Aspects of Identity:

Photography is a medium that can be used to explore and play with identity, where the different aspects of a photographers cultural, social, geographical identity can be portrayed, and their views and opinions can be displayed for the viewer to understand and analyse.

The following is a mind-map including all examples of aspects that can be considered when taking photographs that experiment with identity:

Environmental factors such as the upbringing of the photographer, the lifestyle that they choose to lead, and the experiences they have had throughout their life that have shaped their thoughts and opinions all effect how a photographer will interpret the definition of identity.

Examples of Identity in Photography:

Photographers such as Shirin Neshat create images that more obviously involve the topic of cultural identity, and include bold, eye drawing subjects to allow the viewer to realize the initial concept of the image, while also adding less obvious, more metaphorical meanings that can create a discussion on cultural differences and tensions after further analysis of her images, the following is an example of her work:

(The eye catching subject of the image is the Arabic writing on the soles of the feet, which immediately indicates that the image is of cultural relevance. However, the use of the tag on the foot is more subjective, as it could indicate that the feet belong to that of a corpse, therefore opening a discussion about the violence and tension surrounding cultural minorities.)

Other photographers who choose to experiment with identity in their work. Photographer Tish Murtha experimented with social identity, taking into account and documenting the different aspects of society, and the differences between the social groups that make it up.  Her style allows for the life of the people in her images to be documented in a candid, natural fashion, while at the same time her images can be compared to show the differences between social groups at the time she was actively photographing, and the different struggles and issues that each social group faced. The below image is an example of her work:

This image can be said to be a candid image displaying children growing up in England in the 1970’s, however it also displays the importance of the developing bonds, connections and friendships between the children, and displays them as their own social group, independent fro adults, showing the complexities of the lives and relationships that children have.

Lack of Identity in Photography:

On top of photographers using photography to blatantly explore identity, some use it to distort or hide identity, allowing for the subject of the image to become less an individual. Hiding the identity of the subject of an image to create a sense of mystery and disassociation has been a popular tactic in art for years, a famous example being that of the painting “The Son of Man”,  by Rene Magritte (1946), where the subject of her image lacks identity due to the covering of his face with an apple:

An example of a modern photographer who experiments with using a lack of identity in her images, is Polish photographer Michalina Wozniak in her Identity series, which makes use of blank masks in her photographs to hide the identity of her subject, opening up a dialogue for questions such as who the subject really, what their intentions are, and what they represent. An example of her work can be seen blow:

What is Chiaoscuro?

The book definition of Chiaroscuro is when an image is manipulated to the effect of contracted light and shadow. Chiaroscuro is an Italian word simply translated to ‘light-dark’. In the painting industry (paintings etc.) the particular description refers to sharp tonal contrasts which can be and often are used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects being used. Similar effects in cinema and photography also are called chiaroscuro. Artists often used bold contracts to help emphasis the image and the overall affect.

In photography, chiaroscuro can be produced with the use of Rembrantdt lighting.  In more highly developed photographic processes, this technique also may be know as ambient/natural lighting although when done so for the effect,. This can make the image look artificial and not generally found to be ‘natural’.

Artists who are famed for the use of chiaroscuro include Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio. Leonardo employed it to give a vivid impression of the three-dimensional  figures within his image, while Caravaggio used such contrasts for the sake of drama. Both artists were also aware of the emotional impact of these effect of this technique.

The term chiaroscuro originated during the Renaissance as drawing on colored paper.

Traditional realism painting:

For example one of Leonardo da Vinci most famous paintings entitled The Mona Lisa:

What is Rembrantdt lighting?

Rembrantdt is linked to studio with the use of either one studio like pols a reflector or two studio lights. Rembrantdt lighting gave photographers the opportunity to produce images that allow for some what natural feel whilst also have a more  complex side to that particular image while only using a minimum about of equipment. This made these types of images much easier to produce. Rembrantdt is named after the Dutch painter, Rembrantdt who was often found using this lighting. Rembrandt lighting is described as a illuminated/ bright triangle under the eye of the subject on the less illuminated/dimmer side of the face.

Most commonly, the main light is placed higher, to one side at the front behind the camera and then the reflector is positioned half- height and on the other side at the front, behind the camera. This is set to about half the power of the key light (main light) with the subject facing at an angle to the camera,  with the key light illuminating the far side of the face. What is evident, is that to fully and correctly use this particular type of lighting, it is important  to create the triangle or diamond shape of light underneath the eye. where one side of the face is illuminated from the main source of light while the other sided being covered in shadow, to create the geometric form on the subjects face.

One of Rembrantdt’s paintings:

My own Work:

After researching Chiaroscuro and Rembantdt lighting I had ago at creating my own images much inspired by these two types of lighting to do with light and dark contrasting with shadows. For my first image i kept it simple with one subject facing onward to the camera with the light shinning on to the subjects face from her left causing the the right side of her face to be covered by shadows causing a dramatic effect and feeling from the image.

 After taking multiple picture using the traditional method i then decided to experiment with  the subject and the colors created. I wanted to see how color could effect the overall feel and effect of the image whilst still considering the Chiaroscuro and Rembantdt lighting technique. This is what i cam up with.

I created four images with all different poses with a selection of  four colors- blue, pink, green and yellow using the Chiaroscuro and Rembantdt lighting method. Each image i believe created a different view and opinion as color are fairly contrasting with different poses leading to unique emotions being created from the image.

Other images:

Types of lighting

There are many different types of lighting that create many different types of images and can cause different feelings towards an image. These include:

• Intensity of the light
• Direction of the light
• Temperature of the light and white balance
• Using reflectors (silver / gold)
• Studio lighting
• Natural lighting

Flat light:

Flat light is very different from soft and hard light, flat lighting causes the minimum contrasts in an image/scene.This means there is pretty much no significant contrast between the highlights and shadows of that particular image.

Split light:

Split lighting is simply the use of one light angled at 90 degrees from the subject you are photographing and placed a bit higher that their eye level. Leaving one half of the face exposed to the light and other in shadow.

Back light:

Back lighting is basically the main light shining in from behind the subject, pretty much so that the back light is some what facing onward towards the camera.

Natural lighting:

Natural lighting is the most basic type of lighting and refers to mainly light produced from the sun.  In other words ambient light (meaning the available light in an environment) can be considered as natural light as it is photographer’s lighting equipment. This usually indicates natural lighting from outside that lights up a room through a window. There are three different types of natural lighting they include:

• Intensity of light
• Direction of light
• Temperature of the light

Studio lighting:

Studio light is essential for most photographers and allows photographers to create natural lighting effects in a variety of situations that the photographer controls. This helps us change and alter things:

• Filter lighting
• Distance from subject to create hard / soft light
• Angles and directions
• reflectors and diffuses

By using studio lighting it allows a large range of equipment to be used, for example, soft-boxes, umbrella lights, spot lights and floodlights.

Why use this particular lighting?

Studio lighting allows the photographer to have full control of the image being created, and can help us imitate almost all types of lighting with the right equipment.

Flash:

Flash units offer a range of possibilities in both low and high lighting scenarios:

• fill-in flash flash “bouncing”
• TTL / speedlight flash
• remote / infra-red flash (studio lighting)
• fast + slow synch flash
• light painting c/w slow shutter speeds

What is the difference between 1-2-3 point lighting and what does each technique provide?

Point lightning 1:

Point lighting is the most common and can sometimes be accidental for example when taking a photos outside with the sun shinning- this is a prime example of one point light this can be proven to mainly natural images/light. However one point lighting could lead to a rather dramatic image being produced, with the light being focused on one section/area/or the whole subject.

Point lightning 2:

Although not as popular 2 point lighting can also be proved to be extremely beneficial as the  lighting allows the main subject to stand out much more, creating a stronger 3D image as the two point lighting creates much stronger shadows leading to more dimensional angles  throughout.

Point lightning 3:

The goal of three point lighting is to create the illusion of a three-dimensional subject in a two-dimensional image.  whilst removing background shadow produced by the subject/ clashing lights. this is proven an extremely popular technique commonly used.