Portraiture low key lighting - Definition Post

High key lighting is an image with predominant light tones, often used in beauty, and low key lighting is an image with predominant dark tones, implying strength and power. High key lighting is often associated with females, whereas low key lighting is often associated with males. 

Snoot-this object allows you to control the lightings direction, and radius. They can help isolate the individual, when using flash in the studio. 

Honeycomb-allows you to tighten the beam of light, it doesn't create an as intense beam of light like the snoot does.

Reflector dish-this allows the light to reflect back onto the subject. It covers the flash head, and allows the redirection of light.

Irving Pen:

Irving pen uses both high, and low key lighting in his images, he uses the above pieces of equipment to achieve this. He was well known for his established fashion photography, and portraiture. Pen was also one of the first photographers to present his subjects on a grey background. Its's evident below how he would base his lighting techniques on the gender of the individual, with low key lighting often being used for males, and high key lighting for females. 

These images below both highlight high key lighting, it is interesting to see that both of these images are of females, this is due to the high key lighting expressing femininity. 

The high key lighting used helps capture the vast amount of freckles on the individuals face, this adds detail to the image.

The image above was one of Pen's fashion shoots, we can see this by the 'VOGUE' logo in the bottom right corner, therefore he would have used the high key lighting as this lighting technique often used in beauty images, in order to portray femininity and to capture all of the details within the image. 

These images below are both examples of Irving's work, showing low key lighting. It is interesting that both these images below are of males, this may be due to the darker tones linking to masculinity.

This image uses low key lighting, the expression held on the mans face works well with the lighting technique as he looks sad, therefore the darker tones in the image portray this further. 

The man appears shocked in this image, as he has wide eyes. The low key lighting adds to the atmosphere of the photograph, by making it mysterious as you cannot see all of the image. 

Landscape

Landscape photography involves the photographer telling a story through their image. Landscape pictures are usually wide-frame images of what you see around you. 

Equipment that's needed for landscape photography:

• filters- ND and polariser
• camera
• tripod
• zoom lens 
• wide angle lens 
• rain sleeve 
• lens cleaner
• back pack
• spare batteries 
• memory cards

Ansel Adams:

Adams was a technical photographer, this can be seen in his images; whereby he includes many formal elements in each photograph. Adams preferred working in black and white, as it enhanced the colours in the images. Adams used pre-visualisation and the zone system. Pre-visualisation is when the photographer can already predict what the image will look like prior to the print. The zone system is a way of controlling your prints tonal range, you view your subject as having 9 tones (not including pure black and white,) you can then adjust these on the final prints.

In this image the river is portrayed as the leading line, drawing your eye into the image. In addition, shape is reflected in the mountains and the curve of the river, which takes your eye on a journey. I like how Adams has captured the clouds in this image, as you can see their form due to the shadows. This image looks artificial, therefore I do not like it as landscapes should appear natural.

 Again, in this image I like how the clouds are captured as it appears as though they're exploding from the mountains. Form is one of the main elements portrayed as the shadows imply the objects are 3D.

In this image line is evident through the cross. In addition the two trees either side create a symmetrical view of the image. I like how the background of the image is foggy and blurry. This image does appear natural, which I like. 

Overall, I do not like Adam's images as I believe they all appear grainy, however I do appreciate the technical advances of his images- I will strive to include some of his techniques in my images. 

Stephan Shore:

Shore was an early pioneer in colour photography in America, he uses bold bright colours in his images. Shore photographed places and objects on American streets. So used a large format camera, the advantage of this is that you can print your images bigger, with higher resolutions. Sore used Kodak colour negative films in his early photographs (e.g. American surfaces.) Negative films are where the lightest areas of the photographed subject appear darkest, and the darkest areas appear lightest. This reversed order occurs because of the extremely light-sensitive chemicals. 

This image was photographed in a car park. The cars are parked inconsistently, this my reflect what Sore believed American's lives were like. The vertical line on the ground of the parking spaces, almost acts as a leading line drawing your eye to the sky in the background of the image. Pastel colours  are used in this image. 

This image is extremely structured, there's horizontal and vertical lines present, also many squares. This implies order and structure in American's lives, contrary to the image above. I like this image as the pastel colours all complement each other well, and the orange/blues imply it's summer time in america. The saturated colour allows us to gage the temperature of the environment, and the season.

This image is again extremely structured and organised; many horizontal and vertical lines are present. Bold colours are used, the image is extremely busy reflecting the lives of Americans. In addition, there're manufactured machines in the image (petrol station, cars, traffic lights) therefore, Shore may be highlighting the effect we have had on the earth, inventing machines. Furthermore, he may be implying how they have taken over our lives, as they're seen in all corners of this image. A lot of advertisement also used in this image, showing us what American streets look like.




Overall, I prefer Shore to Adams as I admire Shore's use of colour. In addition Shore's images are extremely clear, whereas Adam's are slightly grainy and boring due to no colour being evident. Moreover, we can receive more information about the climate/season from Shore's images, in comparison to Adam's.

Research for Documentary Photography

Henri Cartier-Bresson:

This image is photographed by Henri Cartier-Bresson. He has captured the cyclist in the top left corner of the 'rule of thirds.' This captures the 'decisive moment', as if this image was photographed a second later, or earlier, then the photographer would not have got the same image. I like this image as the stairs act as a 'leading line' taking you downwards. In addition, the curve of the pavement also acts as a 'leading line'.

I like this image as Henri Cartier- Bresson has captured another 'decisive moment' as this image could not be recaptured again. The lines of the stairs are curved, which takes your eye on a journey downwards. The rushing pidgins contrast the empty, calm, quiet stair way. Furthermore, this image appears to be taken in a tube station, which are usually busy (especially in London), therefore it leads us to question why it is not busy…

This image interests me as the black, peeling paint appears almost as blood. In addition with this the boys almost pain stricken face complies with this, as it almost appears as though he has been shot? This image interests me further as it also it makes you question why only the bottom half of the wall has peeing paint? This image is interesting as a whole as it causes many questions to arise in the observers head. 






Richard Billingham:

This image is extremely  private as it's captured in their home, whilst the individuals are sharing an intimate moment. Richard Billingham therefore must have had a trust built allowing him to photograph these types of images. I like the saturation of the colours in the image, the vast amount of colours make the image appear busy and chaotic. 

This image interests me as the individual photographed is in a bright blue robe, this is the main focus of the image as the background is dark, with cluttered objects in the background, whilst the foreground is white. consequently, it's evident how the blue robe jumps out in-between the dark background, and white foreground. It's evident from this image that the individual does not live in a luxurious house, instead he perhaps may habitat in a council house. This is deducted from the cluttered surfaces in the background, which indicate a lack of pride and care in the house. Furthermore, this lack of care for the house may reflect it's owners lack of care for themselves- again this is highlighted in the fact the individual is smoking, despite obvious health repercussions. 







Richard Billingham is extremely different from Henri Cartier-Bresson. Henri's images are all in black and white, and all obtain a decisive moment. Whereas Richard's photographs are highly saturated and busy with colour. Richard's images are more private and intimate than Henri's, due to Henri's being photographed in public, in contrast to Richard's ones which are photographed in a home, with the same individuals. I prefer Richard's images to Henri's due to the colour as i believe it makes the image more interesting, also the intimacy we see in Richard's images is rare. 


Sally Mann:

In this image i believe Sally is challenging gender stereotypes. The young boy in the image appears to have a fluffy scarf around him, this would primarily be seen as a girls toy, however here we can picture it on a boy. Consequently, Sally may have been trying to portray how both boys and girls don't have 'set toys' they have to play with. In addition the boy appears to have drawing all over him, this could be interpreted as lipstick, therefore we can infer he was playing with make-up; this contrasts typical, generic gender roles as boys are meant to enjoy sport, and getting dirty- not make-up. 

This photograph is again challenging gender roles. The young girl is holding what appears to be a cigarette, however this is a candy stick sweet. This allows us to understand how our eyes can trick us. The girl appears masculine to an extent in this image, she is standing hunched over, not tall and poised, as a woman is portrayed. Furthermore, the girls expression on her face is bleak, portraying attitude. This image is one of my favourites, as the young girls hair is messy, which is seen as more of a masculine trait, as girls tend to be clean.

In this image the man appears as though he is protecting the young girls, i believe they all may be naked in the image as they're showing how they are exposed, with no front or fabrication. I admire how the background is blurred, allowing the viewer to fundamentally focus on the man, and the two girls. In addition, the image being black and white adds to the weariness of the image- as you do not know why they're in the forest?, and why they have no clothes on? Moreover, the black and white effect allows you to focus easier on the main aspect of the image (the people), rather than any surrounding objects. 

Research for Portraiture

Thomas Ruff:

Thomas Ruff is a portraiture artist. Personally, I do not like his images as I believe they're boring, and not 'art', due to the fact anyone can easily photograph images like these. 
Ruff may have used deadpan expressions to highlight the various details in individuals faces. The people in these images appear almost as dolls/not real people. Thomas would have done this using the lighting.
These images challenge norms as in the image on the right the man is on a pink background, whereas the woman is on a blue one. This is strange as blue is associated with boys, and pink with girls. 
 These images are extremely structured, and not free. Ruff used the deadpan expression to highlight how you don't know what the subject is feeling, whereas in normal portrait imagery you capture emotions. These images would have been shot on a high aperture score, due to the face, and the background being in focus (wide depth of field.)

Alec Soth:

 I like Alec Soth's images as he also captures the environment, and backdrop in which the image is photographed, as well as the portrait. This gives you a sense of perspective, as to how small us as humans are too the environment/world around us. In the image to the right, and the one below the backdrops are grand, which implies they're more than us as humans, and were merely a pinprick in the world. 
I like how in the photograph below, the man is captured with toy planes, this gives us an insight into his hobbies or likes- as clearly he enjoys planes/ building things, as his clothing appears as though he has been making objects, due to the splattered paint over it. 



Muted colours are used in Alec's photography, these imply calmness and silence as they're not saturated and extreme colours which would imply business and fun. However, the image above of the man lying down has slightly brighter colours, in contrast to the other two images. This image has more autumnal images, in the organs and browns. These images (especially the one of the man holding planes) would be shot on a lower aperture, due to the background being blurred (shallow depth of field.)

Alec Soth is considerably more interesting to me than Thomas Ruff as his images are not just on plain backgrounds, and include the environment in which the images are taken too.

Vivian Maier Research

Vivian Maier Research:

Vivan uses reflection often using mirrors, however not all her work includes mirror use as some of the images there's barely any reflection used at all. Vivians work is art to some people, however to others it may not be. Everyone will approach Vivian's work with different perceptions (social/historical/cultural.) I believe Vivian's work is art as she's capturing everyday events in photos. I believe Vivian includes herself in these images as it makes her unique, due to the fact nobody else includes themselves in their own photos. In addition, it was due to her loneliness. Vivian had no family, and she wanted to be remembered, consequently she photographed herself so she would be remembered in her images.

This image is not a photograph of Vivian; however, we could conclude that this is how she wishes she was, young again and carefree. Contrasting her current situation of loneliness. 

I like this image below as the reflection of the mirrors appears to create a tunnel. This could symbolise a tunnel in which Vivian wishes to travel down as she is lonely. This image also create a slightly creepy appeal as in the mirrors in the background she is seen to have her back towards the mirror, then she's facing it.

In this image Vivian is looking into what appears to be shop window, and photographs this so you can see her reflection. Vivian is expressing a monotone expression, which allows us to see her loneliness, as if she was happy and not lonely she would be smiling, not showing no emotion. This image almost creates a spooky atmosphere, as you do not know what she is starring at in the reflection. 

This image is similar to the one above, however in this image she is joined by a young girl. The girl and Vivian appear to have no relationship, as they do not appear to be close, or looking at each other. Both Vivian and the girl have monotone expressions. This image almost creates the sense that the girl is an imaginary friend of Vivian's, as Vivian is not looking at her- creating the question is the young girl really there?

This photograph is not of Vivian, but it's of a man whom appears to be homeless, and alone. This may be how Vivian possible views herself, as she usually focuses on self-portraits, therefore she may be implying this is her, as she too is lonely. 

Bill Brandt Research

Bill Brandt:

Bill Brandt's photography shows how he views the world around him- he is visionary. Bill initially established himself as a photographer during the second work war, with photographs in Britain, these images included London during the black out. Opinions of Brandt's images depend on the audience who is viewing his images. Some people may see Bill's images as sexual objectification, however others may view his images as art- also the culture and historical context is important when viewing Bill's images. Brandt changes the view of female form in his images. he presents the mundane world as fresh, and strange, making our minds work harder to figure out the reality, this is what makes him a great photographer. 

I believe this image by Bill Brandt is art, not sexual objectification as he has merely photographed a pair of legs. This image investigates shape, and tone well as the smooth, light edges of the legs contrast the dark background. It is not sexual objectification as he is investigating the feminine aspect of shape; not trying to sexually objectify women. 

In this image Bill Brandt has used negative space to highlight the feminine shapes of the woman's face, and arm. The black parts of the image are the negative space. Negative space can be used to highlight a certain part of an image, this can also be used in the opposite way by making the negative space the main part of the image (see image below.)

As you can see in this image the main parts are in black (negative space), showing two faces looking at each other; whereas, in Bill Brandt's image the main parts are in white with the negative space the black background.