Photography

Exploring the idiosyncratic nature of black & white portrait photography

Artist Analysis This photograph by Chirs Gloag I find very strong in presenting the subject in an impacting manner as her background appears blurred and she is in high definition, the composition of the photograph as well is interesting; the photographer seems to be taking the photograph from an low angle so she appears to be more dominant in posture as she is slightly looking down on us her dress sense also complements this. She’s wearing black silk which makes her seem wealthy and due to the angle of the photographer also important. She doesn't give much expression so I really can’t tell her exact emotion but she seems to be aware the photographer is taking her so she possibly may be giving an emotionless expression purposely. The red chair in the background out of focus stands out within the background due to the contrasting color in comparison to the others surrounding but the fact she’s within this chair interestingly adds to her standing out of the photograph.

1ST Developmental Set

Artist Analysis The photograph is named fisherman by womanish the significance in this picture for me was the expression of the man he appears to be unhappy where the wrinkles around his face enhance this expression along with the shapes of his eyes. The deep cheek marks makes me feel as if he is about to cry; the man possibly is looking at something upsetting him or thinking about something that’s deeply worrying him. The photograph has gotten up close and personally with this shot either really close to the man or zoomed into his face, he wants us to feel with this man focus on the expression his portraying that of deep sadness, the background is completely irrelevant in this shot and we are oblivious of where he is at all. The man is quite hairy so he doesn't shave often this also adds to the idea of him having possibly having important things on his mind therefore finding it unnecessary or it just doesn't cross his mind. By this we also now he’s a very old man, he has rather deep wrinkled eyes depicting depression where his mouth is slightly open again I think this makes us feel he’s possibly looking at something/ just noticed something or realized something that has deeply saddened him.

Final Set

Artist Analysis This photograph by Louis Wu of an old man with a cigarette very similar in portrayal to that of womanish this I found far more impacting and contained more imagery to add to the emotion they’re portraying. The photographer in this shot also appears to be some distance however has zoomed into the subject wanting us to concentrate on his face, The man in this shot I feel could either be pondering on something maybe nothing worrying or then again maybe something deeply worrying; the depth of the wrinkles on this mans face gives him a natural depressed looking appearance even without him necessarily pulling an expression which is why I feel he is possibly just mere pondering on something. However though this man has a very distinctive mass of wrinkles his posture with where he's leaning on his hand depicts tiredness of either being fed up but considering the mans age and I suppose maybe wondering about his past; he clearly has a lot of experience possibly watching something that brings back a memory. Smokers often use smoking as a form of stress relief or relaxation so this man possibly is an addict or judging by his expression in an rather relaxed mood thinking about something important. The photograph I feel has enhanced the impact of this photograph during editing there's a strong vibe of contrast and the whole photograph has a general strong impacting set of distinctive lines.