I have chosen the genre of portraiture as a starting point as I for a long time certainly since the onset of A level photography I have been photographing my friends and using them as models and muses for my work.
‘Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject. OED
To complement the interest in stills photography I am into cinema and the mindless distraction of Sci-Fi I have started to produce my own films as part of media studies and the two subjects are closely linked. I like the act of mis en scene the setting up of the set, to create some interesting compositions.
This quote is a good starting point for what I try and achieve. Over the past months I have looked at a number of photographers who I feel excel at capturing the mood and expression of the sitter.
Starting points These include: Celebrity / fashion /society portraiture
I aim to create a series of successful images that is of a professional standard. In which I can show in a gallery, Throughout this project I have been influenced, and I have emulated photographers work that has developed it to
I started off with a basic photo shoot get some tips and ideas of the artist Peter Arciero, involving a couple of models with lighting studio lighting that enhances from one side from the black backdrop , to create such strong shadows across the face and across their clothing.
This is only a list of some artist that I researched and further developed as there were so many photographs in to do so.
Patric Shaw, A London fashion based photographer, that features primarily female models, as also being a commercial photographer this photographer has respectable talent, showing the models in pure and sanitary poses.
My Patric Shaw Emulations
Bill Brandt post war portrait photographer who used the body as a landscape contrasting flesh with texture. Most of his work involves a certain part of the figure close to the camera, No depths of field so we can establish the landscape behind. His work has highly contrasting shadows which enhance the mood.
Patrick Litchfield: Celerity / fashion /society Lens man. He takes quite sophisticated shots of women, trying to catch there outer beauty. The photos I discovered and looked into displayed the models in luxury life styles, also were carefully lit and predominantly female.The clothing in the shoots really reflecting the decade that these photos were captured in.
Pierre Radstisic, he’s a surrealist like portrait photographer. Some of him work involves removing or recreating the facial structure, displaying it in an undesirable fashion. Other than the classical way off have one particular image as a main focus Pierre has linked images together with a sort of animated technique as there are in a gif format. This includes the model changing characteristics or facial expression during the same image.
Cindy Sherman, self photographer staring in her own cinematic creations. In which are very successful, her work impersonates films of her time, this is very influential, as her work is peculiarly unusual and incredibly emotive and creative compositions.
Diane Arbus a recorder of odd and freaks of the USA, she includes people that have disfigurement or unusually to their life or their body. Showing us what is beyond the lens and not necessarily photographed, she creates this disfigurement of society.
Ian Phillip Mclaren, a celebrity/ fashion photographer that displays the model in elegant and clear manor, Most of the models in the shots are formal fashioned in direct mode of address towards the camera, but some are quite discomforting as some of the male models are displayed in such a innocent and angelic way.
Yosuf Karsh, a celebrity photographer, displaying some of the most influensual and famous people in his photographic career, photographing the likes of Einstein and Winston Churchill, his work consists of well lit and well composed photographs with tension and atmosphere.
Patric Shaw,---
I enjoy black and white photography and for the majority of the sketch book I have worked with computers digitally editing the work in Photoshop de-saturating and adjusting brightness and contrast. However I do like dark room practice and the ceremonies of developing the film and unfurling the spiral to reveal the illusive negative.
And because of that Bill Brant is a photographer that I admire for this because of his use of his harsh body scapes figures contrasting with natural textures i.e. pebbles, rocks and soil, and his ability photographing with a Rolleiflexs camera. (A twin lens reflex camera)
I have created a series of images in which are emulations that are similar of Bill Brandts.
Interesting perspective depth of field all in focus clear textures important skin is clean white contrasting to rough surfaces. Not sexual even though there is predominance of nudity. The lighting is focused completely onto the models body part/s, leading direct attention towards the body. The combination of these two concepts creates this unlikeness. Pairing a nude with a irregular foreground is really unusual , the dark contrasts really does capture my attention and that is why i want the related, emulated and eventually establish my own sort of style, but with a strong link towards this photographer.
Cindy Sheman role play mis en cene movie stills story telling a moment is caught
Links to my close up body shots show only part of the figure they have contrasting shadows and reflect emotion, feelings in which enhance the interest of the viewer and to establish the photograph.
Studio photography (lighting & backdrop, a staged piece) is simply what i believe the easiest way to compose atmosphere upon the figure is through the use of manipulating the light. With this ability you will build prosperity with each and every shot. With my First set of conventional studio shots, the lighting and the DSLR was set up to perfection, (F 5.6 S 1/60), the camera was stand about half a metre from the model, and the 500 watt bulbed studio lights about 1m, with one projecting light across the face and clothing from the right side and the other one was directed towards the backdrop removing any shadow/s created, leaving no ‘noise’ in the photograph captured and crisp clear definition on the features.
Also there was my most successful images emulatating Patric Shaw, these shots are taken under two studio lights,
Now my work with Photoshop (Abstract Portraits) influenced by a amateur photographer called Martin Huba, he develops these interesting unusual images that consist of a grungy texture, working into the image creating layer combinations, some sort of photo collage manipulating them in several DTPs. (Desktop Programs) In my emulations i try to get the same abstracted Effect but I don’t believe that I have pulled it off quite so well. The reasoning is that there isn’t enough involved, in martins portraits other than the face there are other images combined.
Here is my Martin Huba Emulation, simply showing before, and after.
Starting off with the image of my grandad there are several effects and tool used such as 'Threshold', 'polygon Lasso','Halftone pattern', 'Clone Tool'ect.
Through this project the ability to research and to tweak ideas for my own photographs, i have a final image, which i feel is my best image, dispalying my model in a intrestesting stance. The focal point is the detail on the face, (the wrinkels) showing his discomfort.
the
Lighting, position, composition of image
Intentions vs outcomes
My photobucket Page. All my images have been Uploaded a sectioned into folders
http://s726.photobucket.com/home/Stuberto1/index
