Bombshell by Ethan James Green is a photographic study in collaboration with hairdressers Lucas Wilson, Jimmy Paul and Sonny Molina.
Green’s second book explores the spirit of the bombshell. In popular culture the bombshell has been used to describe a blonde, buxom woman who has sex appeal; Green subverts this tired stereotype and invites a diverse array of friends to interpret and question the bombshell by using their own clothes, props and posing in any way they feel comfortable. Green is known for his uncompromising black and white portraits, capturing the lives of his New York friends, and Bombshell is a continuation of this work – a collaboration between the subjects and the photographer over a 12-month period as they both construct the outcome.
Bombshell stars iconic faces such as the artist Connie Fleming, fashion director of Interview Magazine Dara Allen, fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and the book’s cover star, actress Hari Nef.
A selection of polaroids from the project was first published as a zine by Dashwood Books, New York. Green states, “The zine was the first rendition of this whirlwind collaborative project that we embarked on over the summer of 2021. Once we began shooting, the title Bombshell, became the driving force behind our days of dressing up and performance."
Bombshell is art-directed by Ben Kelway, the creative director of Arena Homme Plus, and POP Magazine, and contains an essay by Devan Diaz.
Baron, 122pp, 21cm x 27cmm, illustrated hardcover, first edition, 2024