Portrait
Project Introduction
For this chosen project, I hope to create a final gallery of photos of portraits from my passion of taking photos of others and inspiration from photographers that I admire such as Pablo Thecuadro, who are able to capture an abundance of character through a still image, and I hope to incorporate both of these throughout this project to try to form my own unique style.
My two primary photographers that I looked to were Pablo Thecuadro and Luke Gram ; Gram specifically is renown for his work involving double exposure edits so I hope to try and include at least one of these in my final gallery to display my versatility and my range of skills, both in taking photos and editing. For my editing processes, I plan to take photos every step of the way so that a viewer will be able to see how I acquired the final modified product from the raw image. I have intentionally chosen Pablo Thecuadro as my alternate inspiration as I also highly admire his extremely unique editing style of taking many pictures of the same model, cutting them out in abstract ways and piecing them together, creating a very unrealistic image that gives the model a new character. To be able to execute an edit like this skillfully requires a high level of skill, which is majorly the reason as to why I have chosen him.
To maximise the sharpness and the eye-catching feature of my raw photos so that they are easier to edit after (if editing or not), I am going to implement a range of different camera settings while photographing my model, such as using quite a low aperture such as F-2.8 to 5.6 for a shallower depth of field so that the model is exaggerated as the focal point of the image : a faster shutter speed would be beneficial for portrait photography so that the models face is not caught while blinking or between two different facial expressions, so a figure of around 1/250 of a second would be beneficial.
To conclude this project, I am aiming to form a final gallery of around 5 or so pieces (while attempting to follow similar typologies), with some being edited and some purely being cleanly shot raw images as these will show my skill with the camera, and my edits will demonstrate my understanding of photoshop and its tools, demonstrating how my photographic skills have evolved.
My two primary photographers that I looked to were Pablo Thecuadro and Luke Gram ; Gram specifically is renown for his work involving double exposure edits so I hope to try and include at least one of these in my final gallery to display my versatility and my range of skills, both in taking photos and editing. For my editing processes, I plan to take photos every step of the way so that a viewer will be able to see how I acquired the final modified product from the raw image. I have intentionally chosen Pablo Thecuadro as my alternate inspiration as I also highly admire his extremely unique editing style of taking many pictures of the same model, cutting them out in abstract ways and piecing them together, creating a very unrealistic image that gives the model a new character. To be able to execute an edit like this skillfully requires a high level of skill, which is majorly the reason as to why I have chosen him.
To maximise the sharpness and the eye-catching feature of my raw photos so that they are easier to edit after (if editing or not), I am going to implement a range of different camera settings while photographing my model, such as using quite a low aperture such as F-2.8 to 5.6 for a shallower depth of field so that the model is exaggerated as the focal point of the image : a faster shutter speed would be beneficial for portrait photography so that the models face is not caught while blinking or between two different facial expressions, so a figure of around 1/250 of a second would be beneficial.
To conclude this project, I am aiming to form a final gallery of around 5 or so pieces (while attempting to follow similar typologies), with some being edited and some purely being cleanly shot raw images as these will show my skill with the camera, and my edits will demonstrate my understanding of photoshop and its tools, demonstrating how my photographic skills have evolved.
Project Mind Map
Analysis 1
CONTEXT
This photograph in question was made by Pablo Thecuadro, but unfortunately (due to the contemporary nature of the photo) there isn't much information on this image, nor when or where it was taken, but it I know that Thecuadro is native to Zaragoza, Spain, so we can insinuate it was shot here due to that and the bright weather and sunshine. Pablo creates his signature abstract art style by hand ; cutting and putting them together which is something quite rare nowadays in the age of technology. According to Thecuadros interview with The Fashion Atlas, he has stated he has made collages for large corporate fashion brands such as Nike, and this image may be one in one of his own collages or his work for others, as he also does work on photos of his friends. He describes collage art as being "a never ending process, you can put as many images you want together over and over again.” His main inspiration is the internet, and this is extremely relevant in this day and age as there are millions who obsess unhealthily over it, and this photo may represent who we show on social media, and who we actually are.
CONTENT
In the photo, Thecuadro has taken many images of this person in different angles, lightings, and poses, and then used cutouts to fill in the original image, which in a way conceals that person's identity, which creates an aura of mystery and builds a sense of curiosity within the viewer. As of now, I don't have any information about the name of the photo as I believe it's just one that was part of a gallery. The alternate identity idea created by the cutouts in the face could be, instead of intentionally hiding who they are, a representation of a inner personality that everyone has, or something that a person wishes to hide either due to embarrassment or fear of being targeted, as all the eyes are looking in different directions, suggesting a state of paranoia and being on edge. It also could be portraying a still image of the jet-fast modern society we live in, and how we almost need 3 eyes to keep up with what's going on around us. Pablo has used quite fluid and organic shapes, meaning the shape of the cutouts are as if they are natural. To add, the proportions of the sizes of the shapes used has evidently been thought about deeply as none of the 3 inner pieces look out of place nor noticeably bigger than the other. Each cutout is placed between two photos with contrasting brightness, and this layering of the undulating shapes has been done purposefully in co-ordination with the fact that the model is not looking directly at the viewer to create a natural feel which is reflecting the models own curly hair and facial structure. The separate shapes that compose the photo are also variating in darkness which gives the edges separating the cutouts a quite tactile feeling, and the models blue eyes stand out quite starkly. The proportions and shape of the sections have evidently been thought about quite deeply, as they feel as if theyre complimentary ; as if one section could slide into the over almost like a jigsaw puzzle.
COMPOSITION
A extremely strong central focal point has been employed in the form of the cutout edits of other images that are on where the face would have been ; with the changes in lighting and poses creating quite a contrast. The fluid, curved shape of the cutouts used to build the photo creates leading lines, drawing your eyes across the photo quite methodically, throughout each section at a time. The framing is extremely simple yet incredibly effective, with the face being centrally framed but the eyes and the head turned towards our left. The eyes pointing in many different directions and at differing angles could, in my opinion, be representing a omniscient, all-knowing or all-seeing creature, which could add a rather religious theme to this image. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the 3rd eye symbolic of enlightenment ; a state of higher consciousness and having clairvoyance (the ability to sense information about someone, place or thing through superhuman perception) and having precognition ( the ability to see into the future). The absence of light below his eye and cheekbone in some of the sections of the photo could possibly be representing mental health issue of some sort, perhaps representing the darkness of depression. The small borders around the asymmetric cutouts produce a textured feeling, as if certain cutouts are at a different depth than the others, making them very tactile to the viewer. The graininess of the photo implicates the use of an extremely high ISO like from a range 400 to 3600 - the fact that a professional photographer is making this "mistake" could suggest that it has actually been done intentionally to generate a quite antique effect, almost like an aged polaroid. Each constituent photograph used to make this piece would have most likely used a different ISO, aperture and white balance : this is because all of them have been shot in different lightings and settings. For example, the third slice from the left appears to have been taken in a quite dark setting, perhaps indoors, yet the first slice on the left was most likely to have been taken outside, and this shot requires a direct sunlight WB to try and avoid the photo having bluey tinge to it, whereas indoor shots would have used variating settings. The use of one primary image where three other outouts are placed on creates the effect of a foreground, middle ground and background being present, which, to me, could make the viewer feel like the central image is coming out to them. We previously discussed how Thecuadro delves into how people represent themselves, and, to some, this photo may be representing the different facets of our personality depth. Not only that but he has pointed the facial features in different and unnatural directions, which is a feature of cubism.
COMMENT
I think that the manner in which Thecuadro uses cutouts, either in photoshop or in person using scissors and glue or tape of some sort is quite abstract and unique, which in my opinion gives him an edge over other photographers with basic styles. His art can be interpreted in almost endless ways, making it timeless and keeps me thinking about it, which I prefer in comparison to a plain meaning. The extremely abstract style may have taken strong influence from the artworks of Pablo Picasso, and due to both these artists being Spanish, sharing the same first name (although that may be a mere coincidence), and clearly inspired by cubism.
This photograph in question was made by Pablo Thecuadro, but unfortunately (due to the contemporary nature of the photo) there isn't much information on this image, nor when or where it was taken, but it I know that Thecuadro is native to Zaragoza, Spain, so we can insinuate it was shot here due to that and the bright weather and sunshine. Pablo creates his signature abstract art style by hand ; cutting and putting them together which is something quite rare nowadays in the age of technology. According to Thecuadros interview with The Fashion Atlas, he has stated he has made collages for large corporate fashion brands such as Nike, and this image may be one in one of his own collages or his work for others, as he also does work on photos of his friends. He describes collage art as being "a never ending process, you can put as many images you want together over and over again.” His main inspiration is the internet, and this is extremely relevant in this day and age as there are millions who obsess unhealthily over it, and this photo may represent who we show on social media, and who we actually are.
CONTENT
In the photo, Thecuadro has taken many images of this person in different angles, lightings, and poses, and then used cutouts to fill in the original image, which in a way conceals that person's identity, which creates an aura of mystery and builds a sense of curiosity within the viewer. As of now, I don't have any information about the name of the photo as I believe it's just one that was part of a gallery. The alternate identity idea created by the cutouts in the face could be, instead of intentionally hiding who they are, a representation of a inner personality that everyone has, or something that a person wishes to hide either due to embarrassment or fear of being targeted, as all the eyes are looking in different directions, suggesting a state of paranoia and being on edge. It also could be portraying a still image of the jet-fast modern society we live in, and how we almost need 3 eyes to keep up with what's going on around us. Pablo has used quite fluid and organic shapes, meaning the shape of the cutouts are as if they are natural. To add, the proportions of the sizes of the shapes used has evidently been thought about deeply as none of the 3 inner pieces look out of place nor noticeably bigger than the other. Each cutout is placed between two photos with contrasting brightness, and this layering of the undulating shapes has been done purposefully in co-ordination with the fact that the model is not looking directly at the viewer to create a natural feel which is reflecting the models own curly hair and facial structure. The separate shapes that compose the photo are also variating in darkness which gives the edges separating the cutouts a quite tactile feeling, and the models blue eyes stand out quite starkly. The proportions and shape of the sections have evidently been thought about quite deeply, as they feel as if theyre complimentary ; as if one section could slide into the over almost like a jigsaw puzzle.
COMPOSITION
A extremely strong central focal point has been employed in the form of the cutout edits of other images that are on where the face would have been ; with the changes in lighting and poses creating quite a contrast. The fluid, curved shape of the cutouts used to build the photo creates leading lines, drawing your eyes across the photo quite methodically, throughout each section at a time. The framing is extremely simple yet incredibly effective, with the face being centrally framed but the eyes and the head turned towards our left. The eyes pointing in many different directions and at differing angles could, in my opinion, be representing a omniscient, all-knowing or all-seeing creature, which could add a rather religious theme to this image. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the 3rd eye symbolic of enlightenment ; a state of higher consciousness and having clairvoyance (the ability to sense information about someone, place or thing through superhuman perception) and having precognition ( the ability to see into the future). The absence of light below his eye and cheekbone in some of the sections of the photo could possibly be representing mental health issue of some sort, perhaps representing the darkness of depression. The small borders around the asymmetric cutouts produce a textured feeling, as if certain cutouts are at a different depth than the others, making them very tactile to the viewer. The graininess of the photo implicates the use of an extremely high ISO like from a range 400 to 3600 - the fact that a professional photographer is making this "mistake" could suggest that it has actually been done intentionally to generate a quite antique effect, almost like an aged polaroid. Each constituent photograph used to make this piece would have most likely used a different ISO, aperture and white balance : this is because all of them have been shot in different lightings and settings. For example, the third slice from the left appears to have been taken in a quite dark setting, perhaps indoors, yet the first slice on the left was most likely to have been taken outside, and this shot requires a direct sunlight WB to try and avoid the photo having bluey tinge to it, whereas indoor shots would have used variating settings. The use of one primary image where three other outouts are placed on creates the effect of a foreground, middle ground and background being present, which, to me, could make the viewer feel like the central image is coming out to them. We previously discussed how Thecuadro delves into how people represent themselves, and, to some, this photo may be representing the different facets of our personality depth. Not only that but he has pointed the facial features in different and unnatural directions, which is a feature of cubism.
COMMENT
I think that the manner in which Thecuadro uses cutouts, either in photoshop or in person using scissors and glue or tape of some sort is quite abstract and unique, which in my opinion gives him an edge over other photographers with basic styles. His art can be interpreted in almost endless ways, making it timeless and keeps me thinking about it, which I prefer in comparison to a plain meaning. The extremely abstract style may have taken strong influence from the artworks of Pablo Picasso, and due to both these artists being Spanish, sharing the same first name (although that may be a mere coincidence), and clearly inspired by cubism.
About Pablo Thecuadro
Pablo was born and raised in Zargoza, Spain, being born 1992. As a child he already had a interest in arts, being an anime fan and being fond of drawing. However that shifted more toward photography and he sought out a degree in it. Thecuadro views his unique and abstract art style as representing the duality humans seem to have : a internal struggle of who we are, versus who we want to be, believing that humans change constantly.
Pablo Thecuadro Inspired Edit
For this practical piece I have worked in the style of Pablo Thecuadro in order to make an art piece similar to one of his ; I took a couple shots of my model, Ali, and cut it into fluid and organic shapes, after closely analysing and studying how Thecuadro does so.
Analysis 2
CONTENT
In this photo, we have a mans head and shoulders positioned directly in the centre, with the body and eyes facing towards our left. This causes most viewers to become quite inquisitive as to what exactly he is looking at due to the fact that the photo has been heavily edited, comprising of his body cutout onto a plain, off-white background and the opacity of his body varying across his body in a gradient, showing an almost woodland / forest of pyramidal trees encompassing his shoulders, and a more zoomed in image of the same trees showing through his head. In his face and mainly the dark portion of his hair near his sideburns a faint reflection of the trees are partially visible - these add an extra layer to his facial features, almost giving the impression that the model may be crying. The models facial expression is quite blank and melancholy, with the majority of his eyes being too dark to see how they are expressed and the angle of his face turning away from us, which, to me, creates a sense of mystery as to what could be on his mind, further demonstrating that ,in my opinion, this model is portraying a feeling of loneliness, and the barren, treacherous and unforgiving forest that encompasses most of his body also reflecting this. The models body is almost blending into the darkness due to the lack of dark lines between the model and the void, which could be interpreted in two ways - either that they are coming out of the darkness, or re-entering it. I believe that this could be symbolising the mental health issue theme we discussed before, as it could be representing the model overcoming or entering a period of declining mental health, but this is dependent on the interpretation of the viewer.
COMPOSITION
The rule of thirds has been utilised quite well in this, but horizontally and vertically, with the face and the two edited forest backgrounds creating this ; specifically the nose which has been positioned intentionally on a sweet spot, however the body lacks one. The lower trees inhabiting his shoulders acting in the same manner as a background which could bring into question the fact that this may have been the background already, but edited and blended into the models body, specifically the manner in which it has faded into his facial hair feels very natural and the texture, for me, creating a tactile feeling towards it. His nose has also been situated on the sweet spot due to its positioning and sharpness compared to the rest of his face, yet the photographer hasn't actually used any of the space of the sweet spots, so I am going to try and do so in my own pictures down the line. It is likely not too high of an aperture and a relatively high ISO of about 800 however using this to create a clean blur in the background to emphasise the focal point as the background was trimmed out to make space for the double exposure effect. An F-stop of around 2.8 also appears to have been used. If this were shot in a studio of some sort, I believe a tripod would have been used but if outdoors, I don't believe it would have. The main colours present in the photo are that I perceive blacks, greys and whites, and this would suggest the use of a black and white effect : if this is true, it is more likely the light source was positioned above his head and to the right to create the numerous shadows present on his face and more specifically his eyes, with them being quite deep into his eye cavity. If someone to replicate a lighting technique in a image its more likely that it will be captured inside as when outdoors it's harder to control all your light sources, so a tungsten white balance would be beneficial to avoid any tinges being added unintentionally ; or alternatively you could capture it at night when outdoors but have a lamp pointing up, with it originating from the models feet instead to create the effect of the shadowy eyes to contrast the tones of the water reflecting through the models face. The photo used in the double exposure effect up to his chin is a shot of trees quite far away from the camera, yet the ones in his hair not so. This creates the effect of this photo having a foreground (and background) and the model acting as the middle ground, which creates a quite nice whole photo edit.
CONNECTIONS AND INSPIRATIONS
This image is quite nice as I admire how it has almost created its own background via the woodland in the double exposure technique employed in after editing, which is quite creative as a photographer. I aim to edit a photo I shoot in this similar style ; my model cropped cleanly, which may be costly time wise, and his top and bottom being edited into a and/or the background(s). However in contrast to this, I would prefer a happier and cheerier aura, perhaps something related to summer : or instead of this I could use the contrasting theme of having contemporary architecture in place of the trees compared to the dark and cloudy forest used in the photo. The only thing I would change about this photo is adding a small amount of shadow around the models body to make it appear more natural and like the off-white grey in the background is actually the background.
CONTEXT?
In this photo, we have a mans head and shoulders positioned directly in the centre, with the body and eyes facing towards our left. This causes most viewers to become quite inquisitive as to what exactly he is looking at due to the fact that the photo has been heavily edited, comprising of his body cutout onto a plain, off-white background and the opacity of his body varying across his body in a gradient, showing an almost woodland / forest of pyramidal trees encompassing his shoulders, and a more zoomed in image of the same trees showing through his head. In his face and mainly the dark portion of his hair near his sideburns a faint reflection of the trees are partially visible - these add an extra layer to his facial features, almost giving the impression that the model may be crying. The models facial expression is quite blank and melancholy, with the majority of his eyes being too dark to see how they are expressed and the angle of his face turning away from us, which, to me, creates a sense of mystery as to what could be on his mind, further demonstrating that ,in my opinion, this model is portraying a feeling of loneliness, and the barren, treacherous and unforgiving forest that encompasses most of his body also reflecting this. The models body is almost blending into the darkness due to the lack of dark lines between the model and the void, which could be interpreted in two ways - either that they are coming out of the darkness, or re-entering it. I believe that this could be symbolising the mental health issue theme we discussed before, as it could be representing the model overcoming or entering a period of declining mental health, but this is dependent on the interpretation of the viewer.
COMPOSITION
The rule of thirds has been utilised quite well in this, but horizontally and vertically, with the face and the two edited forest backgrounds creating this ; specifically the nose which has been positioned intentionally on a sweet spot, however the body lacks one. The lower trees inhabiting his shoulders acting in the same manner as a background which could bring into question the fact that this may have been the background already, but edited and blended into the models body, specifically the manner in which it has faded into his facial hair feels very natural and the texture, for me, creating a tactile feeling towards it. His nose has also been situated on the sweet spot due to its positioning and sharpness compared to the rest of his face, yet the photographer hasn't actually used any of the space of the sweet spots, so I am going to try and do so in my own pictures down the line. It is likely not too high of an aperture and a relatively high ISO of about 800 however using this to create a clean blur in the background to emphasise the focal point as the background was trimmed out to make space for the double exposure effect. An F-stop of around 2.8 also appears to have been used. If this were shot in a studio of some sort, I believe a tripod would have been used but if outdoors, I don't believe it would have. The main colours present in the photo are that I perceive blacks, greys and whites, and this would suggest the use of a black and white effect : if this is true, it is more likely the light source was positioned above his head and to the right to create the numerous shadows present on his face and more specifically his eyes, with them being quite deep into his eye cavity. If someone to replicate a lighting technique in a image its more likely that it will be captured inside as when outdoors it's harder to control all your light sources, so a tungsten white balance would be beneficial to avoid any tinges being added unintentionally ; or alternatively you could capture it at night when outdoors but have a lamp pointing up, with it originating from the models feet instead to create the effect of the shadowy eyes to contrast the tones of the water reflecting through the models face. The photo used in the double exposure effect up to his chin is a shot of trees quite far away from the camera, yet the ones in his hair not so. This creates the effect of this photo having a foreground (and background) and the model acting as the middle ground, which creates a quite nice whole photo edit.
CONNECTIONS AND INSPIRATIONS
This image is quite nice as I admire how it has almost created its own background via the woodland in the double exposure technique employed in after editing, which is quite creative as a photographer. I aim to edit a photo I shoot in this similar style ; my model cropped cleanly, which may be costly time wise, and his top and bottom being edited into a and/or the background(s). However in contrast to this, I would prefer a happier and cheerier aura, perhaps something related to summer : or instead of this I could use the contrasting theme of having contemporary architecture in place of the trees compared to the dark and cloudy forest used in the photo. The only thing I would change about this photo is adding a small amount of shadow around the models body to make it appear more natural and like the off-white grey in the background is actually the background.
CONTEXT?
Analysis 3
CONTENT
In this photo, there is a Caucasian man, most likely in his late 20s, with a completely black, shadowy background standing in exactly the left half of the picture, and an equally sized part of completely black background on the right. The lighting has been specifically placed to create a dramatic effect, with half of his face being quite dark and shadowy. The dark tone that has been used creates a quite mysterious effect from the reader towards the model, as darkness is often used to symbolise the unknown - Not only that but the small flecks of light reflecting off of his eyes further re-enforces this idea. To add, this photo was captured at an equal eye height / level to the model , and the model is also looking directly into the lens, creating an extremely intimate photograph, almost as if the viewer is having a conversation with the model, relating and sympathising with them about whatever is troubling them, making it feel quite personal. However I believe some viewers may view this as being more eerie and unsettling, due to the lack of emotion on his face. There is also a range of textures employed as they variate across his facial features - his skin looks quite grainy, most likely due to the camera setting, and his hair is quite visibly stringy yet his skin quite smooth appearing. The texture and colour of the jumper he is wearing also matches his hair.
COMPOSITION
This particular photo has implemented the use of some compositional techniques, one being the rule of thirds, in which there are concise ⅓ sections in the photo containing different things like the background, model and skyline ; rather here the photographer has done is separate his facial features into 3 horizontal sections, allowing the viewer to glide their eyes across in sections which is quite effective as it is extremely satisfying . However, half of the picture consists of the melancholy model, and the other is the seemingly infinite pitch black void. This could create the effect to some readers that the model is quite isolated or depressed in this picture, and I believe that this may have been taken from a men's mental health awareness campaign or something similar to that. The lighting has intentionally been made sparse along the right-hand side of the models face to put emphasis on the sullen expressions of my model and the colour palette employed consists almost completely of greys and blacks, accentuating the theme of mental illness issues. It appears a F-Stop of around 8 would have been used, to draw a focus towards the crux of the image (the model), by creating a small amount of blur/noise around him, as the intention from the start would have been to make it black. Due to the apparent and complex manipulation of light, I believe this was taken indoors in a professional setup using a tripod. The model's mouth has been intentionally deliberately captured on the sweet spot of the photo, causing his face to become the (not central) focal point of the image, drawing any viewer's eyes to it immediately. The only change I would have made to this photo if I were the photographer is having the model wear a quite meaningful sweater with a vertical pattern, creating some leading lines that draw the viewer's eyes up the photo.
CONNECTIONS & INSPIRATIONS
I admire this photograph in particular because it is an extremely effective piece of art, able to create multiple different unique viewpoints as many will interpret it in normal or abstract ways, with such basic and essential techniques. This effect was achieved through what appears to be minimal to no editing or fine tuning in photoshop, which is something that I also hope to accomplish and have a piece with a similar effect in my final gallery of this project. For this, I would use a setup with reflectors and light panels to create the darkness in a half of my models face, having him positioned off centre and instruct my model to appear quite downcast. I may also choose to put my own spin on it and rather than create a miserable art piece, instruct my model to look cheerier and remove the dark background. I hope to use the studio shoot to develop my own skills at being able to direct my model, adjust the settings in adaptation to lighting and distance changes, and my editing ability, and I hope to carry these skills onto other photos.
In this photo, there is a Caucasian man, most likely in his late 20s, with a completely black, shadowy background standing in exactly the left half of the picture, and an equally sized part of completely black background on the right. The lighting has been specifically placed to create a dramatic effect, with half of his face being quite dark and shadowy. The dark tone that has been used creates a quite mysterious effect from the reader towards the model, as darkness is often used to symbolise the unknown - Not only that but the small flecks of light reflecting off of his eyes further re-enforces this idea. To add, this photo was captured at an equal eye height / level to the model , and the model is also looking directly into the lens, creating an extremely intimate photograph, almost as if the viewer is having a conversation with the model, relating and sympathising with them about whatever is troubling them, making it feel quite personal. However I believe some viewers may view this as being more eerie and unsettling, due to the lack of emotion on his face. There is also a range of textures employed as they variate across his facial features - his skin looks quite grainy, most likely due to the camera setting, and his hair is quite visibly stringy yet his skin quite smooth appearing. The texture and colour of the jumper he is wearing also matches his hair.
COMPOSITION
This particular photo has implemented the use of some compositional techniques, one being the rule of thirds, in which there are concise ⅓ sections in the photo containing different things like the background, model and skyline ; rather here the photographer has done is separate his facial features into 3 horizontal sections, allowing the viewer to glide their eyes across in sections which is quite effective as it is extremely satisfying . However, half of the picture consists of the melancholy model, and the other is the seemingly infinite pitch black void. This could create the effect to some readers that the model is quite isolated or depressed in this picture, and I believe that this may have been taken from a men's mental health awareness campaign or something similar to that. The lighting has intentionally been made sparse along the right-hand side of the models face to put emphasis on the sullen expressions of my model and the colour palette employed consists almost completely of greys and blacks, accentuating the theme of mental illness issues. It appears a F-Stop of around 8 would have been used, to draw a focus towards the crux of the image (the model), by creating a small amount of blur/noise around him, as the intention from the start would have been to make it black. Due to the apparent and complex manipulation of light, I believe this was taken indoors in a professional setup using a tripod. The model's mouth has been intentionally deliberately captured on the sweet spot of the photo, causing his face to become the (not central) focal point of the image, drawing any viewer's eyes to it immediately. The only change I would have made to this photo if I were the photographer is having the model wear a quite meaningful sweater with a vertical pattern, creating some leading lines that draw the viewer's eyes up the photo.
CONNECTIONS & INSPIRATIONS
I admire this photograph in particular because it is an extremely effective piece of art, able to create multiple different unique viewpoints as many will interpret it in normal or abstract ways, with such basic and essential techniques. This effect was achieved through what appears to be minimal to no editing or fine tuning in photoshop, which is something that I also hope to accomplish and have a piece with a similar effect in my final gallery of this project. For this, I would use a setup with reflectors and light panels to create the darkness in a half of my models face, having him positioned off centre and instruct my model to appear quite downcast. I may also choose to put my own spin on it and rather than create a miserable art piece, instruct my model to look cheerier and remove the dark background. I hope to use the studio shoot to develop my own skills at being able to direct my model, adjust the settings in adaptation to lighting and distance changes, and my editing ability, and I hope to carry these skills onto other photos.
Poses moodboard for sports photography:
Shoot Plan :
The camera I will be using is a Canon DSLR camera, with a short shutter speed to avoid the motion of my models creating noise . My models will be my friends Ali and Danyal, and I have instructed them to wear sporty and informal clothing, similar to a JD or Foot Asylum model (as shown above). I have also prepared props such as a rugby ball and a tennis racket to add to the sports theme. The shoot will take place during lesson inside the PEXA theatre and outside near the fire exit, as I hope to take some photos over there. Inside the PEXA theatre I have asked for equipment such as lighting rigs and paper backdrops, with these creating infinity curves that will be easier to edit on with photoshop as I wont need to manually crop out the background if required. As this will be the first shoot of my portrait project, I hope to produce my first edit from one of the photos I take. Not only that but as I am inexperienced with portrait photography, I hope to learn how to co-ordinate my model and be able to experiment with camera settings to my liking. This would most likely be a short shutter speed like 1/80 as mentioned previously, a Tungsten or Florescent white balance, and outside I would use Cloudy as I don't anticipate the Manchester weather to be good enough to require Sunlight. I can also use light reflectors to manipulate light, however as it is my first portrait shoot I doubt I can instruct a person to aim a reflector and a model to pose as I am taking photos. My F-stop will be around F11 outdoors, but when a white backdrop is present, a focus on the aperture is redundant as there isn't much in the background to become noisy. I hope to use compositional rules like the rule of thirds, a worms eye view on the fire escape stairs, and a central focal point among others.
Model : Ali - Outdoor Shoot
Best image :The best things about this image is the framing, which in my opinion is almost perfect other than my missed opportunity to apply the rule of thirds : this can be fixed in a simple edit via cropping off a small chunk of the bottom, which would situate my models eyes in a sweet spot. The diagonal lines of the staircase going up creates a nice leading line, with the railings almost forming a pattern. The only thing I would change is the flash on my camera which in my opinion looks quite tacky with his reflective coat, and it also clashes with the overcast white.
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Worst Image :The only thing I dislike about this picture is the lack of lighting, resulting in my models beautiful features not being presented as I wish : this dilemma could be fixed via some editing, by increasing the brightness, but that could also make the clouds captured too bright and unrealistic.
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Best Image :The lighting and framing on this image are very good, with the shadow created as a result of the flash creates a very nice almost doppelganger effect where it looks as if there are two people, with the rule of lines also being subtly applied.
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Worst Image :The bad things about this photo is the poor framing, with the top right and right hand sides having too much background, and the bottom left and left lacking enough to form a eye-catching photograph ; the high level of noise is also extremely off-putting, as it is so poor that it almost looks as if my model has 4 eyes, meaning it has captured a movement for too long, so to remedy this, a faster shutter speed or the use of some sort of stand like a tripod should be implemented.
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Best Image :The things I like about this image are my models pose, as it is extremely reminiscent of something u would find in a sports magazine or poster ; however the only issue is the ever so slight noise present, and this could potentially be fixed via the sharpen tool.
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Worst Image :My only issues with this photo is the background which has been slightly shown, as in the chairs behind the white screen used, however my models facial expression cannot be resolved with a crop ; his closed eyes and grin being extremely obvious. A low level of noise identical to my best is also present, suggesting that it was more likely to be a camera setting issue , so changing the ISO should fix this, but as this was my first set of pictures from this shoot, my camera was not accustomed to the environment of the PEXA theatre.
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Setup Used
Shoot Plan :
For this shoot, I am being accompanied by a professional photographer called Justin who is coming in and helping me with my portrait project. As this shoot will take place during a half term break, I will have to come in with my models at around 9am to begin the shoot. There will be a paper backdrop like my last shoot but this one will be much larger to avoid the room being visible in any shoots. To add, we will instead be a in a dark room but with a flashgun, which I hope I will be able to use to take high quality and clarity photos. I now believe I am now able to instruct my models, Ali and Danyal, to pose and position themselves correctly so I hope to use a reflector to manipulate the light on my model, potentially creating darker and lighter regions of the face to create a specific effect. Compositional rules I aim to use are the rule of thirds, with my models body, neck and head, and a small section of background being split into three distinct sections to create a natural feeling, as things in nature usually come in threes. Also a use of central focal point with my models face could be used. This combined with camera settings such as a Flash white balance, to work with the flashgun that will be used, .........
Model : Danyal - Indoor shoot with Professional Photographer
Model : Ali - Indoor shoot with Professional Photographer
This shot was taken using the timer on the camera, so my two models and myself were able to be included. This was quite difficult to pull off as we had a mere 5 seconds to get in position and have the lighting correct.
Street Photography Moodboards :
Salford Quays Shoot :
For this shoot I plan to go with my class to Salford Quays to take portrait photos of my two models, Ali and Danyal. This shoot was initially planned a while ago but was cancelled last minute due to Covid-related issues, so I hope this goes ahead. My equipment list is my Canon DSLR camera, and some streetwear for myself also as I will also be modelling, but any lighting setups will be futile as I will be shooting in sunlight, and to adapt to this, I will be using quite a high shutter speed such as 1/50 or 1/100 . I have instructed my models to wear streetwear similar to the ones in my JD moodboard as I will be shooting in an urban environment ; some landmarks I plan to take photos at are the bridges, the Imperial War Museum and The Lowry, but I want to not restrict myself and be open to shooting in unfamiliar environments in order to gain some skill. Compositional rules I aim to implement are the rule of thirds, capturing the different elements of a photo in even proportions, a worms eye view to shoot my models whole outfit in a contemporary style, and I hope to manipulate some of the lines in the structures in Salford such as the cables on the bridges to craft lines leading the viewers eyes onto my reader.
Model : Ali and Danyal - Outdoor shoot at the Imperial War Museum
This is my best photo as my style implemented is quite modern and contemporary, showing my models whole outfit. Not only that but there are a mixture of smooth and rough textures in the background, with my models outfit and features being what the viewers eyes immediately notice (central focal point). The black and dark grey from the background and the blue from my models coat complimenting each other quite well, and this photo is quite reminiscent of one you would come across in an actual models magazine.
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As this was one of my first pictures of the day, my camera wasn't quite accustomed to the brightness of the sunlight nor the amount my model would move as i instructed him to adjust his poses, causing the photo to have a moderate amount of noise and be very overexposed. There is also a peer photographer who accidentally stumbled into my shot which tarnishes the model being the central focal point.
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Model : Ali and Danyal - Indoor shoot at Salford Quay Bridges
Best Photo :Composition in this photo is quite excellent as leading lines have been implemented through the support cable of the bridge, and my model as been intentionally placed on one of them so that the reader follow areas of the picture and draw your eyes across it on a diagonal, causing the viewer to notice my models facial features even more. Only bad thing about the photo is the fact that it is overexposed ( the lighting was quite unreliable that day ), and I plan to remedy this with some editing later on.
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Worst Photo :This photo is quite bad due to the fact that another peer photographer accidentally came into the view of my camera, but that can be restored with cropping : what cannot is the noisiness and average framing, with too much of the floor of the bridge being in eyeshot.
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Model : Ali - Outdoor shoot at the Quays Tram Station.
Best Image :I quite like this photo as it is a very contemporary pose, with my artists footwear blocking his facial features only leaving a small volume of hair out and capturing my models whole outfit very well : i could quite easily see something like this, with some editing, featuring in a trainer or football boot advert.
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Worst Image :
Me taking the photo being visible behind my model is quite disruptive so this is most likely my worst photo of this section. There is also a great amount of noise due to excessive camera movement.
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