America's Next Top Model: Donnie Lemons

(Donnie Lemons, fourth from the left)

Bill Sullivan is a "Situational Artist". He captures moments in time that would otherwise be forgotten forever. Following the 7 rules below he photographed hundreds of New York subway riders as they entered through the turn styles. The story I created is based off one of those pictures. There is a story behind every person and a reason for every detail in the photo. I chose to illustrate what I thought was happening with the man I named Donnie Lemons. This of course is all a guess and nothing is based on fact. To see more similar photos follow the link below the 7 rules.

7 Rules to Situational Photography

1. The image or photograph must be candid
2. The context of the situation must be clearly established
3. The background behind every subject in a series must be the same
4. The photographer must always be visible to the subject(s) in the photograph
5. The moments the images are to be taken must be defined before the pictures are taken
6. Secondary image(s) can be attached to the primary image if needed to clarify an established context
7. The camera should not play a visible role in the situation unless its visible presence has a role in that scenario

http://www.3situations.com/BillSullivanWorks/MTmaster.html

America's Next Top Model: Donnie Lemons

Donnie had a dream and he was determined to fulfill it. Ever since he watched the first episode of America’s Next Top Model in May of 2003 he knew that someday he would stand in front of those judges and be announced the winner. There had never been a male model as successful as Tyra Banks, but Donnie Lemons was sure to change that. For months he worked on his physique. He may have been on the short side but Donnie did not let that slow him down. He spent months at the gym buffing up and building those muscles. He ate nothing but protein shakes and raw eggs, just like a true man. After one last session at the gym and a final day at the tanning salon Donnie was ready. He flew all the way to Los Angeles, California from New York. On audition day Donnie displayed more confidence then ever before as he walked in to present himself.
He was turned down. Tyra Banks, the one and only, had personally crushed the dream Donnie had worked so hard for. For almost five years Donnie went into hiding. He could barely find a reason to live since he hadn’t even made it into the house on America’s Next Top Model. He saw no point in existing if not a successful top model. All of Donnie’s hard work slowly faded and his big bulky muscles disappeared. He began to bald and loose his sense in fashion (something that he NEVER thought would happen, to him style was instinctual). Then, after many months sitting at home Donnie decided to end his misery and turn his life around. In stead of wasting time at the gym (which obviously did not work last time), Donnie spent hours in front of the mirror improving his facial expressions and model poses. He decided to go all natural but he had to return with more experience to really impress the judges. Donnie didn’t want the judges loving him for something he wasn’t so bald head and all he was ready.
Finally the day came when it was time to audition. Once again Donnie prepared to travel all the way to California and stand in front of the judges. As he was walking through the turn styles to board the train, modeling book in hand, Donnie flashed one last pose. Suddenly the click of a camera went off on the other side and the moment was permanently captured. Donnie was ecstatic; this was it, that’s the picture that would make him famous! He knew this modeling thing was meant to be, it was his destiny!