Environmental Portraits depict people in their working environments or environments they are associated with.
They are portraits which are taken in the subjects natural surroundings, such as their home or workplace, that illuminates the subjects life and surroundings.
Arnold Newman
Pioneer of environmental portrait, while also being known for his still life and abstract photography. He is considered as one of the most influential photographers in the 20th century. Newman’s environmental approach to portraiture was greatly influenced by impressionism and symbolism, which attracts the viewer no matter how well we know what the focus is.
Chiaroscuro is a high contrast lighting technique, creating contrast between the subject and a dark background. Chiaroscuro portraits first came about during the 15th century, then continued to develop during the 16th century. The dark subjects were lighted by a small source of light, that illuminated parts of the subject, which overall achieved the contrast between light and dark. To create this effect a single light is used to create the brighter effect on the subject, but also stands out from the contrasting dark background.
The New Topographics
Beginning in the 1970s, a group of photographers including Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz and Nickolas Nixon were associated with the 1975 exhibition New Topographic; this was Photographs of man- altered landscapes. The exhibition displayed their work, it showed how they focused on different kind of landscapes rather than those found naturally or at national parks. They showed landscape photography in a new way, focusing on urban landscape areas around America post-war, such as suburban areas like freeways, gas stations, or industrial parks. This was a new reflection to the suburban world around them, as they began to explore different and new ways of capturing landscapes.
Robert Adams:
Henri Cartier Bresson & The Decisive Moment
When shooting his photos, he captured people as they were relying on his eye to capture the perfect moment, while staying virtually unseen and in the background enabling him to capture the right candid photo . This became effective, as shooting from the background using a smaller lensed camera meant he was unnoticeable. Capturing the perfect composition of the decisive moment was very important. Henri Cartier Bresson viewed his work as a ‘sensual pleasure’ to see shapes and geometry, as these elements were arranged along with human subjects. When taking his photos, he looked for specific details other than the subject in the perfect moment, such as lines, triangles, squares, shadows, curves and shapes.
Read two texts above (John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Pearl) and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay.
Select two images, one that represent a mirror and another that represents a window as examples to use in your essay.
Use some of the key words that you listed above to describe what the mirrors and windows suggest.
Essay plan Introduction (250 words): Reflect on the origin of photography and describe in your own words the difference between the two photographic processes, Daguerreotype and Calotype. Consider how they could be viewed as either a mirror or a window of the world according to John Szarkowski’s thesis. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s text and comment if you agree or disagree.
Invented in 1839, Daguerreotype was the name of the process and what the resulting image was called. With this being one of the first commercially available processes was what made it so popular. The process created a very detailed image on a copper plated sheet, which was a positive image that could not be produced . The silver copper plated sheet was polished and treated with fumes making it light sensitive. Within the same year of 1839 Henry fox talbot developed the same process which he named calotype. These stages were called developing, fixing and printing, producing a paper negative which could be printed over and over again. He discovered that actually exposing light for a long time onto photographic paper revealed an image. However after experimenting with this, it revealed an image that was produced after a very short exposure time, but this image was not fixed.- only becoming fixed when removing the light sensitive solution through using a chemical solution meaning the image could be reviewed in bright lights. The resulting image was called the calotype.
Daguerreotype and Calotype could be described as mirror photos, as both processes involved a reflection of the image. The images created are done by a staged process meaning the image doesn’t just reflect on the page straight away, chemicals and fumes are involved to make it light sensitive. Although the exterior world is portrayed throughout this process
John Szarkowski’s theory suggested in 1978 that ‘a photograph could be measured in terms of what people’s conceptions were of what the photograph is; a mirror – that is reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it,’ this could be described through a window, through which one might better know the world?’ Both personal visions
Bring in John Szarkowski’s theory around mirrors and windows and provide an overview of how a Daguerreotype could be viewed as a mirror image(reflection of a metal plate, subjects photographed often portraits, rather than landscape. Similarly, with Calotype could be seen as a window)
Paragraph 1 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a mirror and analyse how it is a subjective expression and staged approach to image-making. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review which either supports or opposes Szarkowski’s original point of view. Make sure you comment to advance argumentation in providing a critical perspective.
Untitled – Hannah Starkey, October 1998
Hannah Starkey ‘reconstructs scenes’ from everyday life staged photographs of women within city environments, her work is primarily created in London. She The photograph portrays a subjective expression as she depicts how women engage with regular routines, like sitting in cafes.
‘a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of the world.’
Paragraph 2 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a window and analyse how it is an objective expression rooted in the notion of realism. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review and follow similar procedure as above ie. two opposing points of view and commentary to provide a critical perspective.
Henri Cartier Bresson: Children in Seville, Spain 1933
Children in Seville, by Henri Cartier Bresson, displays a window view. This is evidently shown through the way in which Bresson has captured the photo, in the ‘Decisive moment.’ The children are unaware they are being captured which expresses the notion of realism throughout. “A window, through which one might better know the world?” John Szarkowski 1978, portrays this unknown story that is displayed, but only you can see it when you look through a window. In relation to Cartier Bresson’s style of the decisive moment , capturing people as they are unaware shows, In relation to a contemporary style
“a window, through which one might better know the world?” John Szarkowski 1978
Conclusion (250 words): Refer back to the essay question and write a conclusion where you summarise Szarkowski’s theory and Pearl’s review of his thesis. Describe differences and similarities between the two images above and their opposing concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, realism and romanticism, factual and fiction, public and private.
I began to experiment with the front cover, I knew I wanted a simple but engaging front page that would immediately catch your eye, making you want to fick through.
I played around with the layouts having an more zoomed in angle of the photo, while also having the title just off the centre, that aligns with the bouys in the water. The small detail draws you in, as it leads your eyes into the photo as its in a sequencing order.
I then started to experiment with different versions of the same photograph that would be displayed on a double page spread, with one being in black and white- showing an interesting contrast, while the other being in colour – bringing out the interesting colours and highlights. I thought each gave a unique photo, however the colour version really stood out to me because I found the colour schemes went nicely alongside the the first photo – the fishermans boots, as it related more, showing a sequencing story.
Originally I wanted to
Final:
I wanted the portrait of Captain Brian Nibbs, to be the very last photo inside the zine, giving the impression he he was overall incharge of the fishing,
During 1928, it was the invention of photography, and was described as ‘fixing the shadows.’ In terms of ‘shadows’ this could imply whatever the subject could have been, and what we see. As the camera was invented the image or shadows we see, were then fixed in terms of they weren’t just there when you looked to see them, instead they were brought to life through the image produced on the camera.
It was the frame around the image that was important, and what was further told beyond, through intuition. Photography turned the ordinary in the extra ordinary, displaying secrets beyond the world from what the people saw giving away specific moments, while keeping secrets from people.
This process created one off images which was described as mirror of the memory. The light operates differently as its being reflected. The images produced where best described as not alive but on edge of being present, taking hours if not days to be produced.
A plate was added to the camera that was polished , print was scratched and later poured with water.
Camera Obscura & Pinhole photography
It began by using camera obscura, which is essentially a small camera box with a small whole in, which is how the image was created. The small whole is a tight beam of light that pours into the camera box. Light was reflected off of objects in the natural world entering the box through a lens of the small hole, and projected an upside down image on the opposing side. The pinhole was the lens, so if made smaller it achieved s sharper but dimmer image,, however if made too small there would be no image due to diffraction. Later on in practice , a lens was used rather than a pinhole, as this gives a larger aperture, so gives a correct brightness and stable focus.
Camera Obscura has been used since the 16th century, being a popular method used to help with drawings and paintings. The technology was further developed during the 19th century, as the camera box was later used to expose light sensitive objects and materials projecting the image. This method was effectively used to capture solar eclipses, as you weren’t at risk of directly looking at the sun. It produced highly accurate images which could later be used and studied.
JosephNicephore Niepce & Heliography
The photographic process began in France named after Nicephore Niepce. Niepce is well known for making the earliest known photograph by nature that survived.
He new that by using Bitumen de Judea which is an acid resistant natural tar, would harden with exposure to light. So in experiments he use this to coat particular metals such as plates of glass, zinc, copper/ silver surfaced copper plus many more, which resulted in the surface that was exposed to the most light produced lavender oil and petroleum, leaving the uncoated shadow to be revealed through acid etching (acid cut into the metal revealing a design) as well as aquatint (revealed lines and tones, otherwise known for how colour was made).
Having limited success using light sensitive paper and a handmade camera obscura, didn’t however reveal a permanent image. So he adapted the process using low sensitivity estimating the exposure time would be 8 hours.
Below, the photograph is a View from the Window at Le Gras by Nicéphore Niépce, it is a heliographic image also know the oldest surviving image made by a camera.
Invented by Louis Daguerre during1940s and 1950s, ‘Daguerreotype,’ the name of the process and what the end image is called, was the most commonly used photographic process. During this period it was one of the first publicly available process used to make photographs, which is what made it so popular.
This process was created with a very detailed image on a copper plated sheet, then with another thin layer of silver. This was all without the use of a negative, making it only a positive process. To make the image the daguerreotypist would polish a sheet of silver plated copper until a mirror finish was displayed, treating it with fumes that made it light sensitive, then was highly exposed for as long as it was necessary until a latent image was produced, only visible by fuming it with mercury liquid vapor.
Between 1800 – 1877, Talbot developed three primary stages of photography , developing, fixing and printing. He found that exposing light onto photographic paper, would actually produce an image, however this process required a long time to create an image. Soon after, he accidently discovered there was an image produced after a very short exposure – although this was only seen when chemically developed. The image was fixed with a chemical solution, which removed the light-sensitive silver enabling the picture to be viewed in bright lights. Talbot realised he could repeat the process of printing from the negative , allowing this process to make any number of positive prints called ‘calotype.’
Richard Maddox
During 1871, Richard Maddox was an English photographer who invented ‘the lightweight dry gelatine plate’ process used for photography. Exposure happened while the emulsion was still wet and was further processed immediately, after exposure in the camera.
However his health started to become effected by the wet collodions ether vapour so he started to look for a substitute. So he suggested that chemical such as cadmium bromide and silver nitrate should be coated in a glass process of gelatine. Gelatine became useful when examining things under the microscope, with its specific use of holding and preserving things on a slide under a microscope. So he would trail a number of plates, exposing them through contact printing, by using other negatives and different exposure trials.
An advantage of this was that photographer could use commercial dry plates, which saved them making and preparing their own emulsions in a hand made darkroom. Cameras were later made to be hand held , had fast exposure times leading to snapshot photography leading to cinematography.
Eastman was an American Entrepreneur founded the Eastman Kodak company. After spending lots of time experimenting in photography he sold a roll film camera which meant that amateur photography was now available to the general public for the first time.
Originally he had worked at a bank, before becoming interested in photography and later became the founder of Eastman Dry plate company which sold plates. In 1885, he experimented on creating flexible film rolls that could replace plates altogether and later given a license allowing him to sell the film roll. Then he switched his focus onto creating a camera where he could use it. In 1888 he was allowed to release, which was called the Kodak camera. Having film which could cover up as many as 100 exposures. After it had been used the camera was then sent back to Eastman Kodak company, where the company would process the film, make a print of each exposure, load another film, then send the camera back to the photographer.
Eastman became aware that most of his revenue came from the camera rolls rather than actual camera. So he primarily focused on selling this making it good quality and affordable to all. He also sold his camera rolls to other manufacturers.
Kodak otherwise known as brownie was a series of camera models made by George Eastman which was first released in the 1900s. Introducing snapshot photography, meant that it was very expensive costing families their wage for that whole month. A basic cardboard box camera with a very simple convex-concave lens (disperses a light beam by diffraction). It was invented for the Eastman Kodak Company, initially it was aimed at children, aiming for them to popularise photography. However the very simple design and operation meant it could produce very good results under the right conditions, therefore making it popular for all audiences.
Many iconic shot were taken on the Brownie. Bernice Palmer used Kodak Brownie 2A model A to photograph the iceberg that sunk the titanic, the survivors, the ship Palmer travelled on. Also they were taken to war used by soldiers.
Film/Print photography is a strip of a transparent film base, with one side coated with gelatine emulsion with small microscopically light sensitive crystals. The sizes of the crystals determines the the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film. Each frame on the film separates each photograph.
Black and white photographic film consist of only one layer of silver halide crystals, which when exposed to light the silver halide is converted to metallic silver. This blocks the light, appearing as the black part of the film negative. Colour film has three sensitising layers, combining three sensitising dyes, the first layer is blue, followed by they yellow which stops any blue dye from mixing with the below layers. Again just like the black and white film, the silver crystals are converted to a metallic silver. The by products are combined with the chemicals which produce the coloured dyes.
Digital Photography uses cameras that contain arrays of electronic photodetector which interface to an analogue converter which produces images that are focused by a lens rather than the exposure on a photographic film. Digital images are created mostly by computer, without having to process the image in chemicals. Originally chemicals were used in the process to create the image as this would develop and stabilise it.
During the early 20th century digital photography had started becoming more mainstream, with smaller developments being made.
Digital cameras were marketed in the late 1990s, where professionals slowly started to use the cameras as much of their work required using digital files as demand was high. Then digital camera’s were made on phones.
Robert Cornelius was an American photographer. His daguerreotype self-portrait was was taken in 1839 and was know for being the first accepted portrait taken in the United States. A portrait is a representation of a person in which the face is always the main focus, the person is often looking at the photographer which successfully engages the subject with the viewer. The photo isn’t a sap shot, it is a composed image of person that displays potential characteristics for the viewer such as their personality, mood, and likeness.
Julia Margeret Cameron & Pictorialism
Inspired by illustrative images from mythology, Christianity and literature, she depicts this through her soft focus close-up images of famous Victorian men. ‘Soft Focus’ is an effect made when fine textures are blurred making sharp edges across the high contrasted areas.
With connections to pictorialism
Pictorialism is an art movement strongest between 1885 and 1915. There was no true meaning behind pictorialism, it was best described as a ‘focused on the beauty of subject matter and the perfection of composition rather than the documentation of the world as it is‘
During the early 19th century, Saint Helier Harbour was constructed becoming the main Harbour in Jersey Channel Islands. Located on the South coast of Jersey, the harbour has three main marinas holding private yatchs, drying habours, commercial havbours, as well as a dock for cargo ships.
What is now called the English Harbour and French Harbour, was where ships used to come into the town. Then the Chambour of Commerce urged the States to build a new updated harbour, however they refused which resulted in them building it themselves in 1790. Merchants began constructing roads leading from the harbour to the town in 1814, now known as Commercial Buildings and Le Quai des Merchands. Construction later finished in 1832 on the sea wall at the Esplanade. Shipping expanded rapidly, which led to States of Jersey building two new piers; Victoria and Albert Pier.
Main Harbour – This is for commercial vessels, located alongside Victoria Quay and New North Quay.
Elizabeth Harbour – Now used as a Ferry terminal: ferries to and from Saint Malo, Guernsey, Portsmouth and Sark.
La Collette Yacht Basin Marina, Saint Helier Marina and Elizabeth Marina was build in 1980, now home to Jersey’s Commercial Fishing Fleet.
The channel islands were separated from mainland Europe, due to rising sea levels in the Neolithic period. After maritime activity began, they desperately needed start trading so over time they became more advanced, built up skills, started earning money and investing capital in maritime businesses.
Roman hoards had later been discovered, however people were unsure of the reason for being on Jersey. Evidence of Roman settlements on the Island show intricate trading networks.
1950 in Canada, After Charles Robins arrival permanent fishing stations were established, having had a com-mission he was given the privilege of trading cod/ other types fish.
What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?
Between the 15th to the 18th century, technical and navigation improvements were made enabling ships to have the ability to sail out of sight from land for days. This meant that trade could increase across the channel, and so became involved in the Canadian cod-fisheries. Cod Merchants from Britain were beginning to set up fisheries on the Gaspe coast. The islands were given concessions which were then traded, including dried cod from Newfoundland and Gaspe coast, cloth, wine, wool, leather and household goods.
Jersey’s maritime history of trade and cod triangle links with South America, Newfoundland and Gaspe. Trading mahogany and cod reveal toe between Jersey and the transatlantic slave trade.
Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?& What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?
Jersey cod merchants traded cod across the channel, where the islands were given concessions.
Jersey Merchants were heavily involved in the Atlantic trade, otherwise known as the ‘merchant triangle.’ They traded with concessions such as agricultural or manufactured goods/ products, in which were exchanged in the British Empire, as well as other European colonies in the Caribbean, South America and the Mediterranean.
In the 18th century Charles Robins was one of Jersey’s premier cod-merchants, who later formed markets in Canada, producing two types of cod suitable for where they were later exported too.
Salted cod otherwise known as ‘green’ cod was more ideal for selling on the markets in the Caribbean or North East Brazil as this was fresher which was a shorter run in the triangular Atlantic trade. This type was now called ‘West India Fish,’ which was sold to planters to then feed to its enslaved populations in hope to increase the productivity in the plantations, as it was protein rich. In exchange, Robin would load his ship with plantation produce such as sugar, rum, molasses, cotton, coffee and tobacco before sailing across on the third leg of the Atlantic triangular trade route to the Mediterranean, England and Jersey.
Dry-cured cod, also known as ‘yellow’ was marketed as a premier product and sold to markets in Europe, such as Portugal, Spain and Italy, with their large Roman Catholic populations, fish was in great demand. From ports in Lisbon, Cadiz and Naples merchants traded cod-fish for other products such as salt (used in the curing process), wine, spirits, fruits and spices which they brought back to Jersey and British ports before returning to Canada.
For this picture story, I really like the contrast between the black and white image and the coloured image, I think this is a really effective and engaging layout. These are two formal portraits, showing you their profession as there in there uniforms, and their difference in expressions which could imply how they feel about their job. At first, you would assume the image was the same but only in colour, however you notice its a different image on the right, giving you a different story.
Using photoshop, I thought it would be interesting to explore making the subject stand out as I had originally liked both black and white versions, so I made the subjects in colour whilst still having a black and white background. This overall created a unique contrasted background.
