About Arnold Newman: Born in 1918, Newman was a pioneer of the environmental portrait based in New York
Arnold Newman is well known for being one of the most important photographers of the 20th century in regards to environmental portraits. His portraits popularized environmental portraiture, telling a story about the subject and in there environment giving us clues into their life and personality, symbolizing the individuals life and work. In 2006 Newman was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum.
His Photography
Chosen image
Visual
In this image the main focus is the prominent background however some may argue that even with all of Picassos amazing art and experiments, our eyes are drawn to the artist himself. Picasso is slightly off centre. As he is sitting on his chair backwards, we could assume from this that he is comfortable and relaxed in his place of work and the environment he’s in as the pose and positioning of the man is neutral and nonchalant. The background of this photo is busy, filled with artworks and creations the man has made showing what this man does for a passion and living. The tone of this image is in black and white creating a greater contrast. This gives the photo a serious feel.
Technical
The lighting seems to be natural lighting from windows as the room illuminates from the right side of the image where windows may be although it is hard to tell as the photo is in black and white.
The portrait is framed so that the majority of the studio is visible. This tells us that a wide angle lens was used as a larger range of the scene is in focus. We could also interpret that a mid to small aperture was used such as f/8-f/11. Newman most likely used a wider lens angle as the environment of this portrait is very interesting due to the amounts of artwork and fascinating walls. Also, we are also able to predict that Newman either used a tripod or used a fast shutter speed as this photo has no movement or blurriness but is instead is still.
Contextual
In 1956 Newman travelled to Cannes to photograph Pablo Picasso in his studio (which Pablo recently moved into the previous year) capturing all of Picassos original pieces in the place it was created, which is what gave the image its striking background. Newman shooting these photos in Picasso’s studio shows us into the artists world.
August Sanderand Typologies
About August Sander:
His Photography
Chosen Image
Title: Young Farmers 1914
Visual
There are three suited young men walking along a rural path in this image, these men are the main focal point of the image. They are looking directly at the camera however, their bodies are turned away from the camera. All three men have neutral expressions and natural body language. We could imply from this image that the men are Upper Class due to there expensive style and suits which was normalized for upper class people to wear in 1914. This image also suggests that the men are off to go somewhere as it looks like this photo was captured mid stride. This image is in black and white which conveys a feeling of seriousness which applies well to this image and adds a contrast of light and dark to the the main subject (the men and there suits) and the background.
Technical
This photo was taken outside meaning that the lighting is natural. The lighting is position from above, most likely from the sun.
This portrait is framed so that the men are the main subject making the background irrelevant. In addition to the background being irrelevant, it is also blurred showing it is not as important as the men. Due to the blurry background we can tell that Sander used a shallow depth of field caused by a large aperture and focal length of the lens. This image was taken with a large format glass plate camera and was also mounted on a tripod.
Contextual
This photo was captured my August Sander in 1914, forming part of a series on rural people residing in the low mountain region of Westerwald. This was taken shortly before he joined the medical corps at the outbreak of the first world war. One of the most interesting things about this image is that the men being a higher status is just an illusion. The fashionable clothing and posture created the illusion of 3 upper class men, when in reality one worked in an iron ore mine whilst the other worked in the mines office. This image tells us how reality can be mis-leaded by a formal appearance.
Chiaroscuro– Chiaroscuro means light and dark in Italian. It is the transition between light and dark ,the chiaroscuro lighting technique can be defined simply as high contrast lighting. You use the extremes of dark and light to create an arresting image. It can be used in colour or black and white photography.
These are some examples I got of the internet. This way of taking photos was invented by Lucas Cranach or as some believe Leonardo de Vinci. These are examples of how it can look.
This is one of my attempt of split lighting and this is the original image before I edited it.
This one of the edited versions I put this one in black and white and increased the highlight and the shadows I also increased the exposure.
This is another version I edited I cropped this and increased the shadows and removed some of the texture on her skin.
These are my comparisons from before and after editing them.
This photo is my favourite one and one of the only ones I have edited but these are some of the other photos I took.
Below are some INSTRUCTIONS AND INSPIRATIONS for you to experiment with creative portraiture outcomes.
YOUR BLOG POST/S
Create a Blog Post called ‘Creative Portraits‘ and complete the following:
Choose a 1-2 styles from the below experiments.
Research the inspiration behind the particular style and….
Recreate your own edits in the style you have chosen (using or existing portrait photos or take some more).
Experiments:
DOUBLE/ MULTI-EXPOSURE: layer or merge two or three images into one portrait- View Tutorial Here
JUXTAPOSITION: Place two images together to show contrast / similarities / symbolise something. This can be two portraits or a portrait juxtaposed with an object / environment / abstract image
MONTAGE: Select an appropriate set of portraits and create a montage of layered images in Photoshop as an A3 document.
DOUBLE / MULTI-EXPOSURES
Double or multiple exposures are an illusion created by layering images (or portions of images) over the top of each other. This can be achieved in the camera settings, or on Adobe Photoshop by creating LAYERS and then using BLENDING OPTIONS and OPACITY CONTROL, but also by erasing through parts of layers to reveal parts of other images.
Artist have used these techniques to explore Surrealist Ideas and evoke dream-like imagery, or imagery that explores time / time lapse.
Man Ray:
Alexander Rodchenko:
Claude Cahun:
Idris Khan:
Idris Khan, Every…Bernd And Hilla Becher Gable Sided Houses. 2004 Photographic print 208 x 160 cm
Since 1959 Bernd and Hilla Becher have been photographing industrial structures that exemplify modernist engineering, such as gas reservoirs and water towers. Their photographs are often presented in groups of similar design; their repeated images make these everyday buildings seem strangely imposing and alien. Idris Khan’s Every Bernd And Hilla Becher… series appropriates the Bechers’ imagery and compiles their collections into single super-images. In this piece, multiple images of American-style gabled houses are digitally layered and super-imposed giving the effect of an impressionistic drawing or blurred film still.
Lewis Bush, Trading Zones:
Tiffany Sutton:
Michael Betzner:
More ideas:
JUXTAPOSITION
Juxtaposition is placing two images together to show contrast or similarities. For inspiration look at some of the page spreads from ED.EM.03 where pairings between portraits of Henry Mullins and Michelle Sank are juxtaposed to show comparison/ similarities/ differences between different social and professional classes in Jersey mid-19th century and early 21 st century.
For inspiration look also at the newspapers: LIBERATION / OCCUPATION and FUTURE OF ST HELIER produced by past A2 photography students and the publication GLOBAL MARKET by ECAL.
LIBERATION / OCCUPATION newspaper 25 April 2020
FUTURE OF SY HELIER newspaper 18 Sept 2019
Becque á Barbe: Face to Face: A portrait project about Jèrriais – the island of Jersey’s native language of Norman French. Each portrait is titled with a Jèrriais word that each native speaker has chosen to represent a personal or symbolic meaning, or a specific memory linked to his or her childhood. Some portraits are darker in tonality to reflect the language hidden past at a time when English was adopted as the formal speech in Jersey and Jèrriais was suppressed publicly and forbidden to be spoken in schools.
Juxtaposed with portraits of Jèrriais speakers are a series of photographs of Jersey rocks that are all designated as Sites of Special Interest (SSIs); important geological outcrops that are protected from development and preserved for future public enjoyment and research purposes. The native speakers of Jersey French should be classified as People of Special Interest (PSIs) and equally be protected from extinction through encouraging greater visibility and recognition as guardians of a unique language that are essential in understanding the island’s special character.
Nikita Pirogov:
Alicja Brodowicz:
Unknown artist…
PHOTO-MONTAGE
Photomontage is the process and the result of making a composite photograph by cutting, gluing, rearranging and overlapping two or more photographs into a new image.
Try using textures and frames to add to your process ; you can find some pre-saved examples here
M:\Radio\Departments\Photography\Students\Resources\Frames and textures PHOTOSHOP
The roots of this process is in Dadaism and political artists such as Hannah Hoch…Known for her incisively political collages and photomontages (a form she helped pioneer), Hannah Höch appropriated and recombined images and text from mass media to critique popular culture, the failings of the Weimar Republic, and the socially constructed roles of women. After meeting artist and writer Raoul Hausmann in 1917, Höch became associated with the Berlin Dada group, a circle of mostly male artists who satirized and critiqued German culture and society following World War I. She exhibited in their exhibitions, including the First International Dada Fair in Berlin in 1920, and her photomontages received critical acclaim despite the patronizing views of her male peers. She reflected, “Most of our male colleagues continued for a long while to look upon us as charming and gifted amateurs, denying us implicitly any real professional status.”
Russian Constructivism
El Lissitsky
Russian Constructivism was the last and most influential modern art period to flourish in Russia in the 20th-century. Looking back in 1924, the painter Kazimir Malevich wrote: “We have drawn two conclusions from Cubism, one is Suprematism, the other Constructivism…” Like Suprematism, Russian Constructivism was formed in 1914, before the October Revolution in 1917…
John Stezaker :
Mask XIV 2006
John Stezaker: Is a British artist who is fascinated by the lure of images. Taking classic movie stills, vintage postcards and book illustrations, Stezaker makes collages to give old images a new meaning. By adjusting, inverting and slicing separate pictures together to create unique new works of art, Stezaker explores the subversive force of found images. Stezaker’s famous Mask series fuses the profiles of glamorous sitters with caves, hamlets, or waterfalls, making for images of eerie beauty.
His ‘Dark Star’ series turns publicity portraits into cut-out silhouettes, creating an ambiguous presence in the place of the absent celebrity. Stezaker’s way of giving old images a new context reaches its height in the found images of his Third Person Archive: the artist has removed delicate, haunting figures from the margins of obsolete travel illustrations. Presented as images on their own, they now take the centre stage of our attention
Kensuoke Koike:
Thomas Sauvin and Kensuke Koike: ‘No More, No Less’ In 2015, French artist Thomas Sauvin acquired an album produced in the early 1980s by an unknown Shanghai University photography student. This volume was given a second life through the expert hands of Kensuke Koike, a Japanese artist based in Venice whose practice combines collage and found photography. The series, “No More, No Less”, born from the encounter between Koike and Sauvin, includes new silver prints made from the album’s original negatives. These prints were then submitted to Koike’s sharp imagination, who, with a simple blade and adhesive tape, deconstructs and reinvents the images. However, these purely manual interventions all respect one single formal rule: nothing is removed, nothing is added, “No More, No Less”. In such a context that blends freedom and constraint, Koike and Sauvin meticulously explore the possibilities of an image only made up of itself.
Jesse Draxler:
Ole Christiansen (Danish): A special preoccupation has been music photography, portraits, but also – often strongly graphically emphasized urban landscapes which is reflected in his portraiture . Ole has over the years provided pictures for a myriad of books, magazines, record covers, annual reports, etc.
In addition to complete the work listed above, you are expected to show evidence of the following three EEEs on the blog for the work on Creative Portraits
EDITING: For each portrait shoot produce a contact-sheet, select and adjust your BEST 3 IMAGES in Photoshop using basic tools such as cropping, contrast, tonality, colour balance, monochrome. Describe also the lighting setup using an image from ‘behind the scenes’, ie. key light, back light, fill light, use of reflectors, gels etc.
EXPERIMENTING: Complete at least 2 out of these 3 experiments on DOUBLE/ MULTIPLE EXPOSURE, JUXTAPOSITION, AND MONTAGE (see more details below). Make sure you demonstrate creativity and produce at least 3 different variations of the same portrait experiment.
EVALUATING: Compare your portrait responses/ experiments and provide some analysis of artists work and images below that has inspired your ideas and shoots. Use this Photo-Literacy matrix:
Follow the 10 Step Process and create multiple blog posts for each unit to ensure you tackle all Assessment Objectives thoroughly :
Mood-board, Mind-map of ideas (AO1)definition and introduction (AO1)
Statement of Intent / proposal
Artist References / Case Studies (must include image analysis) (AO1)
Photo-shoot Action Plan (AO3)
Multiple Photoshoots + contact sheets (AO3)
Image Selection, sub selection, review and refine ideas (AO2)
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. The term is most frequently used of a genre of photography.
MoodBoard
Analysis
Peter Houguez, Cattle farmer, Goodlands, St Ouen, Jersey, Channel Islands, 27 May 2014
Lighting: this photo was taken indoors with a source of light from an open door with natural light. The direction of light was from the right side of the photo.
Environment: the location this photo was taken in a barn of cows. This tells us that this farmer is at work milking the cows using traditional milking machine.
Framing and Approach: in this photo the photo captures a full length body photo of the man sitting down. This photo seems to be informal as its taken midway through the man doing his job. In addition to this, we can see he has a natural facial expression from his side profile as well as a natural pose sitting down. In this photo there are also a vary of cows who are captured whilst they are naturally walking around.
Gaze: This mans gaze is averted as he is not looking directly at the camera. This links to the photo being informal and un-posed.
Environmental Portraits are images normally consisting of a singular subject in their usual environment (like work, or their hobbies). These images help to provide context to the person in the image, and give clues as to what they like to do/ do often. The reason I think photographers take images like this is to represent what the subject sees and what you don’t see in their lives. A lot of these photographers aim to tell a story to connect the people to the things they love most.
Mood Board
This is a generalised version of a collection of images that photographers have taken to represent an overall view on what environmental portraits are. A lot of these images have the subject facing the camera and looking into the lens, which is a known feature for this topic.
Arnold Newman
Arnold Abner Newman was an American photographer (1918-2006), known for his “environmental portraits” of artists and politicians. In 2006, he was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. He is extremely well-known within the photography community, for his eerie images like the Alfred Krupp photograph.
Alfred Krupp
Alfred Krupp was a German industrialist and the owner of the Krupp family steelworks, one of the largest and most influential enterprises of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Essen, Germany. After becoming an infamous industrial inventor, he earned the nickname ‘The Cannon King’. Krupp’s employment and use of slave labour resulted in the ‘Krupp Trial’ which lasted from 1947-48, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison but only ended up serving 3 years and was released in 1951.
Alfred Krupp and Arnold Newman: Analysis
This portrait of Alfred Krupp was taken in 1963, with him as the central focus, taken by Arnold Newman (a Jewish photographer).
Visual
Alfred Krupp is the main focus point as he is placed in the centre of the image to draw all the attention to him. He is outlined by two concrete pillars either side of him to really get the point across that he is the focus of this image. As you can see, his facial expressions create a sinister feeling as he looks as if he is proud with his hands crossed to assert dominance and show that he is a confident man. To continue from this, Alfred is also more leaned forward and is slightly raised to give the impression that he is not scared. By making direct eye contact with the camera, he gives an demonic vibe to the image.
Technical
The lighting placed in the background/above Krupp’s head highlights a strong contrast on his face to make him look more serious and evil as it darkens his stare. In terms of the camera, Newman uses a medium aperture to create a clear and sharp foreground (to make the subject very visible) but a softer background where you can still identify the objects in the background, but they are less visible. Adding onto this, Arnold uses a faster shutter speed to capture this image as everything is in focus and has good lighting exposure in comparison to how a slow shutter speed would look. The viewers are directly in line with the subjects eye level to feel more connected with him.
Contextual
Alfred Krupp was a Nazi war industrialist who was infamous for allegedly using slave labor in his factories (which you can see closely in the background). Krupp contacted Newman for a portrait in 1963, and after finding out that Newman was a Jew, Alfred Krupp refused to let him make the photograph.Newman insisted to have Krupp look at his portfolio before making a final decision and after seeing Newman’s portfolio Krupp accepted. So on July 6, 1963, they both went into a factory in Essen which Krupp owned, where Newman decided to make Krupp look as evil as possible under the eerie lighting of the factory to represent the person he is known as.
Conceptual
I think that Newman took this image to highlight the true representation of Krupp, as there were speculations of his slave labour employment, and this image confirms the suspicions as the background is known to be involved with his accusations. I believe that Newman felt as though he should publish the image as it shows his intimidating nature and his look for superiority.
August Sander
August Sander (born in 1876 and died in 1964) is congratulated for his applaudable work that captures the diverse layout of the social groups in the early 20th century in Germany. His most significant project, “People of the 20th Century”, aimed to create a documentary of various German people, showcasing the different social classes, professions, and types that made up the society of his time. Many of his photos include different age groups to show their social status in Germany at that time.
Visual
This image is in monochrome colours as it was taken in the early 20th century therefore they didn’t have the technology we do now to have images in colour. The use of the fragile man’s walking canes helps to guide the viewers eyes in his direction by starting at the bottom of the image and making our way up towards his outline through leading lines. We can see that the subject is making direct eye contact with the camera lens, which creates a connection between us and him, and the confused and concerned look on his face tells us that he wasn’t expecting a photo.
Technical
Sander has managed to use rule of thirds to align the old man towards the right side of the image to showcase the houses in the background. In terms of the aperture, you can see that the background is a bit blurred, meaning that Sander used a medium aperture and a medium depth of field to ensure that the subject will still be in focus. The lighting is natural, as the photo is taken outside and the contrast isn’t predominant like it would be with a studio light. Lastly, the man doesn’t have any motion blur, meaning the image had a short exposure time and was likely either a fast shutter speed to a medium shutter speed.
Contextual
Conceptual
Typologies
Like I briefly described before, the concept of typology in photography refers to the category of subjects based on shared characteristics or types. August Sander’s use of typologies in his photographic project ‘People of the 20th Century’ is a key and well known feature of his work. He aimed to create a visual idea of the German society by arranging his portraits into specific categories based on social roles, professions, and other attributes like age. These typologies provide insights into the structure of their 20th century society, highlighting both their own diversity and the larger social groups that show the typology.
Environmental Portraiture Photoshoot Ideas
Action plan:
For this photoshoot, I am planning to go out and use my friends as models to present their daily routines and their natural environments where they show their hobbies and what they like to do. I will go to town and go in clothing shops to show that my model likes to shop by picking out outfits. I will also go to my subjects house to highlight the routines she does like doing her makeup and playing with her dog.
Contact Sheet:
In total, I managed to take 165 photos for this photoshoot to present a wide variety of angles and poses to select the best images. I took multiple photos of the same action to capture the best photos by moving my position and directing my friends to increase the quality and to match the artist better by telling my friends to stay serious and to look into the camera lens.
Image Selection:
For this image selection, I ended up with a various amount of red images, yellow images and green, which help me to identify the better looking images from the bad ones. The reason why some of my images are red is due to using the wrong ISO, or shakiness causing the camera to not stay in focus. There were also a couple of photos where my models kept laughing and turning away from the camera, so I put them in red as it doesn’t match my artists work properly.
Rule of Thirds
For this image, I decided to crop it to ensure that the main focus and model (the girl in the middle) was directly centred in the image by cropping some of the right side of the photo. When doing this, I also ensured to keep all the models still included in the image, as cropping one of them out could cause it to look strange as there wouldn’t be an even amount of models on each side. When I cropped this, it improved my image as it now looks more finalised and centred than it did before as shown below:
Problems with ISO
Whilst taking photos, I began having issues with the ISO levels where the image would become dark in certain dim-lit lighting as I had it on the wrong settings, so I had to change the ISO to develop and improve these images. With the ISO at the wrong level, the images looked noisy and fuzzy which made the quality of the image look bad as it made it so that you couldn’t see the models face well.
Best photos
These images below are my best photos as they have various poses in group settings and individually.
I really liked the group setting photos as it makes the subject looking at the camera stand out in comparison to the others, as it feels as though they are looking straight at us whilst everyone else is busy talking. I also liked the image where my model is brushing her hair, as the mess in front on her counter makes the image look more natural and less staged. The lighting also works really well in that image, because the background is less visible, making you focus more on her.
When talking about photography, texture refers to the visual quality of the surface of an object, revealed through variances in shape, tone and colour depth. Texture brings life and vibrancy to images that would otherwise appear flat and uninspiring.
I encountered some issues on Lightroom regarding my files. Due to some files getting corrupted and overwritten, I ended up screenshotting the raw images and having to upload them without editing. Despite this, some of the photos still turned out nicely and look effective without any edits.
——
Texture Homework
——
Brett Weston
Brett Weston was an American photographer known for his black-and-white landscape and abstract photography. Born in 1911, he was part of the Weston family of photographers, including his father, Edward Weston. Brett’s work often emphasized form, texture, and light, and he had a unique style that set him apart from his contemporaries. He was known for his keen eye for detail and his ability to capture the essence of natural and man-made subjects. Throughout his career, he experimented with different photographic techniques and was influential in the development of modern photography.
——
My Photos
Inspired by Brett Weston, I took a camera outside and photographed natural things with varied textures. I ended up taking photos that looked very reminiscent of his, due to the nature of this style of photography.
I took the photos on a cloudy afternoon, by which it was starting to get dark. I struggled to get clear images and balance the ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Some photos I took underneath trees, whilst others were in the natural light, which resulted in me constantly having to experiment with the camera settings and adjust to the changing light.
Brett WestonMy Response
I exported the images to Lightroom and put them in black and white, then edited them to bring out the texture within each photo as much as possible. I experimented with the ‘Basic’ editing settings until I settled on the look of each image that felt right.
For these photos (above), I used flash, as it allowed me to get sharper images, but unfortunately I couldn’t get them completely clean. Brett Weston had captured some images of mushrooms as well, and I thought they were a perfect subject to capture natural texture.
Anna Atkins was an English botanist and photographer. She is often considered to be the first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images. Some sources say that she was the first woman to create a photograph through the use of cyanotype. She popularised this method through her creation of photographs with algae.
Studio lighting refers to how a light source, artificial or natural, lights up the scene, subject and object that is being photographed.
Why do we use studio lighting?
We use studio lighting because its an essential tool for photographers to brighten up their images and videos.
What is the difference between 1-2-3 point lighting?
One point lighting is where only one light is involved when the photo is taken. One point light will give off light equally in every direction, similar to a light bulb as all rays will come from a single point.
Two point lighting is used is an essential lighting technique used in film and photography that consists the use of two light sources to brightenup a subject. This setup makes depth and dimension, enhancing the visual appeal by adding shadows and highlights that will define shapes.
Three-point lighting is a classic method for lighting up a subject in a scene with light sources from three noticeable positions. The three types of lights are key light, fill light, and backlight. Key light is the most intense light source in the three-point lighting setup. Three point lighting gives off a three-dimensional look.
Key Light
What it provides: Generally the key light is the common source of light and its placed at an angle to the subject to create texture, depth, and contrast. It highlights the form and dimension of on-screen subjects and allow cinematographers to manage the atmosphere of a scene.
Positioning: The key light is generally placed at a 45 degree angle to the person, it has to be only above eye level and to one side.
Effect: Using a soft and flattering key light it will make some more distributed shadows, conveying a gentle, pleasant and natural feel. On the other hand, a hard key light generates sharp, acute and well-defined shadows, which can be used to create a more sudden or stylized portrait.
Fill Light
What it provides: The purpose of a fill light is to brighten up the parts of the subject that the main light wont be able to reach.
Positioning: If your main light source is trailing behind your subject, then place the fill light forward of your subject. If your main light source is to the side of your subject, then place your fill light to the side of your subject as well.
Effect: Balancing the overall brightness of a scene, specifically in areas with shadows or low light contrast. Its main function is to soften and weaken the shadows and get rid of the firmness of the key light. This results in a more engaging and balanced visual.
Back light
What it provides: Backlight is light that hits an actor or subject by trailing behind, typically its higher than the subject than its exposing. Backlighting an object or actor from the background creates more depth, texture and shape to any subject.
Positioning: Place the camera in the direction and insight of the subject and position your subject in a way so that the backlight is directly trailing behind the subject.
Effect: This will create a light spill effect, where the light seems to spill from behind the framework of your subject.
Rembrandt Lighting
What is Rembrandt Lighting?
This type of portrait photography is named after Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, A great Dutch painter. It points out a way of lighting on a face so it is an upside-down light triangle which will occur underneath the eyes of the subject. It can be achieved using one light and a reflector or two lights, which is very popular because it is able to produce images which will appear both natural and fascinating, with minimal of equipment.
Example of Rembrandt Lighting Photo
Why should you use Rembrandt lighting ?
Rembrandt Lighting should be used because it makes the subject or the object the main focus of the image by producing a lit up face and a very dark background, in doing this the eye of the subject or object of the image is the first thing that you will see offering a unique view point of the image. Using this style of inventive writing is something that will make the portrait that you have taken stick out while still being something that you wouldn’t normally expect from what people usually predict.
Who was Rembrandt?
Rembrandt (born July 15, 1606, Leiden, Netherlands—died October 4, 1669, Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter, he was a very intelligent, brilliant and capable artist and was well known for being able to catch people emotions in his portraits, he was also well known because of the use of shadows in his work.
How To Create A Rembrandt Lighting Set Up
Light: Lighting styles are decisive by the positioning of the light source. Rembrandt lighting is created by the single light source coming in at a 40 to 45-degree angle and larger than the subject. Use cans use both lights and continuous lights.
Lens: Use a 35mm or 50mm focal length, if the space is at a premium – or if you’re looking at adding more of the subject than just the head and shoulders. A 50mm works perfectly for portraits and will give a great depth of field if you’re shooting at a shallow aperture. But a 35mm will give you a wider point of view and is great to fit more of the body in of your subject or the object.
Camera settings (continuous lighting) Tripod Manual exposure mode White balance ISO: 400-1600 – depending on how many light sources are used Exposure: Manual 1/60-1/125 shutter-speed > f/4-f/8 aperture Focal length: 50mm portrait lens
Rembrandt Lighting Mood Board
This is my collection of photos I have gathered on Rembrandt Lighting.
Chiaroscuro Lighting
What Is Chiaroscuro Lighting?
Chiaroscuro Lighting is an Italian lighting technique that stands for Light Dark in English , its a very high contrast lighting technique that needs to use a low key lighting set up, it needs to have a single light source to generate a dark background with its subjects and objects.
Why should you use it?
Chiaroscuro Lighting should be used as it will provides an abstract contrast that will draw attention to the subject or object and to build a dark , shadowy background, doing this can include a more unique look to the images that you take to boost the atmosphere and can will create three dimensional look to the image.
Who Created This Type Of Lighting?
Chiaroscuro lighting was developed by Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Vermeer, and Rembrandt. It is a trademark quality in the works of their Renaissance period and art movement but is well known today for its role foe being key in the film noir sub-genre of movies through low-key photography.
How To Create A Chiaroscuro Lighting Set Up
To create Chiaroscuro in photography you need to:
Chiaroscuro in photography: Chiaroscuro using one key light and to use a variety using a reflector that reflects light from the key light back onto the sitter.
This is my collection of photos I have gathered on Chiaroscuro Lighting.
Butterfly Lighting
What Is Butterfly Lighting?
Butterfly lighting is an element of studio lighting that is usually used within portraiture photography, as the name suggests the lighting used forms a butterfly shape underneath the nose of the subject of the image. This is because the light comes from above the camera and you face will create a shadow.
Why Should You Use Butterfly Lighting?
You should use butterfly lighting because it will create a narrow face. It also produces a soft, flattering illumination that will minimize imperfections on the subject’s face. This type of lighting is a unique type of lighting due to creating a different atmospheres in images we usually see.
Who Created Butterfly Lighting?
Butterfly lighting was not created by one specific person but it was rather developed over time in Hollywood back in the 1930’s, it was mainly used on a person called Marlene Dietrich who was massive Hollywood star around that time.
Butterfly Lighting Set Up
Lighting: Butterfly lighting will need a key light that can be a flash or continuous. If continuous, it can be artificial or natural. In other words, you can use strobes, speed lights, LEDs or even the sun.
A butterfly lighting effect refers to the setup and not to the quality of light – it can be soft or hard light depending on what you want your photo looking like.
Butterfly Lighting Mood Board
These are pictures I have gathered to make a Butterfly Lighting Mood Board.
This is my school contact sheet where I went around school and found teachers and students to photograph. This gave me a range of ages and different looks to people as they were all doing something different. This also allowed me to get comfortable with asking people to pose as I started in a place I know.
This is my out of school contact sheet where I was able to capture pictures of people in their work or doing their hobby. I went around town and managed to capture images of people in the market doing their everyday job. I also was able to get images of my friends in their bedrooms which helped me to get my inspiration photos.
I went through and flagged which of the images I prefered this helped me choose which pictures would be in my finals choices. In doing that I also starred some images to help choose my final pieces.
Original Images
This image was able to capture two teachers in their natural area being a classroom. I managed to capture them in their original positions showing how neutral looking they are. They are engaging the audience by looking at the camera inviting them in.
In this image I was able to photograph two sisters in their room where the lighting was more blue and calmer. The facial expressions are neutral and I made sure they had eye contact with the camera. I also posed them in a neutral position as if they just got stopped having a conversation. This created a very enclosed environment because it shows that they were turned inwards and are look at the viewer as if they’ve been interrupted.
I was able to capture this photo by going in to town where I went to the shop ‘Chaos’ and took a photo of the man sorting out his cds. To switch it up I directed him to look away from the camera so it would be less personal. The chaotic background helps distinguish the man from his surroundings as he is in darker clothing.
I managed to capture this photo by going into a charity shop where I posed the man in front of the clustered background. The blue jumper links the blue to his left which adds a nice cool tone to the picture instead of a warmer one like the pink is making in the back. For this image, I asked him to look away and hold a prop of a couple books to show what he was doing that day. When he stopped he was already holding the books in a very neutral position which was good as he didn’t have to act in a way he didn’t want.
In this image i was able to link all the colours in the photo to something else in it. Like the yellow bananas with the yellow logo in the background. This image stands out from other images as its someone doing their job outside in town rather than a little shop. I directed him to have a neutral facial expression however, I didn’t have to do much as that’s how he naturally looks anyways, which helped when telling him how to act. I also asked him to pose neutrally as is he’s waiting for someone to come and order.
In these photos I decided to create a more ‘homely’ feel as the bedroom pictures are more personal and intimate as it shows off their personality and what they are interested in. I got two images of the same girl as she shows a neutral expression throughout the whole shoot these two images stood out to me because of how everything is positioned. In the 1st image I posed her neutrally as if she’s just relaxing on her bed this also allowed us to see the view of her room and how she’s decided to decorate it. Whilst in the 2nd photo I have her posed with her guitar showing what her hobby is. Again I have her in a neutral position with a neutral facial expression looking at the view almost like playing something to them.
Edited Images
Personal Favourite Personal Favourite
Personal Favourite
For the bedroom photos I decided to turn the saturation higher so it would match Michelle Sank’s style of editing as her photos are normally bright. She also gets them to pose naturally almost showing off the bedroom instead of the person.
I tried putting this image in black & white however, I prefered how it looked in normal colour as it showed off more features of her and the room. I also edited it so she would be brighter than the room to create more emphasis on the model but it just made it look strange so that’s why I decided to stick with it in colour.
Whilst I didn’t use the bottom two I wanted to edit them just to see how they would look in the Arnold Newman style of being black and white. I put the top one in black and white to fit with the style and it so he would stand out from the noisy background however, it fits with Newman’s style of photography because in the photos he usually directs the person to have something in their arms/hand or stuff in the background that correlate to what the model does as a hobby or a job.
Overall I think I got pictures that were inspired by the two artists I chose and more abstract ones that I took in my own direction. However, next time I would prefer to get more angles to give more variety to my photoshoots. I’d also want to get some images of typology to give me another thing to post on the blog.
Studio lighting refers to the use of artificial lights in a controlled environment to illuminate subjects for photography. It’s essential because it allows photographers to manipulate light to achieve the desired mood, highlight details, and create professional-quality images. By using different types of lights, such as soft boxes, umbrellas, and strobes, photographers can control shadows, contrast, and colour balance, resulting in more visually appealing photos. This control over lighting is crucial, especially when trying to convey a specific emotion or atmosphere in the image.
For instance, soft lighting can create a warm and inviting feel, while harsher lighting can add drama and intensity.
Additionally, studio lighting enables consistency across a series of shots, which is particularly important for product photography or portrait sessions. The ability to adjust and experiment with the lighting setup also encourages creativity, allowing photographers to explore various styles and techniques. Ultimately, mastering studio lighting can significantly enhance the quality of photographs and help tell a more compelling story through visual imagery.
1-2-3 Point Lighting
The difference between 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point lighting lies in the number of light sources used and the effects they create in photography.
1-Point Lighting: This technique uses a single light source to illuminate the subject. It creates strong shadows and highlights, which can produce dramatic effects. It’s often used in portrait photography to emphasize facial features or in artistic shots where mood is more important than detail.
2-Point Lighting: This setup involves two light sources. Typically, one light serves as the key light, providing the main illumination, while the second acts as a fill light to soften shadows created by the key light. This technique balances light and shadow, adding depth and dimension to the subject, making it ideal for interviews or product shots.
3-Point Lighting: This is a more advanced technique that uses three lights: the key light, fill light, and backlight (or rim light). The key light is the main source, the fill light reduces harsh shadows, and the backlight adds separation between the subject and the background, creating a three-dimensional look. This method is commonly used in film and television because it provides a well-rounded and professional appearance, enhancing the overall quality of the image.
Each technique serves a different purpose and can be chosen based on the desired mood and effect in the photograph.
Rembrandt Lighting, Butterfly Lighting, and Chiarascuro
Rembrandt lighting, butterfly lighting, and chiaroscuro lighting are all different lighting techniques that can dramatically change the mood and appearance of a photograph, so understanding them can help create the desired effect in my portraits.
Rembrandt Lighting
This technique is characterized by the triangle of light that appears on the cheek opposite the light source. It involves placing the light source at a 45-degree angle to the subject and slightly above eye level. This creates a dramatic effect with both highlights and shadows, giving depth to the face.
Butterfly Lighting
Also known as “Paramount lighting,” this technique creates a butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose. It involves positioning the light source directly in front of and above the subject’s face. This lighting is often used in beauty photography as it highlights the cheekbones and creates a soft, flattering look.
Chiarascuro
This is a broader artistic technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and three-dimensionality. In photography, it can involve dramatic lighting that emphasizes shadows and highlights, often used to evoke a particular mood or atmosphere.
Photography Lighting Equipment for Beginners (Extra Info)
The world of studio lighting can be an exciting aspect of photography for some people, while others are intimidated by what seems to be a never-ending stream of equipment and technical information. The Information that I have researched here will help me decide on what Studio Lighting and equipment will be best for my Photography.
Keep in mind, that the items that I have researched are all geared towards portrait photographs.
Flash Units and Diffusers
A DSLR has a component on top, called a hot shoe, where you can attach a flash that is purchased separately from your camera. While most DSLRs have an on camera flash that can work well in some situations, it is always great to have a separate flash.
Photography Lighting Equipment for Beginners
With a separate flash, I don’t just have the luxury of a more powerful flash with a better quality of light, I also have the option of attaching diffusers to my flash, and even using my flash off-camera.
Now, if I purchase a flash or the school already has one, it will most likely come with a small, white, plastic diffuser to attach to the top of the flash. This can work very well to diffuse the light, minimizing shadows and red-eye. I also have the ability to turn the flash so that it isn’t pointing straight at the subject, and bounce the light off a ceiling or nearby wall to make the light even more diffused.
Photo Lighting Equipment
A great option is the Light sphere Dome, by Gary Fong. The Light sphere Dome is lightweight, and it has never fallen off of a flash as some diffusers have a tendency to do and it fits both my Nikon and Canon flashes. It a great, multi-purpose diffuser.
Reflectors
A Reflector provides natural light and they come in various shapes, sizes, and colours, but the silver, circular reflector seems to be the most popular.
How to Choose Studio Lighting
I can use stands to hold my reflector, or, if I have another person on-hand, I can have them assist me in holding and positioning the reflector. It will increase the light on the subject by reflecting the available light. They also work extremely well to fill in the light behind the subject, or, if I am shooting outside and my subjects back is lit, positioning the reflector to face directly will bring out more detail on their face, without creating harsh, unnatural lighting.
Off Camera Lighting
Now, if I am feeling comfortable enough to experiment with off-camera lighting, I can either use separate lights, or I can trigger a flash off camera.
Photography Lighting Kits for Beginners
If I am using a flash, I will most likely need to invest in triggers. Some DSLRs can trigger a flash off-camera through an infrared sensor that is built-in to the camera, but triggers are a bit more reliable.
Basically, there are two components involved with triggers, a transmitter that attaches to the camera, and a transceiver that is attached to the flash. The transmitter communicates with the receiver, allowing you to place the flash off camera on a light stand, and use various umbrellas and soft boxes to diffuse the light.
Cactus Triggers are widely popular, and more affordable than a lot of the other triggers on the market.
Once I have decided how I want my trigger to flash, I should look deeper at various umbrellas and soft boxes. Umbrellas tend to create a more direct pool of light, while soft boxes will create a more even light source.
Basic Photo Lightning Kit
I will need a stand that will hold my flash, and my diffuser. I can scout for a kit that comes with a light stand, a mount for my flash and umbrella, as well as basic reflector umbrellas or just use the schools.
In short, if I am using a flash off-camera, here is what I will need:
Trigger – a transmitter and a transceiver.
Light Stand
Mount – to attach to light stand and hold the flash/umbrella/softbox
Umbrella – or your choice of diffuser
Triggering the flash off-camera is a lightweight, portable method of achieving studio-like lighting. If I am shooting in my house or the studio at school, I may have to look at larger flashes such as Alien Bees. Alien Bees also makes a portable power pack, so if I decide to take my lights outdoors for a shoot, I can with no issues.
My Rembrandt Lighting, Butterfly Lighting, and Chiarascuro Examples
This is one of my Rembrandt Lighting photographs that I tried experimenting with.
Photo A
This Image uses a bright light high-lighting the left side of the face with no Reflector used. The camera produced a clear image with no faults and has successfully produced the Triangle under the eye and has made the Shadows a lot darker.
Photo B
This Image uses a bright light high-lighting the left side of the face and using a Reflector from the right. The camera produced a clear image with no faults and has successfully produced the Triangle under the eye on the right side of the face and has made the Shadows a lot brighter.
This is one of my Butterfly Lighting photographs that I tried experimenting with.
Both of these Images use the same equipment and settings, I struggled to get a clear dark Butterfly shadow under the nose but it has been successfully produced. At least that’s what I can see.
This is one of my Chiarascuro photographs that I tried experimenting with.
Photo A
This Image uses a bright light high-lighting the left side of the face and using a dimmed light from above. The camera produced a bit of a grain on the image and highlights some shadows and reveals my head and shoulders clearer.
Photo B
This Image uses a slightly darker light for the side of my face and from above. The camera didn’t produce a film grain, which is good as it makes the image look a lot smoother and untouched. The highlights are almost barely visible, some shadows revealing the tone in my Buff aren’t as clear.
Inspirations: Portraiture
Some photographers we were given to look at for Inspiration with our Photographs are Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, John Rankin, Nadav Kandar, Richard Avedon, Yousef Karsh, David Bailey, Mario Testino, Steve McCurry, Jill Greenberg, Nick Knight, Tim Walker, Corrine Day, Jane Bown, Rineke Djikstra and Thomas Ruff.
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz is known for her stunning portraits of celebrities, often capturing them in intimate and sometimes unconventional settings.
She often uses large-format cameras and natural lighting. Her subjects are usually posed in ways that reveal their personalities. She doesn’t rely heavily on filters but rather focuses on composition and lighting.
Irving Penn
Irving Penn was a master of still life and fashion photography, known for his clean, elegant compositions and use of natural light.
He utilized a variety of cameras, including large-format and medium-format. Penn often uses simple backgrounds and dramatic lighting to enhance the subject.
John Rankin
John Rankin is famous for his bold, provocative style, often pushing boundaries in fashion and portrait photography.
Rankin uses digital cameras. He often employs creative lighting and post-production techniques but tends to keep his images raw and expressive.
Nadav Kandar
Nadav Kandar is recognized for his evocative landscapes and portraits that often explore themes of identity and place.
He often uses medium-format cameras and emphasizes natural light. Kander’s work is characterized by its contemplative nature.
Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon revolutionized fashion photography with his dynamic, expressive images that focused on the personality of the subjects.
Avedon used large-format cameras. His work often captures the essence of his subjects through careful posing and lighting.
Yousef Karsh
Yousef Karsh is celebrated for his iconic portraits of notable figures, using dramatic lighting to convey deep emotion.
Karsh used large-format cameras and dramatic lighting to create powerful images that convey emotion and character.
David Bailey
David Bailey is a legendary fashion photographer known for his raw, energetic style and ability to capture the essence of his subjects.
Bailey often used 35mm cameras and was known for his candid style. His work in fashion photography helped define the swinging ’60s, capturing the essence of youth and rebellion.
Mario Testino
Mario Testino is famous for his glamorous and vibrant fashion photography, often working with top models and celebrities.
Testino often uses digital cameras. He has a keen eye for capturing the personality of his subjects, often using vibrant colours and soft lighting.
Steve McCurry
Steve McCurry is renowned for his striking documentary photography, particularly his iconic “Afghan Girl” portrait.
McCurry often uses 35mm cameras. His iconic “Afghan Girl” photograph showcases his ability to capture human emotion in a single frame.
Jill Greenberg
Jill Greenberg is known for her striking and often controversial portraits, particularly of children and animals, using dramatic lighting and post-production techniques to evoke strong emotions.
Greenberg’s portraits often involves dramatic lighting and post-production techniques. She often captures the essence of her subjects through expressive facial expressions.
Nick Knight
Nick Knight is a highly innovative fashion photographer who blends fine art with commercial photography, often experimenting with digital technology and pushing the boundaries of traditional fashion imagery.
Knight often incorporates digital manipulation and experimental techniques. His images are known for their boldness and creativity.
Tim Walker
Tim Walker is celebrated for his whimsical, dreamlike photographs that often tell a story, using elaborate sets, props, and a sense of fantasy.
Walker uses large-format cameras. His unique sets and imaginative storytelling set his work apart.
Corrine Day
Corinne Day was a pioneer in the grunge aesthetic of the 1990s, known for her raw, unposed style that captured the authenticity of her subjects, often focusing on youth culture.
Day’s documentary-style photography often uses natural light and a raw aesthetic. Her work is characterized by its authenticity and emotional depth.
Jane Bown
Jane Bown was renowned for her intimate and candid portraits of celebrities and everyday people, using natural light and a documentary approach to reveal the essence of her subjects.
Bown often uses a medium-format camera. Her work captures the essence of her subjects with minimal distractions.
Rineke Djikstra
Rineke Dijkstra is known for her striking portraits that often highlight the transition between adolescence and adulthood, capturing her subjects in a way that emphasizes their vulnerability and strength.
Dijkstra uses large-format cameras. Her work often explores themes of identity and transition.
Thomas Ruff
Thomas Ruff is recognized for his conceptual approach to photography, often exploring the boundaries between reality and representation through large-scale images, digital manipulation, and a focus on the medium itself.
Ruff uses digital photography and often experiments with different techniques, including large-scale prints and manipulation. His work challenges traditional notions of photography.
Creative Responses
Gel Lighting
We Experimented with a lighting technique called Gel lighting. Gel lighting in photography refers to the use of coloured gels placed over light sources to create specific colour effects in images. These gels are typically made from thin sheets of coloured plastic or acrylic and can be attached to lights to modify their colour temperature or add creative hues to a scene. Knowing this, it has helped me produce the following photographs.
The reason that we Photographers use gels are for various purposes, including:
1. Colour Correction: To adjust the colour temperature of the light to match the ambient light or to create a specific mood.
2. Creative Effects: To add colour to shadows or highlights, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the photo.
3. Separation and Depth: To add colour behind subjects, helping them stand out from the background and creating depth in the composition.
Best Gel Photographs
Edited Gel Photographs
Even though I clearly stated that the Photographs from above are my “Best Gel Photographs”, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I am not going to edit them. So I boosted the Vibrancy to 100 and kept the Saturation to 0, which made the Red mixed Orange stand out a lot more.
I wanted my 2 models to have their own individual colours associated with them. Like with my previous model Eddie, I associated Red and Blue with him, and for my Upcoming model Vincent I associated Orange and Purple. I used the same Gel Plastic colours and the same Vibrancy but I also changed the Hue in the Photograph to produce the following.
BeforeAfterBeforeAfterBeforeAfter
Photo Montages
Juxtaposition
For the purposes of a ‘juxtaposition in photography’ definition, we can say that juxtaposition photography involves combining two or more elements in the same picture, highlighting the interesting contrast between them, to create an eye-catching and thought-provoking image.
Or to be specific, juxtaposition is when you put two opposite things together, and the contrast of those two things becomes interesting.
For example:
Fat person next to skinny person
Tall person next to short person
Dark colors next to light colors
Circles next to rectangles
Old people next to young people
Generally with ‘juxtaposition’ — you are making a statement through the contrast of elements you put in the frame.
My Experimentation
Double Exposure
A double exposure is created by exposing a single frame to two different images. Traditionally, you’d achieve this effect with film cameras, but this technique is now accessible to digital photographers through in-camera settings or via post-processing software like Photoshop.
Double exposure photography allows you to juxtapose contrasting scenes, textures, or subjects, resulting in images that can spark curiosity, ignite the imagination or tell a poignant message.
