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Final Presentation

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The above are my final displays I decided on.

I grouped some similar images into diptychs and triptychs according to colour scheme, physical similarities. I also used similar bordering and presentation methods that J Grant Brittain uses.

The following is an image comparison between one of my pieces and one of J Grant Brittain’s pieces.

  • J Grant Brittain
  • Michael Kenealy

The above images both focus on the identity of the subject by portraying their personality through capturing their facial expressions. Both images are desaturated and have high contrast to accentuate shadows around the face and therefore accentuating the facial features of the subjects. Both images are collaged into sets of 9 coinciding images. Both images feature a mixture of compositions where the subject interacts with the lens and some where the subject ignores the camera.

Grants image is shot with fluorescent lighting in a professional environment whereas my composition is shot with natural lighting in a less professional environment. This also creates difference in the texture of the images, mine has a rougher texture whereas Grants image has a smoother texture to it.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DSC_0084-1-1024x753.jpg

For the above composition I shot the skateboarder in front of an urban graffiti background in a skatepark, I focused on showcasing his culture and style like J Grant Brittain. The gaze and side angle shot creates a sense of confidence, control and passion the skateboarder portrays to his environment.

I shot the image in black and white and used high contrast and clarity to accentuate the features of the subject for example the area around his eye feature high contrast and clarity which captures that emotion in his eyes. The high clarity and contrast also gives the image a sharp and rough texture.

I used a wide aperture to obtain a sharp focus on the subjects face and separate him from the background and create a slight bokeh effect. I used the grid on my camera to frame my subjects head in the centre of the shot.

In conclusion I believe I captured the identity through his cultural passion for skateboarding well with stylistic, J Grant Brittain type images and presented them in an artistic way.

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Photo Shoot Plan

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What

Portraiture and action shots of a skateboarder relating to the work of J Grant Brittain

Why

This is to explore the idea of identity of individuals within a sub-culture.

How

Direct subject into different locations and capture him in his “natural habitat

Who

A local skateboarder

Where

Various skateparks and an urban multi-story carpark

When

During clear weather.

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J Grant Brittain

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J Grant Brittain is a 65 year old photographer who has shot the skateboarding scene for over 3 decades.

J Grant Brittain

The reason I have chosen to reference his work when completing my project on identity is because he has grown with the culture of skateboarding and he understands how to capture its essence very well. I am also fond of the way he doesn’t limit his work to the conventional action-shot fashion. He broadens his work into a deeper sense to capture the identity of the skaters and their emotions towards the culture of skateboarding. For example the following image captures the identity of the person as it exhibits the subjects emotion and tells a story about the person.

J Grant Brittain

In the above image Grant uses high contrast to deepen the shadows around the subjects face to relay more emotion and definition. This is a way he included themes of identity in his work. The subjects identity is also explored by giving the image context and showcasing the subjects interests and culture he does this by composing the image with the subject holding a broken skateboard. Grant also does a good job of isolating the subject by photographing him with an contrasting background which gives the image a pleasing visual form.

Additionally, when Grant shoots the action shots he doesn’t just focus on showcasing the manoeuvre of the skateboarder but rather their style and environment which many skaters will tell you is far more admirable and important than the tricks you are doing. A skateboarders style and creativity is a what makes up their identity. This creative identity formation is a huge part of the culture of skateboarding and this is one thing that 3 decades of Grants work has made clear.

J Grant Brittain; Claude Cahun Comparison

  • Claude Cahun
  • J Grant Brittain

These two images by Claude Cahun and J Grant Brittain both suggest the exploration of Identity. Both images focus on a person and their facial expression and emotion. The compositions both tell a story that we can see behind the eyes of the subjects. The subjects are both photographed with their style being flaunted, the self portrait of Claude her upper body is positions in a confident, striking manner and her chic jewellery and clothing is also seen, the skater in the other composition has a chaotic yet focused style to him with his his creativity shown through his customised helmet which is a visual centre-piece of the composition.

The way the two artists question the theme of identity differs. Claude explores the idea of questioning her identity and her troubles with identity. This can be seen in the above composition with the placement of the mask in the top left corner suggesting notions of multiple identities and is masking her true identity. However on the contrary Grant explores a subject who has found his true identity through the passion of his creative field (skateboarding). Instead of challenging identity he is celebrating the concept through capturing the subject in the moment of passion and expression.

The images both share low saturation and high contrast. This highlights the subject facial features in the two images by accentuating difference in the highlights and darks in the face of the subject.

The images have different textures the self portrait of Claude has a quick shutter speed and appropriate ISO to create a smooth professional portrait texture. This is compared to Grants image which has a slower shutter speed, higher ISO and clarity to show more motion and noise in the image to create a rougher texture.

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Claude Cahun

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During the 5 year occupation of Jersey by the Germans during the second World War, amongst many terrible things that happened, many antagonists where deported to camps or imprisoned. 75 years ago the island was liberated by allied forces. The last antagonist prisoners to walk free days before the liberation were the Les mesdames who are regarded as local heroes for contributing to the liberation of Jersey.

Lucy Schwob better known by their pseudonym, Claude Cahun was the better known half of the Les mesdames, which was the name that Jersey islanders gave her and her step-sister/lover Suzanne Malherbe (known by her pseudonym Marcel Moore).

Claude came to Jersey from Paris with Marcel in 1937. The couple sought Jersey out for two reasons; because of the jubilant memories of childhood holidays to the neighbouring island, and it was a familiar place to escape the abhorrent fascism and antisemitism that was terrorizing Europe in the ’30s as Claud was Jewish on her fathers side. 

Cahun was a French surrealist photographer, writer, and sculptor. A consistent element present in her work is her unconventional exploration and representation of the concept of Identity. Claud explored her identity in a way where she challenged preconceived notions of sexuality and gender of the time. Claude presented this in her works where she would photograph self portraits where stereotypical gender characteristics where aggravated, for example the following piece where she can be seen composing her appearance as a masculine “circus strongman” while still conveying typical feminine appearance stereotypes such as the bold lipstick:

Claud Cahun

Cahun believed that gender was exchangeable. Assuming different identities was her strong suit.

Claude Cahun

In the above image Claude represents the idea of multiple coexisting personalities by photographing a self portrait by creating a double exposure which is done by shooting an image on film and then shooting another with the subject repositioned on the same segment of film. She has used harsher fluorescent lighting in this image which has created a over-exposed, porcelain looking facial composure whilst accentuating the shadows around her jaw eyes, this could’ve been a way of exploring her identity by ridiculing the identity she was portraying by exaggerating the stereotypical feminine beauty aesthetic of the time being the over-powdered face and eccentric makeup. She also creates greater depth and form in the composition by separating the subject from the background by using a dark negative background and high contrast which opposes the light foreground giving the image an unconventional portraiture look.

Claude Cahun: Jersey’s queer, anti-Nazi freedom fighter

http://www.jeudepaume.org/index.php?page=article&idArt=1480

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Introduction to Identity

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Definition of Identity

“the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”.

How an individual views themselves.

How others view an individual.

Identity can affect people in many different ways and each persons identity can be resultant on their upbringing due to the Tabula Rasa theory which states that individuals are born as a “blank slate” and the people that raise you and the culture of the environment you grow up in mould your identity. People can relate their identity to many aspects of their life – gender identity /cultural identity /social identity /
geographical identity /political identity /lack of / loss of identity.

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HEADSHOTS

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Diamond Cameo

Henry Mullins

Henry Mullins was an English Photographer born in 1818.

Henry Mullins was the first professional photographer to come to Jersey and establish a portraiture business in the very early days of photography.

Below is an example of one of Henry’s pieces where he makes use of the presentation technique – diamond cameo.

Henry Mullins – Diamond Cameo

Diamond Cameos feature a series of four portraits that feature different angles or positions of the subject and are placed in a diamond shape in oval frames.

Michael Kenealy – diamond cameo

Double / Multi-exposures

Double / multi-exposures are compositions where multiple images are layered into one to create a repetition illusion.

Philipp Reinhard

Man Ray

Man Ray was an American experimental photographer born in 1890.

He experimented with rayographs and camera-less photography and was a specialist in the dark room.

These experimental veiws on photography led Ray to discover the emerging surrealist movement in France.

Surrealism was a movement that sought to the juxtapose distant realities and activate the unconscious mind through the imagery.

  • 1989.55.12 001
Man Ray – Surrealism Multi Exposures

Ray’s pieces explore surrealism by challenging the idea of having many compositions of the same subject in one image. He does this by creating a multi-exposure – using the same piece of film to take multiple images of the same subject.

He uses a high contrast in his images and leaves them slightly underexposed to create a gloomier feel.

Michael Kenealy – multi exposure
Michael Kenealy – multi exposure

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition in photography refers to the connection of two images with assumed similarities.

Below is a composition I shot where there is a juxtaposition between the subject and the landscape, surfer and the ocean.

The images above are both lowkey, they juxtapose in the tonal elements such as high contrast and low saturation but also in a contextual fashion – a surfer and the surfers environment.

Henry Mullins and Michelle Sank

Below are a few examples of a series of juxtaposing compositions where Photographer Michelle Sank responds to Henry Mullins’ works.

She responds by taking modern versions of old Henry Mullins pieces and juxtaposing them according to social, political, class and professional stand points.

Below is my attempt at juxtaposing with one of Henry Mullins’ portraits.

Sequence/grid

Henry Mullins has a good example of sequencing in his portrait album book.

This is a way of displaying final pieces and showcasing work in an ascetic, accessible and uniform manner.

The following is my reaction to J Grant Brittan’s piece.

  • J Grant Brittain
  • Michael Kenealy

Photo Montage

Photomontage is the technique of making a composite photograph by overlapping, gluing, cutting, and rearranging two or more photographs into a new image. 

John Stezaker

Is a British photographer born in 1949.

He is fascinated by the “lure”of images.

Stezakers’ works focus on photo montage to give old images a new meaning and add a creative surrealistic tinge to his photography.

John Stezaker - Artist - Saatchi Gallery
John Stezaker - Artist - Saatchi Gallery
John Stezaker & the Not-So-Perfect Marriage - Gwarlingo

My response to Stezakers’ work:

John Stezaker. Marriage XV. 2006 | MoMA
John Stezaker
Michael Kenealy

John Stezaker - Whitechapel Gallery

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Studio Portraits 1

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Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro lighting is a technique that has been used for centuries. It entails the use of a distinct contrast between light and dark.

The above image shows Chiaroscuro lighting techniques where I shot the subject in a dark place and used fluorescent lighting to highlight just parts of my subjects face. The lighting positioned above the subject casts long shadows in a downward fashion to accentuate the facial features of my subject.

Chiaroscuro was used in old renaissance paintings such as this painting from Caravaggio where strong contrast between light and dark can be seen both on the casted shadow on the subjects faces and the background being dark and certain facial features being highlighted.

Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da; Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist

Rembrandt Lighting

Rembrandt Lighting is a lighting technique where light illuminates one side of the face and there is a small triangle of light present on the subjects cheek.

Seen in the above image is my example of where I used Rembrandt Lighting. I used a fluorescent light source on the right side of the subject and casted enough of a shadow so that the nose shadow connects with the cheek shadow to create a small triangle of light on the subjects left cheek.

We use studio lighting to manipulate shadows, accentuate features of a subject, create a mood and manipulate the colour of the background.

Three point lighting is a lighting technique that uses three lights
– the key light, fill light and the back light.

Fill lights are used to fill in the shadows in the background

Key lights are used to light the subject.

Back lights are used to separate the subject from the background by creating a subtle rim of light around the subject.

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz is an American photographer who is known for her alluring portraits of celebrities. She is good at captivating the intimacy of her subjects.

She uses a range of lighting. Such as these images which consist of a more low-key approach on the left and a more high key response on the right

Annie Leibovitz

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