Dina Goldstein

Dina Goldstein is based in Vancouver, B.C. She has balanced her love of unique portraits with a career in editorial and commercial photography. Her photographs have been featured in many high profile magazines and she has received numerous awards for er commercial and creative photography.

The following post will focus on how Dina Goldstein has photographed the Disney Princesses in her own way.

This series of photographs is titled "Fallen Princesses".

Fallen Princesses place Fairy Tale characters in modern day scenarios. In all of the images the princess is placed in an environment that articulates her conflict. Goldstein questions the messages behind Disney princess films that so many women grew up with, by setting them in harsh realities. The 'happily ever after' is replaced with with a realistic outcome and addresses current issues. It imagines what would become of the princesses if they were subjected to same standards and realities women in the real world have to deal with.

Snow white

This photograph depicts the Disney Character, Snow White, in a different situation in comparison to the fairytale ending of the book. 

In this photograph, she is seen alongside her four children and her "prince charming". From the looks of this photograph, Snow White never got the fairytale ending that she desired. Although she is still 'keeping' the house, she is also looking after four poorly-dressed children AND her lazy prince.
This photograph adresses the modern day issue of feminism. Nowadays, by many men, women are perceived as someone who should cook, clean, reproduce and run around after their family whilst their partner comes home from work (with their pay) and settle down to be waited upon.


Cinderella

The fairytale ending of Cinderella is a very fortunate one (in the storybook); Cinderella and the Prince married and lived 'happily ever after'. However, in the above photographed, the situation is completely different.
Instead of the Prince coming to Cinderella, she instead is left waiting in her ball dress in a grubby bar. Not only is she waiting at a single table by herself, she is also being stared at by creepy men (which are the total opposite of her 'prince charming'). 

Rapunzel

The basic storyline of Rapunzel is about an evil witch who raises Rapunzel and has her hair grow very long. When Rapunzel was old enough, the witch locked her in a tower with no exit and only a window. The only way to get in is by having Rapunzel throw down her hair so that  the witch can climb it.

One day a Prince comes by and see's the witch climbing the hair into the tower and, after the witch leaves, he calls out "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair. She does so and he climbs up and they have an epic love story.

In Dina's photograph, Rapunzel is seen sitting in a hospital bed clutching onto her long hair. It is obvious that the issue that is being addressed is modern-day illness. The illness that Rapunzel has, in this photograph, is cancer. 

This image challenges the fairytale endings in fairy tales. Obviously, Rapunzel never lived "happily ever after" and isn't going to live the way she had dreamed.

Little red riding hood

The fairy tale character in this image is depicted very differently in comparison to the commonly-known character.
Looking at this photograph, the modern-day issue that is being addressed here is obesity. Instead of the character being slim carrying healthy food in her basket, she is very large and it holding very unhealthy food items such as burgers, fries and fizzy drinks.

Sleeping beauty

This photograph basically depicts Sleeping Beauty still sleeping with her (presumed) Prince waiting beside her. Sleeping Beauty is still under Maleficent's spell therefore she has not ages BUT her Prince Charming has. This photograph is set in an old-people's home. 

Jasmine

This photograph shows the well-known Disney Princess, Jasmine, is a battlefield holding a large gun. 

In the storybook, Aladdin is the one who saves Jasmine and becomes the hero. Instead, the photographer has made Jasmine the hero by giving her the role of a soldier.

Ariel - the Little Mermaid

Basically, in the storybook 'The Little Mermaid', Ariel is allowed to roam around have a little bit of freedom. However, in this photograph, Ariel is shown cooped up in a tank for the public to view. She is basically being perceived as just something to look at. She has no real value, she is just there for other peoples entertainment.

Belle - Beauty and the Beast

This photograph shows Belle getting plastic surgery.
This image is, quite clearly, addressing the modern-day issue of body modification.
In the Disney storybook 'Beauty and the Beast', Belle is basically the pretty lady who is needed to break the 'beasts' spell so that he can return to his natural form. 

It's very ironic that someone who is perceived and known for being 'beautiful' is getting plastic surgery so that she looks as beautiful as she desires.

Pocahontas

The basic storyline of the book 'Pocahontas' is about a female who (for a change) is the hero of the story. She is basically a warrior who defeats the bad guys.
In this photograph, she is depicted as a stay-at-home kind of woman who has a tendency to collect cats - this gives the impression that she isn't very sociable ... she'd rather spend time with her many cats. There is no evidence of her being any kind of hero/ warrior in the image.