The Definition of Contemporary Portrait photography is ‘A type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses.’
Portraiture Moodboard
IMAGE ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF ALFRED KRUPP
This environmental portrait was taken in 1963 by Arnold Newman, creating a menacing feel due to the low lighting and specific shadows around the mans face. The man is Alfried Krupp, a Nazi war criminal who owned many factories, mass producing dangerous arms, vehicles and other weapons. He is also known to have heavily profited from the racist slave labor imposed by the Nazis. The images intimidating atmosphere comes mostly from the dark shadows surrounding Krupp’s eyes, created by butterfly lighting, giving him a sinister appearance. His eyes are also the focal point of the image. The dark, more negative essence is further emphasized around Krupp as the background is obviously much brighter. The background is a post war view of one of Krupp’s factories. Newman uses all sorts of techniques to give the image this unnerving feel. Firstly he deliberately positions his camera so Krupp is central in the image, ignoring the rule of thirds. This, combined with the depth shown going into the background gives Krupp a sense of undeserved power.
An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings.
Mind Map of Ideas
Plan
My mum does a lot of art and up-cycling and is currently fixing and painting a set of chairs. I plan to take photos of her painting as well as portraits of her in front of projects shes completed to create the effect of an environmental portrait.
I narrowed down the photos by getting rid of the ones where she wasn’t looking at the camera as I felt that they weren’t actually portraits.
Final selection
Conclusion
In conclusion, I feel like the photos fit the subject matter of environmental portraits well as my model uses the kitchen as a workspace for her projects and is surrounded by some of her work. Anyone who saw this photo could easily gain a rough idea of what she does by just glancing at the portraits as the use of overalls and props like the paintbrush and paint on the face directly connote art .