Portraiture

Portraiture

Definition & Theory

Portraiture: A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. 

The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person.

What makes a good portrait?

Props, lighting, person, animal, camera position, interaction, background, framing

- Camera settings f11, 1/125, ISO 200

This portrait of Winston Churchill and was taken by Yousuf Karsh. In this image the tone is very dark in some places and the light is brightest on his face too show that he is important and his face symbolises who he is. He looks strong and powerful which is the intention as he wants to be seen as a leader who is able to lead a country to success, this would have made the people confident in their leader.

Research of artist

Thomas Ruff (born 10 February 1958) is a German photographer who lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany. He has been described as “a master of edited and reimagined images”. Ruff photographed 60 half-length portraits in the same manner: Passport-like images, with the upper edge of the photographs situated just above the hair.

(A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding)

Thomas Ruffs' work is very simple yet interesting. Like I said in the research the photographs were taken as if they were passport photos. This is a unique way of portraiture because many photographers don't particularly use a moody, straight face with a colourful background as it may seem unusual but in reality it is just creative. I like how they are facing different directions as well because it gives a more serious but chilled effect (because of the background).

Image bank

The following images were added as part of my visual research...

                                  

This visual research gives me more of an insight of what types of portraiture I could achieve. These images are all very different as they all give a different interpretation and allows the viewer to decide for themselves what this portrait means which is what I hope to achieve.

Low key lighting uses dark tones to create a dramatic looking image - intensifies contrasts by reducing the lighting. The black cloth background is used to deepen the image and enhance the dark tones. For the camera aperture setting to be on f8, this allows less light to hit the main subject.

High key lighting increases the amount of light on the subject to the point of reduced contrast - blows out most/all harsh shadows. White cloth background is used to make the brightness look more intense. A softbox is used to make this blown out harsh lighting look softer so it does not look 'too much'.A white reflector allows the lighting to look clean and balanced on the subject.

(A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.)

Selected images - CONTACT SHEETS

Personal photoshoot

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These are all of my images taken. Some aren't the best but I feel I have some really good choices as my best images and photos to edit. My images are all based on Thomas Ruff and his passport type photography. I'm pleased with a few of these images because they are good quality and a good first attempt at portraiture. My second photoshoot was my worst as I could not get the lighting right and there is a yellowish tinge to all of the images, I will attempt to edit these for my final edits at the end to show my progression of my editing skills. The second photoshoot compared to the third is very different, it is the same person but they are shoot in a different room and I managed to change the lighting so there is no yellow discolouring. My first photoshoot is of Abbie a former photography student who I photographed in the studio at Harlow College, I used my usual Samsung camera and used shutter speed 1/125, aperture f11 and ISO 200 to capture these portraits. I also used a tripod and a soft box.

My best images

This image was taken in the studio using a tripod and show boxes. I told Abbie to just stare straight at the camera with a plain face, which is what she did. I am very pleased with the outcome as the face is plain but the background is colourful which is inspired by Thomas Ruff. In this Abbie looks upset and sad but its all about the viewers interpretation of this image, someone can see this and assume that she is sad but someone else will just think this is a passport photo as this is the typical face you would make as you are not allowed to smile. The background contrasts with the emotion as the background is colourful and meant to be happy but her emotion is plain.

I told Abbie to look down to the ground to emphasise her being sad. However, here is a glimpse of a small smile on her face so this can show different amounts of emotions. She could be acting sad with her head looking down whereas she could be faking her sadness. I like this image because there is a mixed of emotions, the viewer can play around and come up with their own reasons. This can insinuate how someone may be acting sad and may seem really upset but they could only be doing it for attention and its fake (her smirk shows this). This image is inspired by Thomas Ruff as he gets his subjects to look elsewhere rather than straight at the camera and also with the colourful background.

This image was taken in a room and natural lighting, using a tripod. I got him to do the same pose and I didn't stand as close to him so I could see the top half of his body. This image is inspired by Thomas Ruff because of the same passport photo feeling. Thomas Ruff got his subjects to look in different directions to take different sides of their head as if to show the dimensions and features, which is what I have achieved in this image. There is a lot of negative space which is very plain which can show how he's surrounded by nothing and his plain, emotionless face can represent this. 

Images that need improvement

The first image is of Johnny looking away from the camera, this image has a yellow tint which is not what I wanted and I dislike this image a lot. There is a lot of blur in this as well which makes the photo worse. I told my subject what to do but I may have taken this mid movement, even though I was using a tripod blur is still achieved and I am not happy with how this turned out. If I were to reshoot this image I would attempt to adjust the lighting and see if I can work with my settings to try to make the image better. 

The second image is similar to the first one but it's too dark. This time the lighting was too dark and I attempted to work with it and change it but it took me a while. This image I worked more with trying to get the right lighting and not really telling my subject what to do which could have contributed to how this image turned out. If I were to reshoot this I would, just like the first image, try changing the settings and lighting so they are adjusted to the right settings for a perfect photo.

(A03: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress)

My idea of recording portraiture is to concentrate on the facials of the people in the image. In all my images they have straight faces, this is because they are inspired by my researched artist so I based my ideas around him. Some of my images were taken in the studio whereas others were taken in my room using the natural light. I know I can do better in portraiture I just need to take my time when producing the images and think of different ideas and what else I could do to make them look more interesting. This is my first time taking part in portraiture as I have never done it before so I know that when I have more experience I can improve on these images and do them again to show my improvement. 

(AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops)

These images I used a Samsung NX20 20.3 MP SLR which is my normal camera that I used for most of my different photography styles. I used a tripod for all of these and it helped a lot towards getting the right type of portrait photo. I continuously changed the settings because it was on manual mode I had to keep correcting myself on what settings to use. I attempted to make sure my settings were right each time but it did take me a while to get the right settings as I kept forgetting what was the right setting for portraiture. Below is how I edited one of my portraiture images using photoshop and I will present the final edit.

With this image I changed the background of this image to match the aesthetic of Thomas Ruff's images. I first selected the body and inversed it so only the background will change colour. The final product now has a vintage feel to it which is like Thomas Ruff's images.

(AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding)

In my opinion I think portraiture is not easy to capture because you have to really concentrate on the lighting, the height of the tripod, how close the tripod is to the object and what you tell the person to do. What you tell the person to do can have a huge impact of the outcome of the final outcome. I feel that editing has a huge part of making a good portrait picture because you have to edit the flaws and fix anything wrong with the image. Editing can make the image what you want it to be.

(AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements)

I wanted my images to represent a new version of Thomas Ruff's work. This is because his work, I feel, is underrated because he is not really heard of but his style of work is very original. His type of portrait photography is not very difficult but I think it is still easy to capture. I wanted to capture lots of different emotions but I was only able to really capture a plain face. Below I have made some edits that are inspired by Thomas Ruff...

Landscape

Landscape

Definition & Theory

Landscape: spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. 
Landscape photographs typically capture the presence of nature but can also focus on man-made features or disturbances of landscapes.

The first recorded use of landscape was in 1598, as a painters' term when Dutch artists were pioneering the landscape genre.

Research of artist

Stephan Shore (born October 8, 1947) is an American photographer known for his images of banal scenes and objects in the United States, and for his pioneering use of colour in art photography. He was interested in photography from an early age. Self-taught, he received a photographic darkroom kit at age six from a forward-thinking uncle. At ten he received a copy of Walker Evans's book, American Photographs, which influenced him greatly. His career began at fourteen, when he presented his photographs to Edward Steichen, then curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

(A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding)

I like Stephan Shores' use of colour in his photography, because they add liveliness. Even though his images are based of America and in the 70s/80s, I feel as if I can capture similar photos in Harlow or elsewhere. I could edit my images so they look more vibrant or dull, depending on what the image is of. I like how his work is of a variety of buildings and he makes these images interesting by the space in the image being full (rule of thirds). His work looks very vintage and trendy, as in most of his images the colours 'pop' and are very

Image bank

The following images were added as part of my visual research...

The above images are different ways of showing landscape. In the second image the photographer (unknown) uses one object and the rest of the space is of sky, beach and sea, whereas the other two images are very 'busy' and are 'full'. I am inspired by these and Stephan Shores work and I feel I can achieve a variety of images for landscape.

(A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding)

Selected images - CONTACT SHEETS

Personal photoshoots

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These are all of my photographs taken separated into 3 independent shoots. My images are mostly if nature (sky and trees, etc). I feel I need to widen my range and take more creative photos and use my creativeness. I am quite pleased with my images because they all turned out quite well, only a few need to be worked on.

My best images

This photograph was taken at the bus station and it is of one of the tall buildings in that area. I like this image because I took it at the right distance and it stands out amongst the clouds and the car parks below. 

I was up high to take this image, so I could look down on it and take a photo of what I see. This shows what happens on a daily basis, buses come and go and people walk past. I like how this represents that. This landscape photograph is of the urban town of Harlow this part is out of the way from the well-known fashion shops, restaurants, etc. The bus station is just slightly hidden so it does not affect the Town Centre 'vibe' of clothes and food.

 I took this as I was walking home. This shows the houses that are around Harlow, I like this image because there are a mixture of colours that make this photo look more 'welcoming' and 'homely'. The colours of the grass and homes compared to the grey clouds in the sky shows what Harlow is like. There are grey clouds everywhere but you always have those colours that make Harlow brighter.

This was taken outside around 3:30, where the sun was setting. As it is winter the sun sets earlier and the sky makes beautiful colours. I was at the right spot at the right moment when I took this because the sky is a beautiful light blue and there is a hint of pink near the bottom.

Images that require improvement

The first image was taken in college and it is of a girl walking away from the camera and she is being enclosed by the two buildings on either side of her, I like this image as there is a meaning behind it, she is escaping from that encasement and is walking into more space for freedom. However, I feel that may be difficult to visualise for some people. Also, that visualisation is ruined by the composition not being good, I did not use a tripod so the photo is uneven and not straight. If I were to reshoot this image I would use a tripod to make the photo more professional.

The second image was taken in the centre of town, this image was to show the common lives of Harlow citizens, which is intended to show people shopping and walking about continuing their everyday lives. I do not like this image however because like the first image it is not straight because I didn't use a tripod. If I were to reshoot this image I would use a tripod and possibly move to different place where more people are walking past, to show more of what I want the photo to present.

(A03: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress)

My idea of photographing landscape is to get as much in the photo as I can, for example in a park/forest I would try to get as much of the surroundings as I can (eg. the trees and sky). Also, in my opinion landscape needs to be detailed or have an aspect that is meant to have a huge impact on the photo. Taking photos of landscape appears to be easy only if you know exactly what you want to take a picture of and timing. My landscape photography is very basic compared to others as I base my ideas on the same setting, instead I should widen my ideas and choose a place that would achieve a interesting photograph at the same time as making the viewer think 'wow'.

(AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and 

processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops)

I used a Samsung NX20 20.3 MP SLR camera to take all of my images. I did not use a tripod for some of these images as I did not have access to one when I was at home, so I feel some of these images would have turned out better if I did use a tripod. I will refine some of my work by using photoshop and edit them to make them better than what they already are. Below is how I edited on of my images, I attempted to make it look more saturated...

I used the curves and hue/saturation tool to create my final image. As you can see in the screenshots you can see that the editing as made a difference, I have made the colours brighter (more saturated). I like my final edit because the shops look more welcoming and the town looks more lively.

(AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding)

Taking pictures of landscapes is very intriguing for me because I can see a lot of detail in one picture, I like how landscapes can make the viewer question the photographer of how they took it and if they can see more. By researching different artists and their ways of doing landscape photography, made me interested and wanted to look at more, I looked at a variety of landscape photography by different photographers.

(AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements)

Landscapes can be placed into the formal element of texture and pattern because if the photograph was of some mountains there will be a repetitiveness of peaks, they may be different sizes but they are all the same. My intentions for landscape photography was too get high of the ground and take pictures of what I can see and then further them by editing.

Below are some edits I made of some chosen images I feel are my best...

Portfolio - TONE

My Portfolio - Tone