Exhibit dwells on body image

Award-winning documentary photographer Lauren Greenfield, 42, hopes her exhibits, "Girl Culture" and "Thin," currently at the Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, will provoke much discussion on two topics that have been her focus for many years - the importance of body image to females and a look at eating disorders as part of a serious mental illness.

"The body is so important to girls. It is the canvas they use to show the world who they are. That is the overarching theme," said Greenfield in reference to "Girl Culture" and its companion book.

The exhibit features 58 prints from among hundreds Greenfield made traveling across the country over several years to photograph females of different ages shopping, attending weight loss camp and getting ready for their first formal dance. It has been seen by more than 600,000 people at venues both in the United States and abroad.

"A lot of the pictures are of moments we can all relate to. The hope is that they raise questions about our values, our insecurities, what we spend time doing. On the spectrum of the least hopeful time drain is that of girls using their energy not to feed themselves intellectually, spiritually and emotionally," Greenfield said.

For "Thin," which consists of an exhibit, related film and book, Greenfield spent time with women at the Renfew Center, a residential treatment center for eating disorders in Florida.

"'Thin' is really about the process of treating eating disorders and how tough they are to fight. It is not about popular culture but a look into the heart of darkness - mental illness," Greenfield said.

The exhibit and documentary, which was shown on HBO, focus on four women including a teenager, psychiatric nurse, sales representative and one who ultimately does not survive her illness.

Greenfield's style is to include first person narrative....