Zirkle+-+Portraits



==How do these artists make their portraits become true works of art, not just snapshots? == //These artists make their portraits true art by using advanced compositional techniques to create more elaborate pictures than just a quick snap. They also put meaning behind each one, or some kind of story to make the individual in the picture seem profound or interesting.//

What lighting and compositional techniques are evident in the photographer's work?
// It is evident in the two photographs by Timothy White that there is artificial lighting used to create a soft white background. The one on the far left also uses rule of thirds and and a unusual point of view, directly from the side. The middle one uses a bird eye view. The one by Cindy Sherman uses natural lighting from a room window. It also has leading lines because the blanket and her legs lead to her face. //

How might their artwork influence your own?
// Their artwork influences me by giving me ideas on how to take photographs using different techniques in future projects. They also teach me how to better convey a character's personality through a single photograph, so much that the viewers can look at the picture and determine who someone is through it. //

//** Photo 1 (Untitled Film Still #6) by Cindy Sherman **// This photo uses a mix of both natural and available lighting, because it was what was available in the room when the photo was taken. This photo uses compositional techniques like leading lines because the lines in the blankets lead you to her legs which lead you to her face. http://www.cindysherman.com/images/photographs/UntitledFilmStill6.jpg

//** Photo 2 (Johnny Galecki) by Timothy White **// This photo uses mostly artificial lighting because it brightens the picture in order to make things more white and convey more of a happy photo. This photo uses the compositional techniques of point of view because it is from bird's eye view, looking down at him at the bed from almost like a ceiling view. http://timothywhite.com/gallery

//** Photo 3 (   Felicity   Huffman and William H. Macy) by Timothy White  **// This photo uses studio lighting because the background is completely white and to make it whiter they cast a bright light towards the subject. This photo uses the compositional techniques of point of view and rule of thirds, because it is from a very unique direct side view and the picture is divided into perfect thirds, one third being the girl, one the boy, and one, the blank space. http://timothywhite.com/gallery