Glaspy+Portrait

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In [|Yousuf Karsh's photo of Audrey Hepburn] (top left), he uses an asymmetrical layout that fills the frame, making the photo's focus solely the model. Audrey's pose is very intriguing, as her has her eyes closed, representing how the public doesn't truly know her, they just know the roles she plays in films and fashion shows. He uses artificial bounce light, so that it is softer, making Hepburn look very peaceful. He makes this simple photo a work of art through Hepburn's pose. Since the viewer cannot see her eyes, they are left wondering just who this woman is and what she is thinking and feeling. This is a good example to follow when taking our own portrait photos of how powerful an image can be without being flashy and melodramatic.

In [|Annie Leibovitz's photo of Meryl Streep] (bottom left), she uses Streep's hands and fingers as leading lines that guide the viewer straight to her eyes. Contrary to Karsh's closed eyed model, Leibovitz wants our first impression to be her model's eyes. Streep's whited out face causes the viewer to look at her for who she is, not what she looks like. Again, this photo uses studio lighting, but it's a little bit more dramatic than the lighting in the photo of Audrey. This photo is a good example of how simple costuming and posing can really help a photo tell a story.

The third picture is also by Annie Leibovitz, of Russell Brand, as part of her [|Disney Series] (right). This photo uses the rule of thirds, and the leading line of the sword to lead the viewer to the model. as well as framing the subject with the cave walls. This photo actually uses natural lighting ([|this] link has photos of the actual shoot as well as the finals), however, the final image has been edited, so it looks more dramatic than regular natural light. Unlike the other two images, this photo incorporates an elaborate background as part of the image to help tell the story. This is a good example of how backgrounds can enhance a portrait.

A: How do these artists make their portraits become true works of art, not just snapshots?
The artists incorporate a message/idea that tells the viewer about the subject. Captures subject not necessarily at their most beautiful, but at their most true. The portrait might also leave the viewer wondering; who were they looking at? where were they going? what happened to them? They use the background to their advantage.

A: What lighting and compositional techniques are evident in the photographer's work?
Filling the frame with the subject is a pretty popular technique and it can look really cool to be focused on nothing but the person and their expression. Portraits tend not to be symmetrical, which makes the viewer to look deeper at every part of the picture. Leading lines of subject’s props (umbrellas, hats) and even by using the subject’s body,

A: How might their artwork influence your own?
Provide ideas for our own subjects and how we can pose them to create a good/interesting portrait.

V: Vocabulary you should know
Artificial lighting: man-made; lamps or studio lights, often used for dramatic effect. Natural lighting: not man made, provided by a natural source, like the sun, fire, or moon.