Bodies Revealed Exhibition
What an interesting day it has been…..
It was press day at the controversial Bodies Revealed exhibition, which is being held at the Custard Factory in Digbeth from Friday 30th October.
Here’s an excerpt from the Bodies Revealed website:
“ This Exhibition–which features actual human specimens–allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved only for medical professionals. Take the opportunity to peer inside yourself, to better understand how your elaborate and fascinating body works, and how you can become a more informed participant in your own health care.”
I had done my research before attending. I knew the subject matter, but I was more concerned with the technical aspects of photographing the ‘bodies’. What would the lighting be like? Would I need a tripod? I’ll bring one just in case. What lenses will I need? I filled my flash unit up with fresh batteries (but as it was I never used the flash). I made sure I had spare memory cards… all the sorts of things that go through a photographers mind before taking out the camera and clicking the shutter.
When I first walked into the exhibition, I was quite at ease with the ‘bodies’ and body parts surrounding me and got on with the task of taking great shots. However, it wasn’t until someone asked me to pose with one of the body’s that I started to feel a bit uneasy. It took a minute or two to get the shot (see below) and whilst I was looking the body in the straight in the eye, the strangest of feelings came over me. I could see every eyelash of the body in front of me. The combination of that, and the sweet chemical scent I could smell, made me realise what I was actually face to face with. It’s very hard to describe. I didn’t feel disgusted. I didn’t feel ill. It was more of a “Wow. This person was once living and breathing. Had friends and family. Had stories to tell. And now I am studying his eyelashes and looking inside of his body”. Surreal I guess you could say.
Admittedly this was one of the hardest shoots to edit. What images to include, and what to leave out. So I present you with a taster of images of the exhibition.
Would I recommend the exhibtion? Absolutely. It’s a chance to see the human body how you would never get to see it ordinarily. It is facinating, informative and something very, very different.
Kenny from Big Cat PR
Me studying the eyelashes of the person before me…..
I took the opportunity to grab a quick sound bite from the Medical Director of the exhibition, Dr Roy Glover.
I have also made a video of the images too.
Tomorrow night is the Royal Television Social Awards. It’s time to charge my batteries (and my those of my camera!) and get ready for, hopefully, a star studded event 
15 Comments 
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October 28th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Wow those photos are fascinating. I have to say despite my curiosity in it, I wouldn’t be brave enough to go to the exhibition, it’d just freak me out more than slightly! But as you said, I guess seeing them in the flesh makes you want to know more.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Gosh, this looks so interesting, would really love to see it. Lovely photos, the lighting is often rather good in these galleries.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Hi Rachel. One of the curators made me jump. I was standing very near a ‘body’ and she said “It has just moved!”. I nearly jumped out of my skin haha. She just meant that I had wobbled the platform it was standing on
October 28th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Hi Brenda. If you make it to the exitbit, give me a shout! I was really pleased with the lighting arrangement. Very complimetary to the exibits.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Thanks for sending me the link Karen. It does look amazing – I was worried it might be a bit sensationalist with the poses and that but it will be really interesting to see whats inside of all of us. Do I take the kids though!!
October 28th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Hi Paul. Glad the pics have helped you decide whether to go to see it. Ah….to bring the kids or not……?! haha Good question!
October 28th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Hanna and Karen Strunks, Karen Strunks. Karen Strunks said: Very interesting subject to photograph. All blogged: the Bodies Revealed exhibition http://bit.ly/4iyqR6 pls rt
[...]
October 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Amazing photos Karen. As you say, it is so important to remember that this is not a “movie”, its real, and the people once lived.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The pictures look great, fortunate there were some photogenic docents on hand!
October 30th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Have you seen the original Body Worlds exhibition? How did it compare?
(I was a bit disappointed when I found out the posters all over town were advertising a knock-off rather than the Gunther Von Hagens exhibit, but I’ll probably visit at some point anyway.)
October 30th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Thank you for your comments!
Ed – Thank you. Very true, and quite right. It was a strange feeling when my brain acknowledged this.
Kenny – lol, yes! Very fortunate.
Ad- No, I’m afraid I haven’t seen the Body Worlds exhibition, so can’t compare them. I guess if people missed the Body Works exhibit, the Bodies Revealed exhibit would be the next closest thing.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I am very excited to be going to this exhibition! either this wed or saturday coming!
I am very curious to finally see these for real.. I’m a little scared at the same time…
beautiful pictures xx
November 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Hi Sam,
Thank you. Glad you like the picutures.
I’m sure you will enjoy the exhibtion. It’s very different!
May 20th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Nice photos, Karen. This exhibition was in my city (Porto Alegre, Brazil) in 2009 and I did a video for the newspaper I’ve worked for: http://tinyurl.com/b9y3h9
(audio in Portuguese)
May 20th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Thank you Melissa! Enjoyed your report! What a coincidence. It’s quite a strange experience isn’t it!