallery show opens in San Francisco On November 7, 2014.
