“If we can create portraits of subjects that are true, we thereby in effect create a mirror of the times.”

August Sander was a famous German photographer, born in 1876 and sadly passed in 1964. His passion for photography began to grow when he was a teenager, and by his twenties he was operating his own portrait studio. Sander began his most famous project in the 1920s, named “People of the 20th Century”. This project includes over 600 photos divided into 7 volumes and nearly 50 portfolios. The majority of Sander’s images in this project are in black and white, reflecting the time he was taking portraits. This is also attractive to modern viewers because it shows us what times were likes in the 1920s, which makes us feel closer to the photographer.

Sander captured this image in black and white like all of his other photos. However this one stood out from the rest to me because of the emotion on the man’s face as he is the subject of the image. He is displaying a face of exhaustion, which makes me feel sympathetic towards him. This implies that maybe he does not feel passionate towards his job, and could portray the difficult times in the 1920s. I noticed the background of this image was plain and dull, which could also imply that there is nothing exciting about his job, which again tells us he is miserable. This makes me question why Sander took this photo, and perhaps he is trying to pass a message through it.

This is another image taken by August Sander in 1926. I chose to analyse this image because it differs from the one above in terms of emotion. In this photo, the emotion on the craftsmans face shows more anger, and portrays more dominance than the previous. The subject’s facial expression is one of frustration, and shows us he maybe dislikes his profession also. The subject of the photograph is also centred, which I have noticed is a common theme in Sander’s work. The background is again dull, which contrasts well with the subject making him stand out more. This makes it easy for the viewer to focus on the subject’s emotions. The use of the man holding a prop for the photo also allows us to make the connection between the subject and his job. I think this image creates an emotional response through his body language and facial expressions by the way he is staring into the camera with an intimidating manner.

This is my three favourite photos from this task. They are presented in an art gallery form as a better way to show them off.

I really liked these ones because even before edited i thought they looked better then the rest I also feel like they show very very clearly what the task was a fit in with the inspiration and the environmental portraits.

I like all my pictures but some need improvement the main improvement is probably my photography directing before the photo is taken as lots are the subject looking away from the camera, which isn’t incorrect just not the aim.

Karen Knorr is a a German photographer who’s lived in both America and the UK. She combines animal studies with conceptual art and lifestyle. Her work consists of intricate and meaningful backgrounds with animals as the focus.

Academies was Karen Knorr’s project from 1994 until 2001 where she began experimenting with fine arts transmissions and consumption as well as animal studies. These ideas continued through to her projects Fables (2004-2008) and her most recent projects. She uses heritage sites with rich history and aesthetic and combines feminine subjectivity and animality.

Case Study

This photograph shows a grand house with rich embellishments from an older period. This building radiates wealth and therefore power and so would have been built for someone with lots of influence. Instead of a person that would be associated with such an environment, Karen Knorr photographs birds. There are three birds in frame and all of them are centred in the frame. By placing these birds in such an impressive building it makes these birds seem important and powerful.

This photograph is all in focus because the photographer used a high focal length to capture the whole hall. This is important because it ensures the whole hallway is visible and showcases the fine details to highlight the wealth in the interior design. The interior design of a building is different to the exterior which everyone sees. Only people invited into the building will see all these fine details and wealth. Someone’s interior is only shown to friends, family and close piers. Someone wealthy would host an even to other wealthy individuals to showcase how they deserve to be in elite circles and deserve respect. Being invited into someone’s home is personal and intimate.

There are two different species of bird: the first is a tall, elegant bird and the second is a small, colourful one. The tall one has long, slim legs which showcase a lack of muscle or strength. This bird does not need strength to radiate power as its height towers and its wingspan takes up space showing importance. This bird has neutral colouring with a splash of pink which isn’t showy and instead elegant. Its neck creates an ‘S’ shape which reflects a swans which is associated with femininity, elegance and grace. I think that this elegance makes the bird look at home in its environment. It doesn’t stick out for any reasons other than the fact that its a bird inside of a house which is unusual.

-The small bird has bright green, blue and yellow colouring. It looks out of place for its flamboyant colour and disproportionate size. This bird lacks the elegance that the taller one has and instead reflects a child who accidently stumbled into a showroom. This not only makes everything else seem larger and more sophisticated but also shows elitist biases. The colour palate is muted with exception to the small bird which makes it stand out massively in comparison. This ostracization of the bird through colour shows us through the eyes of the elite how they would view a common folk or ‘outcast’. The birds physical size is representative of its wealth and therefore power in the room. Unlike the tall, powerful bird, this little one does not fit in. The birds small size also makes the viewer look down on it like someone of the elite would.

This photograph is vertical to elongate the doors and make the building seem even taller. This is because high ceilings are associated with wealth and power. In terms of wealth, vertical height requires more materials and space which would require a significant sum of money in the past. All the space is unnecessary for practicality and purely to showcase an abundance of wealth. Height is commonly associated with power because physically something tall towers over everything else, stands apart and looks intimidating. Additionally something tall is powerful because throughout history, height is symbolic of being closer to a heaven above and whatever has been believed to be there. The tall bird also encapsulates this power which is part of why it blends into the environment and almost looks natural.

I believe that this photograph has been created to break down what would typically be expected in an environment and present it in an unconventional way. A grand environment like this would be associated with generational wealth, elegance and importance. Britain is still rooted in a class system which would have impacted Karen Knorr who is currently living here. By moving to the UK she would have an exterior perspective on these beliefs. Karen Knorr took these traits (elegance and importance) and presented them in the form of a bird. Despite the bird meeting these traits it looks unnatural in its environment because its doesn’t meet subconscious and conscious criteria such as being human. By association, we would probably also expect the owner to be on the older side and typically a white male but by using birds which don’t match stereotypes, she’s questioning this subconscious bias in a light-hearted way.

Alternatively this photograph could be approaching an angle of symbolism. Animals throughout history have had meanings associated with them such as a deer with antlers pointing to the sky make them leaders. A lamb is associated with innocence for its pure white colour, soft wool, and eyes. They are prey not predator which signifies helplessness. A sheep is stupid which makes it seem like a brainless herd following animal. However a horned goat is associated with evil because its similar enough to a sheep for a false sense of security but has aggressive tendencies, and large horns which curl around/downwards as opposed to a strong deer with sky grazing antlers. These powerful horns reaching downwards shows strength being drawn from ‘low’ or evil places.

This idea could be associated with the birds. Birds are associated with hope because their flight allows them further transport through the sky which means they can see from height. This has led sea travellers to utilise birds to find land by staving them and letting them try to find food. This has lead to associations with good fortune, new beginnings and hope.

Michelle Sank

Michelle Sank was born in Cape Town Africa, but however has been living in England since 1987. Her images reflect a preoccupation with the human condition and to this end can be viewed as social documentary. Her work encompasses issues around social and cultural diversity. Michelle Sank, “Insula”, Insula was a photoshoot that took place within Jersey, Gurnsey and Sark.

Insula

“Working outside of particular demographic scenarios Sank’s Jersey imagery continues to develop a lyrical vision within which the defining influences are place and cultural geography. As a stranger, present for a limited period only, Sank’s ‘residency photographs’ are of course procured under certain psychological precepts. In April 2013 when she arrived at the Archisle Project to undertake a six month residency, geographic and historical influences also loomed large. There were late twentieth century blanks in the archive to compensate, Jersey’s peculiar British-Norman cultural identity to contemplate, economy, politics, community, work, leisure, environment; these concerns together set against a twenty-first century backdrop.”

Image analysis

The location of this image is a well-known beach in Jersey, from my perspective of living in Jersey I know that this is a popular beach that many people use for many varied reasons, either being to swim, relax or just have an enjoyable time. From an outsider’s point of view, it clearly looks like this photo was taken on a warmer day, giving the reflection that these girls are there to enjoy their summers. The environment of the image gives context to the viewer, this tells a story about the people within the image. With the beach clearly being a public beach, it proves something of their social class, we can see that they may be more middle/lower class due to being on a public beach, one which is more known for being not a genuinely pleasant beach too. We can also interpret this from the girls ages and clothes, we can see that these girls may be in their teens and there clothing does not seem to be anything designer adding more to our assumption of their class and social status. Within the framing of this image, we can see the girls’ whole bodies, showing off their skin due to the warm weather, and may give ideas of their outfits to further add to assumptions of their wealth. The girls are clearly not smiling and are posed in a more formal way which gives off a completely different idea to us if they were posed in a more unformal way. I personally think Sank has posed them in this formal was to contrast their personalities, being their age and wearing those outfits in that setting almost proves how these girls may be more informal so the look of them being formal is a mind twister. Both of the girls are engaging with the cameras, giving a feel that they are looking directly as us, this can connotate to many things, people are generally scared of eye contact, and the idea of the girls staring at you almost makes you want to look away from the camera, they look with more of an angry gaze yet again adding to the peoples fear.  

This image represents a completely different idea than the last photo did. The environment and location of this image are in this lady’s house. We can see that the lady clearly has a cabinet behind her which are filled with things of more wealth and ore meaning hence why they are locked away. Being able to see this we can Invision her social status of something more of the upper class. There is a clear colour scheme going on here of the woman’s dress, her couch, and her curtains’, the colour red has many symbolic meaning’s, sex, anger, power but within this woman’s case it is symbolising something of power. We can see her whole body in frame and her whole entre environment, this gives an idea that she may be happy with her life and proud of what she owns and is wanting to show it off. This woman is looking at the camera in a formal way, but her body posture may be argued as formal or informal, she seems like more of a formal lady trying to assert her power with her body posture. This environmental image stems very differently from the last one I just analysed, proving that depending on the environment and person you are photographing they can all have completely different outcomes.  

Alec Soth is an American photographer who photographs strangers in different parts of America. He targets individuals out and about with unique equipment like tents and suitcases. One of his projects was called ‘Sleeping by the Mississippi’ where he travelled by the river and photographed interesting individuals he past. He aimed for people with a unique story and showcased their characters through props and environment.

This photograph shows an older lady sat on her chair in a large, old house. She is centred in the frame surrounded by woods, patterns and greens. It looks as though there are two images overlaid: one of the house and the second with a tree. There is an out of focus plant also at the front which creates a sense of depth as everything else in frame is further away and sharply in focus.

This photograph is laid out as though the viewer is looking through a window and the trees appear like a reflection. By peeking through a window into the lady’s personal home the viewer is peaking into the woman’s life as homes are used in the media for as a reflection of a person/characters mind and personality. Her home has earth tones and lots of wood which shows a down to earth headspace. She has a plush orange chair which shows her loving/comforting personality. To her side is a large, modern window which lights up the whole room. This shows an open mind and cheerful personality which shines bright despite being realistic and down to earth. Additionally she has a selection of bold patterned cushions and carpets which show an unconventional look on life.

The woman herself is dressed in a green nightdress. Its shape reflects a nightgown which shows how she values comfort. By making the photograph look like its been taken through a window this isn’t necessarily how she would present herself to others and instead how she dresses on her own in the comfort of her own home. Despite being alone in her home, she is dressed well in a clean and tidy dress which shows how she values and cares for herself.

The overlay of greenery shows how she isn’t in a bubble or closed off but overgrown with external influence, has a successful social life and constantly growing as a person. Alternatively it could show what the woman is looking at. Since it looks like a reflection, it seems as though the woman is staring out her window at the woodlands. This could show an appreciation for the plant life but also outside in general which she might’ve taken for granted when she was younger and able to spend long periods of time in. If her house is representative of her mind then this staring out a window could be showing her longing for the outside world around her and what’s past her through the years and therefore her youth. She could be reflecting on her past with regrets or pride or wishes to go back. I believe this could also show a disconnect with the viewer as she is looking at the world around her with appreciation while the viewer is looking inwards at her instead and judging her based on her environment in the comfort of her home. We weren’t invited in were just looking.

The woman is well lit in light colours to make her stand out from the darker background. Additionally she is centred and well lit which draws the eye and showcases that nothing makes up her personality but her. Some people put too much importance into work or material items however this woman understands the balance. The flower in the foreground could represent her love for her garden however since it does not obscure her in away way it shows that she doesn’t let it takeover her life.

This portrait also showcases and highlights the woman’s age. The abundance of bright colours with bold patterns creates a vintage appearance. The background also highlighting outdated maximalist styles with woods, a grand fireplace and an excess of cushions and rugs also looks old in comparison to white, modern minimalistic styles. I believe that the background having an older look is significant because it reflects both the woman’s age and her interests. This tells us a lot about the woman without ever meeting her as interests and experience will impact her personality and therefore her home.

The table shown above includes 6 different environmental portraits by 6 different photographers. Each different photo portrays a different type of environment , the first image portrays a girl and a boy, giving ideas of a relationship between them based on the distance between them maybe one with tensions, the idea of them in the garden and the boys clothing portrays ideas about their social class maybe being a little bit on the lower side. The environment of that image led me too all those connotations, that’s why the environment of your image is so important to the viewer’s, its sets a whole basis for thinking.

Ways in which we use environmental portraits~

Environmental Portraits can be used for many different things, a main reason being business, they are a tool that can help a business connect with its potential clients. They can show a more realistic and authentic representation of a workers everyday routine, which may make the business more appealing, opposed to regular old business headshots. Workplaces, like offices, tend to be flatly and evenly lit, which makes them good for a photoshoot without needing to set up a background. Environmental portraiture offers more options than traditional headshots when it comes to cropping photos. Capturing the subject’s stance, gestures, and corporal expression shows they are real people. Recently, it has become very common to see companies use environmental portraits instead of the classic business portraits or headshots, and it works. However, that doesn’t mean business headshots and environmental portraits are the same thing.

Environmental portraits are powerful tools in photography that convey a subject’s personality and story through their surroundings. Here are several ways to use environmental portraits effectively:

1. Contextual Storytelling: Use the background to provide context about the subject’s life, interests, or profession, enhancing the narrative and allowing viewers to gain insight into who they are.
2. Emphasizing Character: Choose settings that reflect the subject’s personality or hobbies, helping to illustrate their identity and creating a deeper connection with the viewer.
3. Creating Atmosphere: Use lighting and composition to establish a mood or atmosphere that complements the subject, enhancing the emotional impact of the portrait.
4. Capturing Action: Incorporate dynamic elements by photographing subjects engaged in activities relevant to their environment, making the portrait feel more alive and authentic.
5. Incorporating Details: Include objects or elements in the environment that hold significance for the subject, adding layers of meaning and personal touch to the image.
6. Balancing Elements: Use composition techniques to balance the subject with their environment, ensuring the viewer’s eye is drawn to the person while still appreciating the setting.
7. Highlighting Relationships: In group environmental portraits, show interactions among subjects within a shared space, emphasizing connections and relationships.
8. Experimenting with Angles: Explore different perspectives and angles to create unique and compelling compositions that highlight both the subject and their surroundings.
9. Using Natural Light: Leverage natural lighting to enhance the mood and texture of the environment, creating a more organic and engaging portrait.
10. Conveying Emotion: Use the environment to evoke specific emotions, whether it’s warmth, solitude, or vibrancy, aligning the setting with the subject’s feelings or story.

By thoughtfully integrating the subject with their environment, environmental portraits can create rich, engaging images that resonate with viewers and tell powerful stories.

What actually is an environmental portrait?

Environmental portrait photography is the art of taking pictures that will be used to tell a person’s story via its connection to a certain place. This connection often reflects the message that the environmental portrait photographer wants the viewer’s eye to receive. Great portraits of this sort will capture people’s interaction with their natural surroundings to tell strong stories that generate an emotion in the viewer, giving insight into where these people are, what they do and who they are.

An environmental portrait is a type of photography that captures a subject in their natural surroundings, providing context about their life, personality, and interests. Unlike traditional portraits that often focus solely on the subject’s face, environmental portraits incorporate elements of the background to enhance the narrative and emotional impact of the image.

These portraits often showcase the subject engaged in an activity or situated in a setting that is significant to them, such as their home, workplace, or a location that reflects their hobbies or passions. The combination of the subject and their environment helps to tell a more complete story, offering viewers insights into the individual’s identity and lifestyle. Environmental portraits can range from casual and candid to formal and composed, and they are widely used in editorial, documentary, and fine art photography.

Hoe to create a good environmental portrait

1. 1. Get to know the subject. As a photographer, you can increase your subject’s comfort in front of the camera by connecting with them on a personal level. By getting to know them a little, you’ll be able to better figure out the type of shot that reflects who they are. This is a great time to talk about possible locations, such as their workplace, their home, or an urban or natural area where they like to spend time.
2. 2. Get to know the location. Research potential locations to understand the layout and available lighting conditions so that you can come properly equipped with the right gear. Test out different portrait lighting setups if necessary to ensure you’ll get what you need.
3. 3. Make a plan. Have a few shots in mind that you know you want to capture, especially if you’re working with natural light. Depending on the available light or present colors, you may also want to instruct your subject on what they should wear, or some particular poses to try.

To create a good environmental portrait, start by choosing a location that reflects the subject’s personality, interests, or profession, ensuring it enhances the narrative of the image. Pay attention to composition by framing the subject thoughtfully within their surroundings, using elements like leading lines or the rule of thirds to guide the viewer’s eye. Utilize natural light for a softer, more organic feel, and consider the time of day to capture the best lighting conditions. Engage the subject in an activity or pose them naturally within the environment to convey authenticity and emotion. Finally, include meaningful details in the background that add depth to the story, ensuring the focus remains on the subject while still allowing the environment to play a significant role in the portrait.

Reviewing the Photos

Reviewing the photos after a photoshoot is a crucial step in ensuring the quality and integrity of the final images. This process allows photographers to assess the composition, lighting, focus, and overall aesthetic of each shot, ensuring that they have captured the intended vision and achieved the desired results.

Taking a close look at every detail is essential for identifying any potential issues or areas for improvement. Pay attention to composition and framing, ensuring that elements within the frame are well-balanced and visually appealing. Check for proper exposure and lighting, making adjustments as needed to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere of the images.

For this photo I really liked it and thought it would really work being black and white but I hated how there was a gloomy dark background not making him or the environment stand out enough. I also thought that it would look cool in black and white but to have the subtle vibrancy of red from poppies and his badges so they stand out a bit more.

These images are from my Environmental Portraits, for my Nostalgia Project.

5 – 4 star rated photos:

(These are also white flagged – meaning they consist of clearly taken photos and matched my desired outcome).

These Photos, too me, capture a similar, composition and fixed focal point of a person in an environment like how Environmental Portrait photographers: August Sander and Alec Soth took their photos.

3 – 2 star rated photos:

(These are also white flagged – meaning they consist of mostly clearly taken photos or just didn’t fit the look I was going for).

I would improve upon these images by timing up the shot better and perhaps taking them with a tripod to stabilise the long shutter-speed. These images do display some good qualities however, such as lighting and and use of aperture to create a more focused effect on the person.

2 – 1 star rated photos:

(These are black flagged meaning they do not appeal to what I was aiming for during this photoshoot).

Camera Settings:

Best Images:

I will edit these Images as my first Edits in the style of my studied Environmental Portraits.

Arnold Newman was generally known as the 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.

Arnold Newman became well know for his distinctive approach to portraiture, where he would capture the person/ subject in their job or their natural surroundings. He didn’t ask the person to pose in a studio or in a particular way, instead he took a more realistic approach which told an insightful story of their life. Newman wanted to create depth and composition in his portraits, so he had equipment set up in a particular way, possible poses, and a floor plan ideas as he really wanted to show the relation between the person and their natural surroundings. This engages the viewer, showing a story and connection.

The photo makes me really interested because I can see into his studio where he does his work. I think having the photo in black and white makes you look closer into the background filled with his paintings, as from a distance all you can see if unique shapes filled with tones and shades that blend together creating this chaotic, but engaging scene to look at. I think having him sat in an informal position at the bottom right, with not much facial expression, makes him blend in almost with his studio behind, creating this feeling that Newman didn’t just want to make the portrait purely of Picasso. Instead he wanted to engage the viewer from a different perspective, which I think is what makes the environmental portrait of him more engaging, because it makes us wonder what he is doing, creating lots of focal points for the viewer.

The photo looks like it is captured in the natural light, that brightens up various parts of the portrait which I think makes it more effective because it shows it, in that moment. This emphasizes parts creating soft and intricate textures in his studio, leading your eye closer into the photo.

Newman has captured Marilyn Monroe and Carl Sandburg sat in his flat. The piece is know for the composition where they are sat glancing at one another, engaging with the camera from a different perspective. Also, the photo captures Monroe’s more glamorous, and public persona, whereas Sandburg is more serious, and is sat more naturally. Newman may have decided to do this to show the contrast between their personalities, which is expressed in a clear way to the viewer. I like how the photo is taken close up which creates an abstract portrait, leading your eye straight to the subjects. As the viewer, I think we engage more with the photo from a side angle, as it makes you look closer because we want to find out their expressions. The lighter areas are around the face which makes you focus on that area more, noticing subtle, soft tones which enhances these areas more, creating a short but engaging depth.

Environmental Portaiture is a style of portrait photography that aims to capture a subject in their normal/natural environment or surroundings. Instead of seperating the subject infront of a basic background, environmental poraiture tries to portray more about the person or subject by including parts of their daily life, work or surroundings. The background is an important part of the storytelling process, it can provide clues into the subject`s personality, interests and lifestyle. Normally these photos involve locations that are meaningful to the subject. Photographers may decide to take environmental portraits in various settings like a workplace or someones home or any place that highlights the emotion or feeling they want to give, the goal is to create a more real, authentic representation of the subject. Environmental Portraiture involves alot of planning and consideration of the composition, lighting and the overall visual in the setting.