What is a portrait?

What is a portrait?

 

A portrait is an image that attempts to express and capture the character of a person. Showing a hierarchy of their world, including social, physical, status and authority within them. These images want to capture unknown sides of the person, although the person may not feel comfortable having their portrait taken, therefore we have to learn to work around this.

 

Eve Arnold – ‘get into the soul of the person.’

 

How do we define a good portrait?

 

A good portrait starts from good interaction between the sitter and the viewer. It shows an encounter of their meeting. Although everything known about the sitter is imprinted in the viewers mind. The layout is highly important if someone saw a simple image of a celebrity it would mean a lot more than a simple image of someone they didn’t know. As they are more likely to know background information on the celebrity.

 

‘ Great photographic portraits create a unique unforgettable chemistry formed by the relationship and interaction between the sitter, the photographer and the viewer’

 

Can you ever get a true likeness of someone in a portrait?

 

I think we cant, as there are always two people involved in the image, the photographer and the model. Meaning they both has different points of view on how the image should be taken.  Also the photographer wont always know the person really well and is only showing a small part of the models personality through the image.  Also everything known about the sitter is imprinted in the viewers mind. The meeting between the photographer and the model may only be a brief encounter and they can’t learn everything about each other.

 

Even street/ documentary photographers can’t capture a true likeness of a person, as they may just be catching a reaction from the person. Also people may not show their true personality in public. 

documentary photography summary

What did you learn from the presentations from last week?

Own presentation – I learnt that I’m more confident than I thought when speaking in public. I also felt my presentation had some interesting bits, like showing the images but also using colours and backgrounds to make it look more pleasing.

 

The content of the others presentations – I found new artists Id never heard of before but also more background information on artists I did know. I realized I hadn’t got as much background information as others.

 

What intrigues you about documentary photography?

–       They do create some amazing photographs, personally I prefer shocking images or ones that show poverty as I feel they will help these situations and make us think. I like that people have confidence to ask people to have their photo taken which is something I cant do unless I know them.  They are also unique images

 

What frustrates you about documentary photography?

–       It’s never set up, its all what people see when out, there’s no studio work etc., also I don’t like street photography, I find it boring and doesn’t appeal to me.

–       I feel it doesn’t show any real skill, its simply taking photos of people.

–       I don’t like how some photographs people walking past etc. can block.

 

How would you explain documentary photography to someone who has no concept of what it is? Which photographers would you use?

–       I would choose Nick UT’s images of the Napalm war. It shows children running from an atomic bomb. I chose this images because I really feel this shows the extremes of documentary photography.

–       The second artist I would use would be Martin Parr, as I feel his shows Britain in a very stereotypical way in which people can relate too. Its also less extreme compared to Nick UT.

Telling a story with a photo.

1: Define what is meant by ‘visual eloquence’ in in the context of photography.

–       Photographers strive to find moments of visual eloquence that will make the stories they tell unforgettable, to change the world we live in by taking pictures that can make a difference. Also showing the unseen and unknown but also creating powerful images.

2: What is the difference between news photography, photojournalism and documentary photography?

–       Photojournalism is a mix of journalism and photography; they use their images so report events or multiple images to show a sequence of events. Usually funded my magazines for a contemporary audience.

–       Documentary photography is creating images for posterity and then later shown in books and exhibitions.

3: “The job of a news photographer is to capture the essence of a whole story in a single image – a moment of truth giving the sensation of what it was like to be present” (Ingle dew, 2005:72) Find an example of this and discuss.

–       I chose the image that Nick Ut took in 1972 of a girl running towards him who had been burn by the Napalm attack. It’s said that this image helped end the war. I think this image is really shocking as you feel their pain but also think why didn’t he help the children. I think this image sums up war as a whole, showing innocent children being physically and mentally damaged by some ones choices.

–       I then chose another image, which I felt showed a whole story, Carter’s image of a girl dying with a vulture waiting for her to die. Both of these images are extremely shocking but also show a hard-hitting truth, which people try and cover up!

4: What is your opinion of the use of the ‘falling man’ image by Richard Drew?

–       The falling man is a very powerful image and is really shocking. It shows the man falling to his death but also produces many questions, like did he jump? Was he pushed? Richard drew also tried to find the mans family and identify him which causes a lot of controversy and anger in America. I think this image will always be remembered when people think of 9/11. In the description it says he is falling but looks relaxed and just taking in his last few moments. I think that shows a lot about the man.

 

5: What are the similarities and differences in News

Photography between the present day and 100 years ago?

THEN

–       When photojournalism first started, they used half tone printing, which is still used today. This was a breakthrough for the newspapers and they could finally print their images. First published by the New York daily graphic in 1880.

–       News agencies started in the 1900’s, which made it easier for papers, as they didn’t have to employ photographers they brought images from freelancers who followed all the big events. Newspapers still use this today and its financially better and easier.

–       Tabloids then started, creating big images and short headlines to draw people in. tabloids were the first to report events and showed a lot of shocking images, they wanted to prove they could print the photos first. I think the current tabloids still do this, it shows completion between each paper, with the 10pm deadline they can find current stories all day.

–       Scoop images then started in the 20’s and 30’s, these were images that were taken in secret but sold for a huge fee. This isn’t used so much now as we have created laws around the scoop. (PCC)

–       When the 35mm film camera was created it gave journalist more flexibility and could walk around and find events.

–       Wire photos created a breakthrough as they could be sent anywhere.

–       Before the press would create more shocking images then now as there were no laws on privacy etc., for example 9/11 created some shocking images on the papers.

NOW

–       They now employ a small number of staff photographers to cover major stories, they still use news agencies to get images from different countries, although sometimes we get small stories emphasizes as they need to make money back from sending a team to a country.

–       All the images are now digital but also we get shoots created for the newspapers. They use the latest soft and hardware.

–       Photographers can now digitally send their images, meaning the papers can produce stories for the next day very quickly, meaning we get the latest news fast.

6: What is Magnum and why did it have such a big impact on photojournalism?

–       A legendary independent photo agency formed to protect the integrity of photojournalists work. Had four founders, including Cartier Bresson. They wanted to protect journalist’s images and copyright them. Before magnum an image could be used by anyone and considered to be the publics. Whereas magnum changed this and now they must get permission.

7: What were the FSA and Mass observation – why were they so important and crucial to the development in photography?

–       The FSA was an American project that employed five photographers to take images of the poor at the height of the catastrophic drought in 1929. It lasted five years, and wanted to open the eyes of Americans, to make them see what was happening else where in their country.

–       The mass observation was a British project from 1936 to 1947. Included 1500 observers sent around Britain to document everyday life.

8: What did Martin Parr photograph and why was his work so controversial, especially to the members of magnum?

–       Martin Parr photographed British people, but making them very stereotypical. He joined the magnum just, by one vote, he is said to be magnums biggest current earner. He showed Britain in a very vibrant way.

9: Different photographers are listed or mentioned in the text. Pick 2 photographers, research into and compare/contrast their particular style and subject.

The first artist I chose was Cartier Bresson. He lived from 1908 to 2004 also a French photographer. He was considered the father of photojournalism, using a 35mm film camera. He liked the mobility of the 35mm camera and took a lot of street photography images.

–       “I prowled the streets all day, feeling very strung-up and ready to pounce, ready to ‘trap’ life

–       Cartier Bresson was also part of Magnum, a group that was created to protect photographer’s images.

–       He won the Grand Prix National de la photography in 1981, but also the Hasselblad award in 1982

 

The second artist I chose was Kevin Carter. He lived from 1960 to 1994. He is most known for his vulture image, of a girl dying with a vulture waiting behind her.

–       He won a Pulitzer Prize. He was a South African photojournalist and a member of the bang -bang club.

–       He committed suicide in 1994 at the age of 33 after taking the vulture image.

–       He wasn’t allowed to touch the children due to the transmitting diseases, which means he couldn’t help them.

–       I am depressed … without phone … money for rent … money for child support … money for debts … money!!! … I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain … of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners … I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky

 

 

I chose these two artists as I feel they are completely different to one another as Cartier Bresson was a street photographer who photographed every day life in france, where the people where all the same class as him, but Carter took every day life to the extreme, he chose 3^rd world countries where poverty was high. He showed a world we didn’t want to admit was real.

 

Both photographers were different but Cartier Bresson was more famous for his images even though I feel they are good but not hard hitting, where as Carters images could help the world but yet his weren’t as famous.

Kevin Carter’s image

Cartier Bresson’s images

Annie Leibovitz

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

 

What were her two main influences from her photo education?

 

–       Annie Leibovitz states that when she was younger she would take photos while on her families long car journeys. She used the window as a frame for an image, which she believes helped her photography skills later in life. She started with a simple film camera when she was younger; she says Cartier Bresson influenced her, as he traveled around taking documentary photographs. She liked to be portable.

 

Annie has worked in many different areas. Identity and discuss.

 

–       Leibovitz has worked in so many different areas of photography. She has worked in the fashion industry, doing many shoots for vogue; this also included a lot of work with celebrities, although she does this throughout all of her work. She also worked for the rolling stones magazine, producing all of their front cover images. Leibovitz also created American style images, showing what Americans are about and what they love. Also documentary images, these include her images of when she moved to the Philippines, taking war photos. The last on her DVD is dance. She has always enjoyed dance, as her mother was a dancer.

 

What do you notice about her commissioned work in relation to her personal work?

 

– When creating her book, Leibovitz created two walls full of images, one personal and one commissioned. Her personal work is more documentary, where as her commissioned work is portraits and magazine covers. One of her main commissioned work was the rolling stones magazine work. She followed the band on tour, although these images were a mix of both documentary and portraits. Leibovitz says even though this work was commissioned she really enjoyed it; she experimented with styles and techniques but also worked with other people, like journalists and writers, which were new for her. She says she didn’t know how to direct people at this point, her images just happened. Her first personal work was in the Philippines where her dad was working in the armed forces, she took images on the sites.

 

If you could ask her one question what would it be?

 

–       If I could ask Leibovitz one question, I would ask her how she built up her profile and her name. She started off with small images from a film camera to becoming a famous photographer working with all types of people and styles.

 

My thoughts on her work

 

– I love Annie Leibovitz’s work; I think she has so many different styles, which is what I lack. She is a good inspiration, as she is so passionate about photography, by doing her own personal work and not just commissioned work, showing she really has a love for photography, unlike some other famous photographers. 

BJP Paolo Roversi

PAOLO ROVERSI

– Born in Northern Italy in 1947

– Started photography at 17, creating his own darkroom

Over ten years, three photographers, the first Nevio Natali, influenced him he gave Roversi an apprentiship in the 1960’s until he opened his own studio in the 70’s. The second photographer was Peter Knapp who taught him everything he needed to know about being a photographer and having his own business. The third photographer was Sackman who Roversi says taught him creativity for his images. Sackman would say to Roversi “your tripod and your camera must be well fixed, but your eyes and mind should be free”. Roversi started out on his own with work from ELLE but it was Marie Claire who published his first major fashion story. In the 80’s he gained more recognition from a beauty campaign with Dior.

Roversi discovered his trademark soon after, the 8×10 Polaroid. They called him to demonstrate the film in the studio. He says he fell in love after 10 seconds. Roversi says he loves the quality of the Polaroid; he displays his work by pinning or hanging his work up all of the room. All different images together. Roversi says he favorite light is natural, as he believes that if you take an image with flash its empty. He uses a large, north facing window, which he describes as “ a little dusty after its long voyage”. He likes to use natural light as he says in religion, sun and light are the beginning of light and photography is drawing with light.

THE FIVE SENSES

“its not that the camera changes the way I look, but I always say photography is not all about view, its all five of our senses.”

Roversi says he has issues with digital photography as all he sees his numbers. He says he is very traditional and thinks a photography should not be on a screen, its an object, a format with weight that you can put in your pocket, wallet or family album. Also a polaroid is a one off image unlike digital where you can post them online multiple times but also print it multiple times.

Roversi wants to see, smell, hear, taste and touch his images and photographs. This is why he likes to use traditional methods. He feels more passionate about him images this way, as with digital anyone can take photographs. He feels there is more meaning in a film or polaroid image.

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Semiotics

Martin Parr

 

 

Denotation –

elderly woman, towel, gold jewellery, eye protectors. 

Connotation

 

Shows an elderly lady, lying on a towel with eye protectors. This implies she likes to look good and takes pride in her appearance. She wears gold jewelry around her neck and wrist. This type of jewelry is usually seen on elderly women, as they would receive gold jewelry for special occasions. Martin Parr is known for his images of stereotypical British holidaymakers. This helps with the connotation as it shows she is sunbathing in England but also that she is English. I’ve then thought about the subjective meanings of this image. For example this women’s upbringing would mean she may have only experienced British holidays, also in her youth, British holidays would of just become popular. This image shows a lot of culture, she is clearly a stereotypical holidaymaker from Britain, as she wants to tan.