Portrait photography is usually a photo of a person and captures their personality, this can be done with the help of lighting and backdrops.

There are 4 main approaches to portrait photography, Constructionist, Candid, Environmental and a Creative approach.

Constructionist: This is when a the photographer builds an idea behind then image; for example a romantic couple, a happy family and many more. This is usually done in a more professional setting such as a studio. this type of photography is well known for its use in marketing and advertising.

Candid: This photographical technique is when the photographer takes images without the people who are being photographed knowing about it. Paparazzi is an invasive example of candid photography as it generally shows celebrities at their worst. However; when done correctly, candid photography can paint an ideas of what society looks like in that particular region, this can also show many things that happen in the public eye that may be otherwise ignored and “brushed under the carpet”.

Environmental: This is about the environment in which the person being photographed spends their day to day at. This can be a place of work, hobby, family and even leisure. Examples include, singers in a recording studio, student in a study room, a butcher working at a butchers. These also generally show a bit of culture or class in which that person lives in, showing the history behind the image and the person being photographed.

Creative: This is generally done through the manipulation of digital software, this can create an infinity of options and allows the person who is being photographer’s characteristics stand out. This is a more modern approach to portrait photography as it uses the photographers camera skills and also their editing skills in order to create a striking outcome.

Contemporary Portrait Photography

This is a more modern approach to portrait photography, here images often follow a more abstract/ unusual approach.

Here are some examples of Contemporary Portrait Photographers:

• 

• 

• 

The Art of Portrait photography / The history of Portrait photography:

Different types of Portrait Photography and their meaning. (Website)

https://expertphotography.com/types-of-portrait-photography/

Environmental portrait photography: This is about the environment in which the person being photographed spends their day to day at. This can be a place of work, hobby, family and even leisure. Examples include, singers in a recording studio, student in a study room, a butcher working at a butchers. These also generally show a bit of culture or class in which that person lives in, showing the history behind the image and the person being photographed.

Examples of Environmental Portrait Photography:

• 

• 

• 

My Chosen Photographer

Anthony Kurtz

Anthony was born in the USA in 1979, He started off as an artist who had a Masters of fine art in the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. This was when his passion for photography began, His work is often described as “rich, cinematic and painterly”.

Anthony Kurtz has had many achievements over the years and also many opportunities to publish and share his work for example; in Photo Disctrict News, Wall Street Journal, Design Taxi, Common Ground Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Annual PX3 Book, Annual IPA Book, Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.

Anthony has also displayed his images in several galleries in Europe and USA such as, including Galerie Acte 2 in Paris, 111 Minna and Artworks in San Francisco.

Kurtz has similarly won countless international photo awards such as including multiple First and Second Prizes at the International Photo Awards (IPA), Photo District News (PDN) and the Prix de la Photographie de Paris (PX3).

Lastly, he now owns his own website in which he shares his photos so that the public eye can see: http://anthonykurtz.com

Examples of Anthony Kurtz work:

Technical: Here natural lighting has been used as this image has been taken outside, this allows the texture of the clouds not to be lost as everything can be clearly seen. The position of the camera has been placed parallel to the the man in the image. The focal point is clearly on the man as he has the most focused part in the image, however the cars in the background are still shown allowing the audience to see a “bigger image” of what the man works with. The white balance is is just leaning on the cold side which is shown as the warmer tones t=in the images such as his yellow and red shirt is hardly shown, which allows the audience to focus on the dirt and the blue roofs of the buildings. Here the saturation of the image has been somewhat turned down allowing the audience to focus the centre point of the image which is successful as its a environmental portrait.

Visual: The tones in the image is generally dark matching the dirt shown throughout the image, which allows the audience to see the true reality of the working environment in which the man is living in, here he doesn’t try and sugar coat the image but simply presents his environment how it is. Again the element of dirt gives texture to the image, showing that he doesn’t work in a nice mordernised mechanics office that many people in the “first world” are used to. The pattern of the cars is present suggesting that he needs to work through many cars each day in order to make the amount of money that he needs to survive. The shape of the image is 3D due to the different depths in the image with the main cars shown at the foreground and then the buildings shown in the background. Here the Rule of Thirds is used effectively as as they eye is lead to the centre third and onto the man.

Contextual: This image was part of a a selection of images that Anthony Kurtz took in Senegal. Here he joined as a volunteer in a high school-lead trip where he did community work. Here most the images were taken in the village of Dindefelo (south of Senegal). He also went to “Dakar to do more “strobist” style, street photography and worked on different personal projects.” Anthony talks about the connection he created with the people he photographed as many people turned him down however he kept asking people and ” made sure people in Dindefelo received copies of their portraits and I hope they enjoy looking at them” he talks about still being able to keep in touch with the people, showing the bond he grew as he didn’t just take pictures of them and then moved on but he worked with them and spoke to them to made sure they felt comfortable. (Quotes from Anthony Kurtz found on: https://www.behance.net/gallery/11984331/Part-2-Senegal-Street-Portraits-Africa )

Conceptual: I think the overriding theme to this image is the work that Anthony Kurtz has put in to approach and speak to the people he has photographed, here he spends as long period of time with these people, getting to know them as a person and their experiences. I think that this is important as Kurtz didn’t just take pictures of rich celebrities that are already in the public eye, but he wanted to show the true environments in which people live in.

Candid: This photo graphical technique is when the photographer takes images without the people who are being photographed knowing about it. Paparazzi is an invasive example of candid photography as it generally shows celebrities at their worst. However; when done correctly, candid photography can paint an ideas of what society looks like in that particular region, this can also show many things that happen in the public eye that may be otherwise ignored and “brushed under the carpet”.

Anthony Kurtz also does Candid photos, here he takes pictures of people as they are going about their lives, this is why I decided to follow his work again as I thought I could show the contrast between his two styles

Technical: Here the lighting is natural which is shown as the source of light is coming from outside the window, here it looks like the the picture was taken in the morning due to the almost white light that the sun is producing. Here the camera is placed at around chest level as about half of his body is shown and you can see some of his tools making his image look more informal. The image has a low ISO showing the detail in the image and everything that is going on in the image. Here Kurtz approached a warm tone approach to this informal image which works well with the different tones of the woods and the red objects in his photograph.

Visual: Here there is clear texture between the the different types of wood shown, I also like the texture added to the workers hands as it brings attention to what he is doing. I think that the photo is well exposed as it creates a dramatic effect onto the image which makes it more striking. Here the mans tools are randomly placed making the photo more realistic and informal. Kurtz decided to maintain the tools in the foreground which I think works well due to the depth that it creates as in this example the main focus/focal point is on the man in the mid ground of the image; furthermore this works as there are tools in the foreground, midground and background, which makes the man stand out visually. This makes for next to none negative space due to the semantic field of the tools.

Contextual / Conceptual: I think there is a very strong family theme to this picture as it reminds me of my own family members that use to use tools similar to these in order to build/fix things. I can also see the passion in this mans face for what he does, as he is so focused and almost in his world, which allows the audience to think as if the photographer took this image by chance making it again seem candid and informal.