DeAngelis+Portrait



[|__http://diane-arbus-photography.com/__] The picture on the far left is a portrait taken by Diane Arbus and it is called, “Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967”. In the photograph, it looks as though it was taken outside on a brick sidewalk next to a building, which would then mean that natural lighting was used because of the sun reflecting upon the children(maybe the sun was also shining through clouds). The compositional techniques that I saw in the picture were leading lines and a direct center line of symmetry. There were leading lines from the ground behind them and also their legs lead up to their clean cut dresses, which helped me see the identical twins and some minor differences. Then there was a line of symmetry through the middle of the two girls, which worked well with her concept of the identical twins looking similar but they aren’t the same person. Overall this artist’s work is very influential to me because it helps me see the bigger things that might be hidden behind the person’s outer body. This artist did a great job making this a true portrait and not a snapshot, because of the correct body stances of the girls and that the photographer used flash while outside to create that lighting around the girl’s faces(so they were enhanced more).

[|__http://www.commercegraphics.com/ba_portraits.html#2__] The picture in the middle is a portrait called, “Bronja Perlmutter, Paris, 1926” by Bernice Abbott. In the photograph, there is, there is evidence of artificial lighting that may have been accompanied by a flash from the camera. I can tell that there is artificial lighting because there is no windows in the back or nature scene, so there needs to be some lighting present during the picture taking process. Also there is a level horizon and focal point technique being used in the picture. There is a focal point in the photograph because their is only one subject being taken of. Also there is a level horizon because the she is sitting on a chair and it is not crooked on the floor. This picture overall has shown that you can use different kinds of lighting brightness' to show more emotion and affect to the portrait. Overall this will help influence me in my portrait taking because it will help me use more dramatic lighting while keeping the picture soft looking.

[|__http://www.cindysherman.com/art.shtml__] Picture on the far right is portrait called, “Untitled #188” taken by Cindy Sherman. As I was looking at the photograph, I could tell that there was dramatic lighting being shown in the picture. This is because there are shadows being reflected on the dummies body and there is a brighter light being shined on the dummy than the stuff laying on the ground. The artist who took this portrait, I think was trying to use the compositional techniques of filling the frame and having a main focal point. The portrait shows the technique of filling the frame because the main object is in the center of the picture and takes up most of the images space, which is also why it is the focal point of the photograph. Overall this artist’s portraits are very inspirational to people that want to focus in on photographs of a deep/darker feeling behind them. So if I were to be taking a photograph like this one I would only have one main focus in my picture and have very dark and dramatic lighting on it.