For my unit three I decided to explore portraiture and I figured out it was not easy. It was quite
challenging for me to capture the personality and character of the subject.
I set out to capture the reality of the subject using film
and digital plus software available.
My research included the work of Nadar and Cunningham and later modern
day photographers such as Taylor Wood and Liebovitz.
I looked at the work of these photographers who were all so different so
I could gain as much insight into portrait technique and style as possible
The techniques I learnt were many, when to
use natural light versus studio lighting. What background could do to enhance
the quality of the image or destroy it. Angles, props, or heads shots versus
group photography, they all have their place and it all needs careful
consideration.
I started on the work for this unit during
July 2012 when I was asked to capture the wedding photographs for my brother’s
wedding. The camera was used on manual setting this was because it was dark and
I had to use an extended flash as a tripod for some of the more formal shots
and also the timer on my camera to allow me to be in some of pictures.
Observational work I did also linked to
capturing my parent’s image through their personal possessions with the use of
Rayograms.
The research on the diverse range of
portrait photographers I studied is evidenced in my sketchbook.
My responses to Nadar, Liebovitz started as more traditional portraiture but as I began to develop my
work responding to Taylor Wood I produced some emotional images capturing
character and enhancing it with studio lighting and Photoshop.
In my last photography unit I responded to
the work of Taylor Wood. ‘Self portrait suspended’ series. I wanted to know how she created those images
and how I could I recreate images like that.
In this unit I developed the skill further in respect of her crying men
series linking my responses to portrait work. This work in the style of Taylor
Wood developed quite well do to the skills and guidance we gained at a professional
photography Banana studio (Newcastle) This may be an area I will expand more in
the future.
Some of the portraits I have looked at show a serious expression yet
they are good so it seems that the subject does not always need to smile.
Direction from my tutor Mr Robinson had me
develop a series of typology portraiture exploring the similarity of facial
feature in an ethnic group of Kurdish workers. When I began this I had little
knowledge about this type of work but I enjoyed the progression of work to the
final A3 presentation.
I was compelled to explore the work of
blurred and distorted portrait images as many photographers move from the
traditional to the surreal.
Murielle Michettii was one artist I
responded to and I used Photoshop and Gaussian Blur to develop some of my earlier
photographs in her style. I found this really easy and enjoyed doing a different
type of facial study.
I was not sure at the beginning of the
project if time would allow me to explore Photomontage until I discovered Ulric Collette
His
style and approach could be described as surreal as his photomontage series of genetic
portraits and disembodied Bodies distort reality.
The genetic portraits explore facial similarities between families by
seamlessly blending two relatives’ faces together. Ulric used initially explored the genetic likenesses
between members of the same family and then took it one step further by taking
studio portraits of two family members and blending them
The work of Ulric is different and starts conversations. His
work is widely known on various art and photography web sites.
I believe taking ordinary portrait photographs and
turning them into a surreal type of images is what makes him different. His work however would be nothing out of the
ordinary without Adobe Photoshop software.
I began to respond to his work but then actually began
to develop some good photomontage studies of my family which became the final
piece of my work. however as part of my final piece I have created a video by
morphing each members of my family faces together, each two members of my
family’s portrait took me 30 frames as been presented in the previous pages of
my sketchbook, I enjoyed working with morphing and turning an image to a video wasn't easy, it took a lot of time an effort. To finish the final piece I used variety
of different computer software such as Photoshop, Premier Pro, Magic Morph and
Windows Movie Maker.
This specific work or imagery is
constructed using a variety of different techniques such as using collage (cut and sticking down of photographs
on top of one another)
