This project in my opinion allows the most creativity and therefore is the most exciting project that we have been handed. I am really looking forward to experimenting with different types of portraiture, as I want to create a variation of images. This is something we have not been given the opportunity to do in the other projects, as the images have all had to be similar, or based within the studio, however with the brief being as broad as “produce 3 portraits,” it really gives me a lot of ideas for experimentation.
Originally, my thoughts were to produce three very similar studio portraits. However, after looking into the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (TWPPP) I noticed that a lot of the images are actually based either outdoors, or not within a studio set up. This really allowed me to think very differently about the whole concept of portraiture, and the fact that portraits are to capture image and identity. By taking a subject into a studio, you are depriving them of their personality with your artificial set up. If portraits are really about personality, then the notion of creating an artificial environment that the subject may have never set foot in before, completely contradicts the concept. Of course studio photography is very useful, not only for the tools available, but for commercial photographers, however I want to create portraits that reveal the subjects’ personality. I explored the website of Portrait Salon, and I found a lot of images that fitted my definition of a portrait. Some of my favourites I have provided below.
As you can tell in all the portraits above, every single image reveals either the subjects personality, interest, or both. I find these much more interesting than commercial portraits, just because there is so much more to look at within the photograph – not only does the subject tell a story, but the setting does as well. I will definitely incorporate this style of portraiture within one of my images, as I want to create a wide variation of portraits. As this image will be taken outdoors and not in an ideal environment, I will therefore have to use an external flash. I have never used one before so this will be a lot of fun to experiment with.
After looking through the rest of the website, I gathered a lot of ideas on how to create an unusual portrait. I wanted to incorporate an abstract styled photograph within my work, just because I want to create a contrast between my images. I was thinking what I could do whilst keeping my work fairly simple, and I came across a series of images by a photographer called Brandon Voges. The images essentially show people upside down, but with the image the regular way round. So the facial features of the subject and their hair alters due to their positioning, but the rest of their face appears fairly normal. It’s a very fun way of looking at portraits, as you start to think about the production of the images, and how the subjects would look if they weren’t upside down. Below I have collected a few of my favourites from the series.
I really love the bottom two images, simply because the subjects almost look completely normal. It is only when you understand that the subjects were upside down, that you are able to notice the changes within the subjects. I would really have been interested in some before/after images, just to emphasise the difference between the subject being upside down, but unfortunately these do not exist. I definitely want to try and create an image like this for my own project, and hopefully I will be able to pull it off successfully. I will be using the studio, simply because when I look at it, I get the idea that it is mocking studio portraiture: The perfect framing, great lighting and a backdrop, however the subject is the complete wrong way round – and I love that. I think it’s a very humorous view upon studio photography and I would like to recreate a similar feeling, but I do not think it would be possible if I were to take the photographs outside the studio.
For my final image, despite insulting it earlier, I would like to try and produce some commercial portraits. Although I feel the other types of portrait express the subject in a better way, I am not of a high enough technical standard to never produce commercial images, so I would like to do so to develop my skills. I looked on the Shutter Hub website through a variety of portraits, and also at a few freelance portrait photographers to gather some inspiration, and these were the two images that caught my attention the most.
I really love the choice to make the images monochrome, as I feel it adds more class to the images. I specifically love the bottom image, I think the shadows being cast are beautiful and the idea to illuminate one side of the face and body just creates a mysterious edge to the image. I also love the subject’s poses within both images, they really fit in with the classiness, and they overall produce a solid photograph.
Within my portrait, I definitely want to incorporate a shadowed lighting set up, with one side of the face lit more than the other. I think this produces more of a mood, and is something that I will not be creating within my other images, so by doing so in this portrait, I will have a wide variety of images. I will shoot with monochrome bared in mind, however if the image looks better in colour, I will definitely keep it that way, I will just have to see how things go in the studio.
PREPARING FOR PRODUCTION
Within all my portraits, I will be focusing on the same subject to show different sides of their personality. If I wasn’t creating such a wide range of images, then I would definitely consider using different subjects to provide new aesthetics into the frame. However with all my different ideas, I think focusing on the same subject will allow them to be seen more as a set of images, rather than individual, and not only that – it will allow the audience a better insight into the subjects personality, which of course would not be possible if I were to use different subjects.
Below, as in the previous projects, I have listed a brief summary of what I intend to capture within each image.
IMAGE 1.
Setting: Ext – alleyway/urban environment
Subject: Full body will be visible, subject will be looking at 90° angle in relativity to the camera
Framing: Either landscape of portrait depending on the potential setting and it’s detail – landscape is preferred – will give the subject space to look into and provide a more cinematic, urban photograph
Lighting: Either Metz flash or ring flash – open to experimentation
IMAGE 2.
Setting: Studio with white backdrop
Subject: Upside down hanging from table/chair – looking into the camera
Framing: Portrait – chest upwards – allowing room above the head for hair
Lighting: Studio flashes, 2 softboxes and a backlight
IMAGE 3.
Setting: Studio with grey backdrop
Subject: Stood up for better body posture – looking into the camera, wearing a white top to contrast with the background
Framing: Portrait – neck upwards, focusing on the eyes – close up of face
Lighting: Studio flashes, 1 softbox, backlight + light for the backdrop – lighting will cast harsh shadows on one side of the subject’s face.
FINAL IMAGES
Now unfortunately with this project I only had a limited amount of time to take these images, as I wanted to use my girlfriend for all of them. The outdoor wasn’t possible in this amount of time for two reasons; firstly it was raining really badly on the days I intended to shoot, and also I couldn’t light my subject correctly. I experimented with a few flashes, however they just didn’t look good enough. Also when in the studio, my upside down image proved to be too much hassle, and I gave up with the idea after a short while. Instead I have produced what I feel, are three very different images however all based in the studio. I experimented with lots of different lighting situations and backdrops and ended up with three images I am very happy with. I feel they are all technically worthy of submission to the TWPPP.
