A portrait is a genre of photography. It is of something that represents a person and their personality, meaning that it does not actually have to be of them, and can range from a picture of them, to a picture of their favourite colour, for example. All that is in the portrait can represent them, and so a portrait can be utilised so that the lighting, background and framing all can be something to do with them.
What is a genre?
A genre is a type or class of a particular subject, and also explores the idea of patterns and repetition. Most of the genres in photography originally existed in art and in painting before they were adopted by photography. Some genres in portraiture are: police mugshots, family photos, identification, team portraits, and studio portraits. These are used because they all explore a person's identity and character, which will vary between the two portraits. For example, a person's character will be different at a family portrait compared to a police mugshot.
Above are 5 self portraits that I took within a short period of time. We were asked to take self portraits on the following topics: reflection, obstruction, layered, rule of thirds, and symmetry. I think that the most successful of these photos is the photo based on the rule of thirds, which is the top right photo and also the background for this page. I like this photo the best because I think that it uses the theme of rule of thirds very effectively because the main use of rule of thirds is normally to highlight the point of interest in the photo, and this photo does that effectively. I also like this photo because it creates an element of mystery in the photograph because the viewer may be thinking what is out of the window.
Comparing two portraits:
The first time I saw a photo (that I can remember) was of me, taken when I was about 3. Me and my brothers had photos taken by a photographer because my parents wanted some photos of us around the house. The photo was of me on a chair, reaching up into the sky, and it is one of my favourite photos of me because it showed me as I normally must have always been, and so I was always a little bewildered at why I am reaching up into the sky. I have tried to re-create this photo as seen below.
Above is one of the earliest photos of me and I have tried to re-create this photo. I think I have done quite a good job, because I have tried to make a fairly similar background by editing it to make it as white as possible, found the most similar jumper I own, and tried to re-create the same facial expression. Next time, I think I could re-adjust my position, for example on reflection, I can now see that I have tucked the wrong leg under the other, and slightly closed the wrong hand. Also, I could try and find some similar trousers to the ones I am wearing in the photo on the left, but on taking this photo, I could not find anything remotely similar.
These photos are similar because they are both black and white, and both the people in the photos have the same facial expression. These photos are different because the photos are in a different colour, the person in the photo on the right looks as if they are either sleeping or dead, and the photograph on the right has more detail to the background. These images are actually Daguerreotypes which are the oldest types of images and are produced on an iodine sensitised silver and developed in mercury paper. In the background of the photograph on the right, it appears to be in a walled area, perhaps under a bridge where he could have made it look like his body had been recovered. I think that the photograph on the left is just of his head and shoulders because it was considered to be the first ever self-portrait, and so he may have just wanted his face in it. The photograph on the right looks like this because it is meant to look like he has just drowned himself. However, the photographer has not actually committed suicide but has instead faked his death to make it look like his enemy, Louis Daguerre, is responsible for his death. I think that the person on the left is a wealthy man because of the way that he is dressed, because someone who didn't have a lot of money wouldn't have been able to afford the clothes. I think that the person on the right is not as wealthy, and that could be the reason that he has faked his death. Both of these images are self portraits, but they are taken differently taken. For example, the photograph on the right is a self portrait just of the person's face, but the photo on the right is much more different because is is not only of the photographer's head and shoulders, but also of their entire body lying down. I prefer the photograph on the right because in my opinion, it is much more creative and has more of a story behind it. I would ask Hippolyte Bayard why he faked his death and if he thought it was worth it in the end.
The painting on the left is by Johannes Vermeer, which was done during the years 1657-1659, and the photo on the right is by Tom Hunter. Hunter created a photo based on Vermeer's painting, and they share some similarities. For example, they are both facing a window, the window is the only light source, they are both reading a letter, they are both wearing green. However there are also some differences, such as the window is open in the left and not the right, in the left, it is not a baby on the bed, but instead some apples. These photos also look like they are taken in a completely different time period, and we can tell this by the tone of light, the windows, and the dress sense. These similarities and differences are significant because it shows us that Tom Hunter was influenced by Vermeer's painting. I think that he may have been influenced by Vermeer because he may have wanted to show the differences and similarities not only through the photo itself, but through time as well. The colour change can also be significant because it may show the different household items that can be found through the different time periods.
Nico Froehlich : Environmental Portraits workshop
Above are my 3 favourite photos by Nico Froelich. I like these photos the best because I think they effectively convey these people in their daily lives, which relates to the purpose of environmental portraits. I think that these photos also show a simultaneously ordinary and strange feeling. This may be because they show an ordinary setting, but not what would ordinarily be happening in that setting. For example, in the middle photo, you would expect a person sitting in that seat and eating, but instead, you can see an empty seat and a bottle of sauce, which could relate to buisness in the shop, and how it may be struggling. Therefore, these photos are effective because they show an environment, but also shows a deeper meaning in that place.
Click on images to see full size
Above are my five favourite environmental portraits that I have taken because I think that these best show the people in Tallis and their daily lives. I think this because it is what the people in Tallis do every day, and I also think they are good environmental portraits because in all of these pictures, it shows people where they would normally be and what they would normally be doing, and so I think that all of these photos are a good representation of life in Tallis. I also like these photos because they display framing and leading lines. For example, the second photo displays a both leading lines and framing because the path behind the person leads your eye towards him, and at the same time, the path behind him is also framing him because the path's border makes the person the subject of the photo.
Tyler Mitchell exhibition:
In Mitchell's exhibition Chrysalis, it displays a utopian vision of black beauty, desire, and belonging. The images are shot in New York and London, mixing both the landscape and the history of photographic images of black people, particularly in the American South. Mitchell's reason for taking these photos is that he wanted to capture images of black men and women in states of leisure, safe and free from social expectations. Mitchell uses land, water and sky in these images to capture a natural element in all of these photos, which is effective because it creates a blend of both artificial and natural elements in the photos. He also uses people in these photos as an opposite to nature, but at the same time in harmony with nature. For example, in some of these photos, the subject is wading, swimming, or struggling in muddy water, which can be seen as a connect with nature.
My attempt:
Click on images to see full size
I think that these photos are successful because they are similar to Tyler Mitchell's photos in the sense that they show something that a normal person would do, but then slightly twisted out of meaning, and so it turns into a thing that no normal person would do. I could make these better by maybe having different amounts of light in the different photos, and maybe even use natural elements like water or mud to show a harmony between a human and nature. I also think that these photos relate to Tyler Mitchell's as they share a similar colour composition as his. For example, the photos show bright, warm colours linking them to Michell's, as well as showing colours that would be frequently be seen in nature, such as green and blue.
Photos in London:
I have taken 15 images in London which all follow a specific theme: street lights. I chose this theme because I wanted to take something incredibly ordinary, and take it into a new light. I have even tried to order these photos into the most ordinary things we see every day, starting in the top left, and progressively getting odder until reaching the bottom right corner. For example, the bottom right photo shows a statue with two street lights either side of it, showing a blend between historical and modern times. Another example is the photo directly to the left of the statue photo because it shows the perspective of a person looking directly up at an overhanging street light, and I think this is effective because it looks like a border between nature and technology, with the blue sky on one side, and the camera and the building on the other.
Chris Killip
Chris Killip is a photographer who explores the area of depression and hopelessness in north-east England during the 1980s. These photos can relate to the lack of jobs in northern England during this time, as the removal of the industrial sector was taking place. These photos are important as they show the lives normal people during this time, which helps us to understand the confusion and stress that the public felt. For example, the photo on the left shows a man sitting down, crying on a wall. This may show us how he is stuggling to provide for himself and his family, and the stress and mental turmoil that he is going through at the moment. These photos also show sadness and depression through the use of shadow and light. In these photos, the dark colours can be seen as a reflection on the subject's feelings, and the inner turmoil that they are experiencing at the moment.
My attempt:
Above are my responses to Chris Killip's work. I think that I have effectively recreated his work, as they all are black and white photos showing people in a state of depression and sadness. These photos also show the subject in an off-centered way. This is significant because it gives a more natural and casual look to the photos, relating to the confusion of the time that the photos were taken. These photos also have a high contrast and monotone colour scheme, which is significant because it mimics the downbeat feel that is frequently seen in his photos.
Hélenè Amouzou:
Hélenè Amouzou is a photographer who breaks the conventions of portraiture by creating her own distinctive and haunting imagery. A common theme in her photographs is the portrayal of people in poverty and exile. Her photos are normally taken inside, in a room with peeling, floral wallpaper, creating a barrier between nature and urban poverty. Her photos are in black and white, and convey a constant questioning and a search for the subject's identity. This is done by the use of the effect of being able to see through the subject, which may create a sense of searching through an empty shell of a body. The photos also capture feelings of exclusion from society, and a feeling of inequality. This again can be seen through the effect of being able to see through her, creating a sense of transparency in the modern world. The portrayal of a person in poverty is done by the use of the belongings of the subject being scattered around them, which almost shows the viewer how little the person has. This can be seen in the picture on the right because she is sitting in an empty suitcase, showing the viewer that the subject has nothing else at all.
My attempt:
This photo is my attempt at recreating Hélenè Amouzou's photos and style. I think that my photo is effective at this because it shares the colour and style of her photos. For example, I think that the aspect of being able to see through the subject has been successfully captured in this photo. This is significant because it displays a haunting sense of transparency in the modern world, and how a person's identity os being lost as the world is being more and more connected. I think that is have also captured the barrier between urban poverty and nature with the strong contrast between the grass, and then suddenly the buildings come into view. I think that I could improve tis photo by fixing the problem of removing the 2 extra buildings that are in the frame.
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Vivian Maier:
Vivian Maier was a street photographer whose work was only discovered after her death. Her experimental self portraits are unique because they do not always show her as a person would see her. For example, her shadow, a reflection in a mirror far away, and she is very rarely the subject of the photo, and instead can be off to the side of the photo. This may have been done because she may have felt out of place in society, and so didn't feel the need do be the centre of attention in anything. This may also explain why she did not choose to go public with her photos, and so the photos did not get discovered until after her death. A reason why she may have chosen to photograph herself in shadows could be to create a link between the urban world and nature. This is because a shadow is a natural thing created by the sun, but these shadows a portrayed over a typical urban scene. I chose these images because I think that they effectively show an effective combination of abnormality and everyday life. A reason why she may have chosen to create mirror self-portraits is to show how she felt in life. This is often done by her taking a photo of everyday life where everything is normal, but the only thing that is out of place is her, which she may have done to show that she felt out of place in society, and that she felt she always stood out among other people.
My attempt:
Click on images to see full size.
I think that these photos are sucessful as I have recreated the elements which are shown in Vivian Maier's photographs. For example, the photo in the middle shows how each person's mind can interact differently with the world. This is effective as it shows the viewer how someone's view of the world can be altered and changed, and how some people can feel constantly out of place in society. The use of shadows in these photos can also create a barrier between the urban world and nature, as a person's figure is being projected onto different objects and settings. The photo on the right displays this effectively, as it shows shadow onto a door, which is taken on an odd angle in a normal place, showing how a person can feel out of place.
Tom Hunter:
Tom Hunter is a photographer from Dorset created a series of photos called "The Ghetto", which were photos taken in Hackney, in years 1993-1994, when he was living in this community. All of these photos are taken of his neighbours and friends, and the name for this series comes from a local newspaper who had a critical point of view of the area, and who described it as "a crime ridden, derelict ghetto, a cancer, a blot on the landscape". The Ghetto was created to prove that there is a community, and to prove the article was incorrect. These photos explore the idea that there is still a community even in areas of poverty and crime. This can be seen through the use of groups of people doing what they normally do, and even what the people living in the most high class of areas would do, showing a link between the classes. Another thing that these photographs do is create a sense of dignity which is not considered in most stereotypes of the area, showing a completely different side to the street.
Amalia Ulman and Vivian Maier
Amalia Ulman and Vivian Maier are two photographers that use mirrors and reflective glass to take photographs. Some similarities are that their photos are both reflections, you can see the camera in both of them, they are both women, there is something on their head in both of these, and they use the same techniques, such as leading lines. Some of the differences are that one is in colour and the other is monochrome, one is taken using a modern phone camera and the other is taken using an old camera, one is indoors and the other is outdoors, one has a hat in and the other does not, and one of them doesn't seem to be serious, but the other one is serious. Some of the shared visual elements are that there are lots of vertical lines in both, the framing is similar, and the arrangement of the background and foreground is similar. The foreground and background are similar because the background is on the right and contains repeated patterns, but the foreground is on the left, and contains new and different shapes. The images have been spaced to create lots of straight lined shapes that are parts of repeated patterns.
Viviane Sassen and Vivian Maier
Viviane Sassen is a photographer whose photos use the same Visual effects of light to Vivian Maier. Some of the main differences are that one is colour and looks more modern to the other photo, as well as being better quality. However, the photos can also be seen as similar because I think that they both use the same formal elements, such as leading lines through the use of the boundaries between shadow and light, as well as the use of framing between the two photos. For example, the light has affected the framing of the photo because the only part of the photo that is completely in shadow is their heads, and so this is framing them. Looking at the way these photos are framed makes me think that they were not taken instinctively, but staged over a long period of time, because the shadows are only in one specific part of the picture, and so it must have taken quite a long time to set them up. Another difference between these two images is the foreground and background. For example, in Vivian Maier's photo, there is a lot of detail in the background, but in the other photo, there is not much at all. In Sassen's photo, there is a lot of colour in it which gives an odd effect, because it shows us that it has been set up since shadows are not blue. I would say that Sassen's photos are quite abstract in style because they take the normal concept of a shadow and make it artificial by adding colour to it. I find these images unusual because they take the ordinary concept of a shadow and they make it artificial by framing it and colouring it in such a way that is impossible to be natural.
Alternative portraits
Viviane Sassen
The rules for photography are always changing. Multiple photographers are breaking away from the original conventions of photography. An example for one of these photographers is Viviane Sassen, and an example of one of her photos can be seen below. This photo breaks away from the original conventions through the fusion of Urban terror and the desperate struggling of nature. This can be seen through the use of the smoking city for the background, and the white doves on the boy's back. The photo displays doves, a normal sign of peace, scrambling away from the looming city. This could signify the meaning of peace and nature struggling to survive in a world of urban evolution. Viviane Sassen's photos normally follow a pattern of having bright colours, outside, and something out of the ordinary, with an overarching feeling of contrast over the entire piece. If I was to re-create this feeling, I would wear very bright clothing in-between a scene of nature next to an urban setting.
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Rhiannon Adam
Rhiannon Adam is a photographer that plays with the idea of health, and makes an effort to try and define it. Adam does this by taking photos of people in hospital clothing, and then distorting this image in some way. For example, in the image on the left, she places a biological sample over a photo, and then further continues to burn and alter the photo, enforcing a natural theme into the work. As a result of this, her photos turn out to be completely unique, since no-one can recreate the same pattern that is burned into the photo. In all of her photos, there is a theme of nature and sickness, and Adam aims to try and document the way that we see and understand health.
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The relations between art and photography:
I have tried to recreate this piece of art on the left in real life, using the shared themes in art and photography. These photos are similar because they shared the subjects in them share facial expression and body position. I have also tried to recreate the background in the art using props in real life, and I have also edited the floor into the same colour. I have also tried to make the lighting the same by using a light from the top-right corner, casting down into a murky swamp with a body inside. The reason that I chose this picture is because I thought it would be the biggest challenge to recreate this portrait, seeing as I am not going to jump into a swamp, and so had to recreate my own. One thing I could improve about this photo is to make my body completely horizontal, and I could also make the overall theme of the picture less vibrant, and more murky like a swamp.
Manipulating images
The process:
First, you will need to select the chosen image into photoshop. Then press file, place embedded, which will place a photo inside of the photo. Flip the embedded upside-down, then select the original layer, and remove half of it. Then, change the fill of the embedded image to around 60 percent.
Rankin - Destroy
Destroy was a unit that explored the hidden voice. It gave photos of celebrities to destroy them, and this was so successful because these photos can capture words without a camera. For example, if a photo is displayed in certain way, it can display a person's character in a way that a normal photo may not. The photo in the middle may show this by the use of colour, and because red is normally seen as an angry, or uncontrollable colour, this may give us some insight on how they are in real life. We can also interpret this photo by the use of certain shapes, such as the tyre marks that have gone repeatedly over it, again showing anger and a lack of control.
Dark Room
To develop a photo in the dark room, you need to follow a specific process. First set the timer to around 3 seconds on one of the lights. The time of light depends on how much exposure you want on your photo. Then, put the photographic paper under the light until the light goes out. Put the photo through the specific chemicals. Put it in the developer until it looks how you want it to look, and then put it into the "stop" chemical for around one minute, and finally, put it into the "fix" chemical for around 2 minutes. This will make the photograph permanent so it does not get damaged over time. Put the photo into water to wash the chemicals off, and then hang it up to dry.
Hanna Lenz 'Else'
Hanna Lenz is a photographer who explores the attachment of a person's life and memories to objects around them. For example, the photos above show ordinary objects in a 97 year old woman's flat. These photos show ordinary items in this person's life, but as time has gone on, these objects have become very meaningful to her. Everything in the flat has memories and stories attached to it. This is significant because you can see and feel just how much is attached to these objects, and how what may look just like a completely standard and normal thing to one person, it can look and feel very special to another. In particular, while the image on the right may look just like a normal kitchen to anybody else, it can be very special to another person, because it can be something that a person is absolutely dependent on. These photos also explore the concept of inability, and how some people can stop to be able to do certain things. For example, the photo on the left shows the subject with scissors and a plate with hair on it. This may have been taken to show that the subject cannot go out to get a haircut, so she has to do it herself. Therefore, this photo may relate to the struggles as life goes on, and how you may only be able to experience things only through memories of your life.
Julian Germain
Julian Germain is a photographer who explores the memory of a life and how it can impact a person. For example, Charlie Snelling, an elderly man living alone in Portsmouth, was someone who Julian Germain was able to visit often, and because of this, was able to build up a deep understanding of how Charlie, who lost his wife a few years earlier, had lived and changed due to this. For example, he was able to see that Charlie could keep a close connection to his wife through surrounding himself with portraits of the memories of his life with his wife. Therefore, these photos explore the effect of how life can impact and change its surroundings, as the memories set into just ordinary objects. Also, the photo in the middle can explore the concept of isolation, as it shows the man standing in a corner, alone. This could be showing how he has nothing to do with his life now that his wife has gone, and how he could even be experiencing his life again, through his memories.
Comparison
Both of these photos explore the idea of isolation and abandonment. This is because both of the subjects are seen being completely alone, with nothing to do. In the image on the left, the person has recently lost their wife, and therefore, the photo explores the concept of loss and abandonment. This is significant as the idea surrounding loss has been captured in a single portrait. However, in the image on the right, there is more a feeling of isolation and loneliness. This is important, as it can show how even though people can be alone, they are surrounded by the things that they need to support them, as well as all of the memories of their life. In conclusion, these photos both show feelings of isolation, but also joy of life, as they show the memories of past life.
David Hockney
David Hockney is a photographer and artist who explores the ideas of how a photograph can really capture a person. He believes that a single photograph cannot truly get the concept of how a person really looks. This concept is shown in the photo on the left. The photo shows the ideas of belonging and identity, and how other people may look at a person in a different way. Hockney takes multiple photos of the subject at different angles, and then complies them into a montage. This photography method is effective as it explores the ideas of perspective and fragmentation, which brings out the hidden meanings in a portrait. For example, just by taking the portrait at different angles, you are revealing the different otherwise hidden parts of a subject, changing the view of a viewer. This is significant as it highlights all aspects of a person, revealing the imperfections of them, and betraying their secrets.
My response
This photo is my attempt at recreating David Hockney's photo and style. I have adopted some of the techniques used by him, as well as showing a clear theme of identity throughout. For example, I have shown the standard features of a face, but changed their positions by layering them, and changing the angle of photograph each time. This is effective because it displays every aspect of a person, altering the ordinary view of them, and giving a more true photograph of them, as it shows every angle that may not be visible from the front. I also think that this photo shows the aspects of fragmentation and identity, as it shows how different people may view a person in a different way.
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