"Did your boyfriend beat you?" "Did you wash the rest of the paint off your face?" "You have your lipstick all over." These are just some of the comments received by the subjects of Copenhagen-based professional photographer Linda Hansen's recent photo series, titled Nevus Flammeus. Also known as port-wine stain, nevus flammeus is a congenital vascular malformation that causes birthmarks ranging in color from light rose to dark red. Staring at somebody with this condition would be considered rude if you saw them out on the street, but Hansen's portrait photography encourages you to stare in order to force the viewer to see the facial features and the person behind the birthmark.
"I want to make a confrontation," Hansen told Feature Shoot. "How long do you have to look? When do you start to see the other details in the photo? The nose or that the clothes are sitting a little wrong. All the small details are really important. When you have looked enough at these beautiful people, the mark doesn't become interesting anymore. I compare it to having a tattoo: It's curious, or a special mark with history. It's unconventional beauty. How come when you have a mark with nature, this is not OK?"
Scroll down to see the beautiful photos for yourself and tell us what you think in the comments!
More info: Linda Hansen (h/t: Feature Shoot)
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so adorable sad though because kids can be really cruel about that kinda stuff
I'm sad that this post chooses to call these folk "brave". I have a large port wine stain and don't feel brave having my photo taken, wearing tshirts that show it off, or really doing anything to cover it up. People come in all shapes, sizes, look different, and have different characteristics. Lets get to a point where one doesn't have to be brave to be themselves.
One can only be brave when scared. Great if you're not scared! But some people are. And they get the chance to be brave.
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They are brave, brave to face a world full of nitwits who cannot take people for who they are as a whole...not just the surface!
Sorry Emily Wolff, but I happen to think that all of these people are BRAVE and BEAUTIFUL for showing us this side of themselves. I have 4 daughters that have port wine stains on their bodies. I would love to show them this post to show them that they are not alone in the way that they look.
To call them brave is like labeling them with negativity and weak because of their birthmark. There is nothing wrong with having birthmark. Yes, they might been bullied because of that. But bullies are bullies, they will bully others for anything, may it be skin color, eyes color, hair color (the list goes one) & etc. These people in the photos are as beautiful/handsome as you and me. ;)
It's too bad we don't have a "sign" on the skin that shows the black in people's hearts. So you would know who to avoid and people to love and respect. Guess we just have to work it out like we do now. Scary.
This is a horrible burden for someone to have to shoulder. Fortunately, there are now ways to remove them, mostly through the use of laser application.
Yes. The first thing I noticed is, all of them look uncomfortable and rather sad.
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Being born with a birthmark, and bullying as a child for that reason, I now notice that it makes others more uncomfortable than it makes me. People tell me (as if I didn't know) that I can remove it with laser surgery, but what they don't know is that I feel extremely offended by that advice. It's my face we're talking about. I would never suggest anyone remove their nose, because it's too small, or too big. We have to feel comfortable with who we are.
It's funny, but the first thing I see in almost all of these portraits is the people's eyes. Some of them do look very sad, very tired, but all of them are beautiful.
Why do we have to vote for our favorite image? All these people are equally beautiful so it seems wrong to pick favorites
Anyone who says this is a curse and should be removed is wrong. Think of it like this, this is a mark of your individuallity and they can be useful. I have one (all of my left hand) and i dont choose to remove it.
If they want it removed, then you don't have the right to judge them for it. It's a personal choice.
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I read that birthmarks are from a previous life. Say you was shot in the face in war and died, and in the next life you'll still have the mark as a reminder of a past life. My son was born with one on his chest, side and foot.
But... we don't HAVE previous lives. That's... that's just plainly not how life and death works.
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Why are they posing like this? If they are proud of how they look shouldn't their expressions show that? I would be smiling. Point missed
I always thought of wine stain birthmarks to be really pretty. I kind of wish this project had shown the marks in a more positive light, and allowed the subjects to be more expressive and personable.
Beautiful project. The individuals are already strong to do the photo shoot. good job to the photographer and praise to the participants. :)
What's wrong with you people! The portraits don't look sad, they don't look brave, they don't look abnormal. The sooner we stop putting people into or outside the normal box the better. Whether a birthmark, a malformed limb, a huge nose, a small penis, it's all normal. The people with the real issues are those weak individuals who think others are braver for been themselves. I feel annoyed that the photographer is making an issue of what is not, and aided and abetted by the people being photographed. And I know what I am talking about, I have a birth mark on my face, it's called Simon, like the rest of me!
As a person with a facial port wine stain it is very interesting reading through the feedback and comments on this article. It is neither a curse or a burden to be born with this difference. I do get annoyed at the insitivities of others at times, but I mostly feel sorry for their ignorance. I do think that the author missed the mark. These people should be smiling and laughing. I'd love to share the article, but I find myself not identifying with anything except the same birth condition. So much beauty here that it's a shame it wasn't highlighted better
Lasers cause scarring. I have learned to live with my scars, my Brother has port wine stain and he has learned to live with it. He is beautiful, the same as all of these people. No matter what you are on the outside, it is what you are on the inside. Be proud of yourselves and show others that you are comfortable with who you are.
Articles like this one make me feel upset:/ Well, they have a birthmark... and what? Is that supposed to be a good thing? Or a bad thing? Or what??
My dad has a very dark birth mark on his face. When he was young they tried to remove it and it became darker and made his skin sensitive to cancer. I grew up looking at him, and loving him, and seeing him. It’s made me someone who considers a face for more than what I see at first. I notice more the glint of laughter in the eyes, smile lines, or kindness. He is also unique, and I’ve always thought his skin was beautiful. So much so that I have a red tattoo on my ribs, because the color seems right on my skin. So no, having a port wine “stain” is not a burden. It’s just different. And through the eyes of a child, it’s even a blessing.
Erm, is it just me who finds those people beautiful because of how unique they look? It sure is difficult for them, especially to ignore all the stares, but...they ARE beautiful. I find nothing odd or disturbing, nothing ugly or unnatural. They are what they are...the only thing that actually bothers me is how solemn they look - a smile is all that I am missing here!
The thing I really noticed in these photos is the pain/ sadness and trauma in some of these peoples eyes and you can feel its about their birthmarks because this is the entire purpose of the photo , I can just imagine the photographer taking the photo and them thinking about the thing that's been made so obvious to them their entire lives , I'd bet some of these people make an effort to hide their birthmarks and to be laid bare an vulnerable in these photos would be really hard , as someone who has 5 big noticeable birthmarks myself (luckily not on my face or this deep red) an am covered in freckles I can sympathise on what it's like to want to hide them so people don't notice or point them out ( I have one on my chest/shoulder which looks like a thumb printed smear of dirt , which people have commented on many times) I just want to say these people are so brave and beautiful in their complete naturalness and openness to share with the world about these world changing birthmarks. 👌
My first b/f had a birthmark similar to these, like #5 but not on the cheek. It wasn't that I didn't see it, I just saw it like I saw his eyes, nose, mouth. We were together for 7 years. The only time I felt bad about it was the first time he met my grandpa. I wasn't sure if I should say anything, so I didn't. Grandpa met b/f, shook his hand, said, 'been in a fight?' I just wanted to drop through the floor. B/f just dismissed it, but I don't know how he felt about itl
Idk, call me shallow but I thought this was rather depressing. I feel like something vibrant about accepting birthmarks would've impacted a wider audience rather than the done-to-death serious tone, dark blue background, blank faces.
These made me think of the poem 'To This Day' (you can find it on Youtube, I won't post a link because I wouldn't trust a link from a stranger either ;P).
It is understandable that people wonder if they are hurt sometimes but any other comment about it is probably something they've heard a lot
Interesting, the first thing I noticed in each picture was the eyes.
There is a story named 'Echo'. It actually has three stories all connected together in it, but in the first story there is a boy who has a big birthmark on his cheek that is purple and red and looks swollen. Everyone at his school calls him 'monster boy'. This boy lived while world war 2 was going on. He lived in Germany, but he and his father didn't like Hitler, and the German guards called him ugly. It depends if the person wants the birthmark. They can have it removed if they wanted to. But it makes you who you are. All your flaws, weaknesses, strengths, it's just a part of who you are. I'm not saying that the birthmark can't be a burden, I'm just saying that it can be a flaw, or whatever. It depends on the person who has the birthmark.
There is a modern book like that called Auggie about a boy born with facial defects. A lot of the teachers have kids reading it.
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Boy, you must be really flawed! (Especially in your head)
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This is a horrible burden for someone to have to shoulder. Fortunately, there are now ways to remove them, mostly through the use of laser application.
Yes. The first thing I noticed is, all of them look uncomfortable and rather sad.
Load More Replies... Being born with a birthmark, and bullying as a child for that reason, I now notice that it makes others more uncomfortable than it makes me. People tell me (as if I didn't know) that I can remove it with laser surgery, but what they don't know is that I feel extremely offended by that advice. It's my face we're talking about. I would never suggest anyone remove their nose, because it's too small, or too big. We have to feel comfortable with who we are.
It's funny, but the first thing I see in almost all of these portraits is the people's eyes. Some of them do look very sad, very tired, but all of them are beautiful.
Why do we have to vote for our favorite image? All these people are equally beautiful so it seems wrong to pick favorites
Anyone who says this is a curse and should be removed is wrong. Think of it like this, this is a mark of your individuallity and they can be useful. I have one (all of my left hand) and i dont choose to remove it.
If they want it removed, then you don't have the right to judge them for it. It's a personal choice.
Load More Replies... I read that birthmarks are from a previous life. Say you was shot in the face in war and died, and in the next life you'll still have the mark as a reminder of a past life. My son was born with one on his chest, side and foot.
But... we don't HAVE previous lives. That's... that's just plainly not how life and death works.
Load More Replies... Why are they posing like this? If they are proud of how they look shouldn't their expressions show that? I would be smiling. Point missed
I always thought of wine stain birthmarks to be really pretty. I kind of wish this project had shown the marks in a more positive light, and allowed the subjects to be more expressive and personable.
Beautiful project. The individuals are already strong to do the photo shoot. good job to the photographer and praise to the participants. :)
What's wrong with you people! The portraits don't look sad, they don't look brave, they don't look abnormal. The sooner we stop putting people into or outside the normal box the better. Whether a birthmark, a malformed limb, a huge nose, a small penis, it's all normal. The people with the real issues are those weak individuals who think others are braver for been themselves. I feel annoyed that the photographer is making an issue of what is not, and aided and abetted by the people being photographed. And I know what I am talking about, I have a birth mark on my face, it's called Simon, like the rest of me!
As a person with a facial port wine stain it is very interesting reading through the feedback and comments on this article. It is neither a curse or a burden to be born with this difference. I do get annoyed at the insitivities of others at times, but I mostly feel sorry for their ignorance. I do think that the author missed the mark. These people should be smiling and laughing. I'd love to share the article, but I find myself not identifying with anything except the same birth condition. So much beauty here that it's a shame it wasn't highlighted better
Lasers cause scarring. I have learned to live with my scars, my Brother has port wine stain and he has learned to live with it. He is beautiful, the same as all of these people. No matter what you are on the outside, it is what you are on the inside. Be proud of yourselves and show others that you are comfortable with who you are.
Articles like this one make me feel upset:/ Well, they have a birthmark... and what? Is that supposed to be a good thing? Or a bad thing? Or what??
My dad has a very dark birth mark on his face. When he was young they tried to remove it and it became darker and made his skin sensitive to cancer. I grew up looking at him, and loving him, and seeing him. It’s made me someone who considers a face for more than what I see at first. I notice more the glint of laughter in the eyes, smile lines, or kindness. He is also unique, and I’ve always thought his skin was beautiful. So much so that I have a red tattoo on my ribs, because the color seems right on my skin. So no, having a port wine “stain” is not a burden. It’s just different. And through the eyes of a child, it’s even a blessing.
Erm, is it just me who finds those people beautiful because of how unique they look? It sure is difficult for them, especially to ignore all the stares, but...they ARE beautiful. I find nothing odd or disturbing, nothing ugly or unnatural. They are what they are...the only thing that actually bothers me is how solemn they look - a smile is all that I am missing here!
The thing I really noticed in these photos is the pain/ sadness and trauma in some of these peoples eyes and you can feel its about their birthmarks because this is the entire purpose of the photo , I can just imagine the photographer taking the photo and them thinking about the thing that's been made so obvious to them their entire lives , I'd bet some of these people make an effort to hide their birthmarks and to be laid bare an vulnerable in these photos would be really hard , as someone who has 5 big noticeable birthmarks myself (luckily not on my face or this deep red) an am covered in freckles I can sympathise on what it's like to want to hide them so people don't notice or point them out ( I have one on my chest/shoulder which looks like a thumb printed smear of dirt , which people have commented on many times) I just want to say these people are so brave and beautiful in their complete naturalness and openness to share with the world about these world changing birthmarks. 👌
My first b/f had a birthmark similar to these, like #5 but not on the cheek. It wasn't that I didn't see it, I just saw it like I saw his eyes, nose, mouth. We were together for 7 years. The only time I felt bad about it was the first time he met my grandpa. I wasn't sure if I should say anything, so I didn't. Grandpa met b/f, shook his hand, said, 'been in a fight?' I just wanted to drop through the floor. B/f just dismissed it, but I don't know how he felt about itl
Idk, call me shallow but I thought this was rather depressing. I feel like something vibrant about accepting birthmarks would've impacted a wider audience rather than the done-to-death serious tone, dark blue background, blank faces.
These made me think of the poem 'To This Day' (you can find it on Youtube, I won't post a link because I wouldn't trust a link from a stranger either ;P).
It is understandable that people wonder if they are hurt sometimes but any other comment about it is probably something they've heard a lot
Interesting, the first thing I noticed in each picture was the eyes.
There is a story named 'Echo'. It actually has three stories all connected together in it, but in the first story there is a boy who has a big birthmark on his cheek that is purple and red and looks swollen. Everyone at his school calls him 'monster boy'. This boy lived while world war 2 was going on. He lived in Germany, but he and his father didn't like Hitler, and the German guards called him ugly. It depends if the person wants the birthmark. They can have it removed if they wanted to. But it makes you who you are. All your flaws, weaknesses, strengths, it's just a part of who you are. I'm not saying that the birthmark can't be a burden, I'm just saying that it can be a flaw, or whatever. It depends on the person who has the birthmark.
There is a modern book like that called Auggie about a boy born with facial defects. A lot of the teachers have kids reading it.
Load More Replies... Boy, you must be really flawed! (Especially in your head)
Load More Replies...