Jesse Freidin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jesse Evan Freidin | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Known for | Photography |
| Notable work | 'The Doggie Gaga Project' |
Jesse Evan Freidin is a fine art photographer. For his 'Doggie Gaga Project', in early 2010, Freidin dressed canine models in five of Lady Gaga's most celebrated outfits, and photographed them using two packs of Polaroid film from the last remaining supply.[1]
He is best known for creating a series of photos of dogs dressed in costumes like those worn by Lady Gaga for his series 'The Doggie Gaga Project' 2010[2] His recognizable black and white fine art dog photography. In 2017 his first book of dog photography was published by Lyons Press, called Finding Shelter: Portraits of Love, Healing and Survival. His second book was published by Lerner Books, called When Dogs Heal: Powerful Stories of People Living with HIV and the Dogs That Saved Them.[3]
Shift in focus
After nearly 15 years of dog photography, Freidin shifted his focus.[4] As a queer-identified photographer, he decided to focus his attention on elevating the experience of the trans/non-binary community through portraiture and interviews.[5] His current series entitled "Are You OK?" addresses the dangers of the current wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping the country in an attempt to erase stigma and elevate the voices of those most affected. "Are You OK?" has won awards from The Los Angeles Center of Photography.[6][7][8]
Personal life
Freidin grew up in the suburbs of Boston and spent time in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Cape Cod. He began photographing local landscapes when he was young. He is largely self-taught, having apprenticed at a portrait studio in San Francisco and taken classes at City College of San Francisco.[9]
