An image showing a field of view approximating, or greater than, that of the human eye – about 160° by 75° – may be termed panoramic. This generally means it has an aspect ratio of 2:1 or larger, the image being at least twice as wide as it is high. The resulting images take the form of a wide strip.
Joiner Photos
Joiner photography is a fairly new technique of photography. A joiner, designed by Hockney is when the artist assembles an image from several overlapping photographs. David Hockney is the most notable artist that uses this technique, hence the common referral of joiners as “Hockney’s”
David Hockney
Who was he?
David Hockney is a contemporary English photographer and painter best known for his Lovely panoramic Hockney is well known for his collage-style photographs and his realist painting style. Additionally, his work was very important to the pop art movement.
David Hockney was initially hesitant about the limitations of photography, expressing reservations about its static and singular perspective. However, his appreciation for the medium dramatically blossomed after curator Alain Sayag convinced him to present his work in Paris.
Some of his work
All of his collage work is made by hundreds of individual pictures that by themselves hold very little meaning but put together can create a community of pictures that represent a larger image
Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and a smart movement that emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against the Enlightenment’s focus on reason and logic. Instead, it emphasized emotion, individualism, and the power of nature, often portraying dramatic landscapes, heroic figures, and the sublime. Romantic artists and writers celebrated intense feelings, imagination, and the supernatural, frequently drawing inspiration from folklore, medieval history, and myths.
What is the Sublime?
The sublime is a concept in art, literature, and philosophy that refers to an overwhelming sense of awe, beauty, and even terror, often inspired by nature or grand, powerful experiences. It is something vast, intense, or beyond human comprehension, evoking deep emotions that can be both thrilling and unsettling.
Philosophers like Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant explored the idea of the sublime, distinguishing it from mere beauty. Burke, for example, described it as something that inspires both admiration and fear—like towering mountains, violent storms, or the infinite night sky. In Romanticism, the sublime was a key theme, seen in the dramatic landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich, the wild seascapes of J.M.W. Turner, and the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Wordsworth, who often depicted nature’s power and mystery.
How did the industrial revolution have an impact on Romanticism?
The Industrial Revolution had a profound impact on Romanticism, shaping its themes and attitudes as a reaction against rapid industrialization, urbanization, and mechanization. As factories spread, cities grew, and nature was increasingly altered by human hands, many Romantic artists, writers, and thinkers saw industrial progress as a threat to individuality, nature, and traditional ways of life.
One major effect was the Romantic idealization of nature. As landscapes were transformed by factories, pollution, and deforestation, Romantics like William Wordsworth and J.M.W. Turner celebrated the untouched beauty of nature, emphasizing its power and emotional depth. They viewed the natural world as a source of spiritual renewal, in contrast to the grime and chaos of industrial cities.
The movement also championed emotion, imagination, and the individual in response to the Industrial Revolution’s emphasis on reason, efficiency, and mass production. Many Romantics saw industrialization as dehumanizing, reducing people to mere workers in a mechanical system. This led to an admiration of solitary, rebellious figures—like the Byronic hero—and a nostalgia for the past, particularly medieval times, when life was seen as more organic and connected to nature.
Exposure Compensation – Exposure compensation is a technique for adjusting the exposure indicated by a photographic exposure meter, in consideration of factors that may cause the indicated exposure to result in a less-than-optimal image.
What does this mean?
Exposure Bracketing – a technique where you take multiple pictures of the same image at different exposures, then layer them to create one image
What does thisactually do?
Exposure bracketing works well when shooting in conditions where the camera cannot take a natural-looking photograph. For example, when a bright light – the sun – causes extreme highlights and shadows.
HDR photos – In photography and videography, multi-exposure HDR capture is a technique that creates high dynamic range images by taking and combining multiple exposures of the same subject matter at different exposures.
What does this actually mean for photography?
There are several reasons why bracketing is essential in photography: It allows you to capture every detail in a scene. It helps you avoid overexposing or underexposing your photos. It gives you more options to choose from when you’re editing.
AEB
What is it?
It is a feature which allows you to take a sequence of images at different exposure values. This is useful when it is difficult to determine the correct exposure, or when dealing with moody lighting or interiors where it is often desirable to have a range of exposures to pick from later.
Ansel Easton Adams was an American landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his black-and-white images of the American West. He helped found Group f/64, an association of photographers advocating “pure” photography which favoured sharp focus and the use of the full tonal range of a photograph.
His childhood
Ansel Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. As an only child, he was a shy and curious kid who didn’t quite fit into traditional schooling, so his father decided to home-school him. His love for nature started early, especially after experiencing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which forced his family to move. At first, he was passionate about playing the piano and even considered a career in music. But in 1916, everything changed when he took a family trip to Yosemite and got his first camera—a Kodak Brownie. From that moment on, he was hooked on photography, and his fascination with the outdoors and capturing its beauty set him on the path to becoming one of the most famous landscape photographers of all time.
What inspired him
Influenced by New York photographer Alfred Steig
litz, whom Adams called “the greatest photographic leader in the world,” photographers created meticulously hand-crafted prints on soft-focus, textured papers.
Ansel Adams had a long and deep relationship with the Sierra Club, an environmental organization dedicated to the preservation of nature. His involvement began in 1927, when he first published his photographs of Yosemite in the club’s bulletin. His striking images of the American wilderness, especially Yosemite National Park, helped raise awareness about conservation.
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club, one of the most influential environmental organizations in the United States, played a pivotal role in advocating for the protection of natural landscapes. A key figure in its history was Ansel Adams, the legendary photographer whose breathtaking black-and-white images of the American wilderness brought national attention to the importance of conservation.
Adams joined the Sierra Club in 1919 at the age of 17, working as a caretaker of the LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite National Park. His love for the natural world was evident, and through his photography, he began to merge art with activism. His images of the Sierra Nevada, especially Yosemite, not only captured the beauty of these landscapes but also served as powerful tools for environmental advocacy.
What else did he do
Ansel Adams wasn’t just a famous photographer — he was also an activist and teacher. He co-founded Group f/64 to push for clear, realistic photography, used his art to support national parks, and documented Japanese American internment at Manzanar during World War II in Born Free and Equal. He also helped set up photography programs and created the Zone System to better control light and contrast in photos. His work blended art, nature, and social justice in a powerful way.
I will be trying to combine these two mood boards as I am inspired by the way Ralph Eugene Meatyard masks identity and Cerises Doucedes successful presentation of people in their own environment and thoughts
In my photoshoot I will try to focus on the binary opposites of masculinity and femininity and try to create a powerful narrative, by mixing clothing and accessories traditionally associated with each gender—such as pairing a tailored suit with delicate lace details or a soft dress with structured, bold accessories. Lighting can enhance the contrasts as well—using harsh lighting to accentuate strength and softer lighting to bring out vulnerability or softness. Split lighting, where one side of the subject is in shadow and the other is illuminated, can visually symbolize the opposing forces. For composition, I might place the masculine and feminine elements on opposite sides of the frame or use reflective surfaces like mirrors to show both sides of the subject’s identity. Props associated with each gender, such as boots or ties alongside flowers or jewelry, will deepen the symbolism, and playing with contrasting colours can further strengthen the mood. This approach will create a visual dialogue between masculinity and femininity, inviting the viewer to explore and interpret the boundaries between them.
An environmental portrait is a style of photography that captures a subject in a setting that reveals something about their personality, profession, or life. Unlike traditional studio portraits that isolate the subject, environmental portraits use the surroundings to add context and depth, making the image more storytelling and meaningful. For instance, a chef might be photographed in a busy kitchen, an artist in their studio surrounded by their tools, or a musician with their instrument in a performance space.
Mood board and definitions
This style allows the setting to complement and enhance the subject’s identity. Arnold Newman, a master of this approach, often used environments to highlight his subjects’ essence. One of his most famous works is a portrait of composer Igor Stravinsky, where the placement of a grand piano becomes an integral part of the composition, emphasizing Stravinsky’s connection to music and creativity.
Image Analysis:
Visual:
The lighting in this image appears artificial, casting strong contrasts on Krupp’s face. The shadows darken his features, making him look more sinister and intensifying his presence. This dramatic effect exaggerates the eerie atmosphere, reinforcing his infamous reputation.
The aperture seems to be set at a medium level, as the background has a slight blur while the foreground remains sharp. This keeps the focus on Krupp while still allowing the industrial setting to be recognizable.
A fast shutter speed is likely used, ensuring that the foreground is crisp and well-defined. The image has a balanced exposure, with highlights and shadows carefully controlled to enhance depth and drama.
The angle is eye level, positioning the viewer directly opposite Krupp. This perspective creates an unsettling confrontation, heightened by his piercing eye contact. His pose—leaning forward with clasped hands—evokes a sense of power, control, and even menace. This composition was intentional, as photographer Arnold Newman, a Jewish man, strongly disapproved of Krupp’s past, particularly his use of slave labour and connections to Nazi war crimes.
Krupp is the main focal point, positioned towards the lower center of the frame, and is visually framed by concrete pillars. This setting reinforces his dominance, as if he owns or controls the industrial background.
Leading lines guide the viewer’s eye toward his face. The top of the image and the receding lights in the center middle create depth while drawing focus to his portrait.
The balance in the image is striking—light at the top contrasts with the darkness below, creating a visual harmony while reinforcing the sinister mood. The strong contrast between highlights and shadows exaggerates his intimidating presence, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
Contextual:
Arnold Newman was a photographer known for changing the way portraits tell a story. Instead of taking traditional headshots, he put people in settings that revealed something essential about their work or personality. He believed that where you see a person can be as telling as their expression or pose. This approach is called environmental portraiture, and it’s something he became famous for.
One of his best-known photos is of the composer Igor Stravinsky, who he positioned next to a grand piano, making it almost as much a part of the photo as Stravinsky himself. This creative choice highlighted Stravinsky’s life in music without needing words, and it became an iconic example of how to use an environment to enhance a portrait.
Newman’s work stands out because of his dramatic compositions and his use of natural or available light, which gave his photos an honest, timeless quality. He carefully considered each element in the frame, often using strong shapes and lines to make his portraits feel like more than just pictures. they felt like small stories. His subjects were often artists, musicians, writers, and political figures, including famous people like Pablo Picasso, John F. Kennedy, and Salvador Dalí.
Studio lighting in photography refers to the use of artificial lighting setups within a controlled indoor environment to create high-quality and consistent images. It allows photographers to manipulate light and shadow to highlight their subject effectively and achieve a specific mood or style. A typical studio lighting setup includes a key light, the main light source that illuminates the subject, and a fill light to reduce harsh shadows. Backlights or rim lights can be added to separate the subject from the background and create depth.
How come we use studio lighting?
Studio lighting is used in photography to give precise control over the light in a scene. Unlike natural light, which can be inconsistent and unpredictable, studio lighting ensures reliable and steady lighting, making it ideal for professional-quality images. It allows us to shape and direct the light to achieve specific visual effects, such as softening shadows, emphasizing textures, or creating dramatic highlights. By using tools like reflectors, and diffusers, photographers can manipulate the light to suit their creative vision. Additionally, it offers complete control over background lighting, helping to create depth or separation between the subject and the backdrop. Overall, studio lighting provides the consistency, flexibility, and control needed to achieve polished and professional results, regardless of external conditions.
This is a set up of the lighting used in a studio. As you can see there are multiple different lights facing in different directions
What is the difference between 1 2 and 3 point lighting and what does each technique provide/solve?
1-Point, 2-Point, and 3-Point Lighting are essential lighting setups used in photography and filmmaking, each offering different effects and solutions.
1-Point Lighting uses a single light source, typically placed in front or to the side of the subject. This setup creates high contrast with deep shadows, giving a dramatic, moody look. It’s simple to set up and effective for portraits, but can result in flatness without fill light.
2-Point Lighting adds a second light, usually a backlight or rim light, placed behind the subject. This creates separation from the background and adds depth by outlining the subject. It’s great for dramatic effects, mystery, and defining edges but still relies on the main key light for illumination.
3-Point Lighting is the most common and balanced setup, consisting of a key light, fill light, and backlight. The key light provides the main illumination, the fill light softens shadows, and the backlight adds depth, helping the subject stand out from the background. This setup is versatile and used for flattering, natural looks in interviews, portraits, and narrative scenes.
Each technique addresses specific needs like mood, clarity, or depth, helping to shape the subject and the overall visual effect.
Rembrandt Lighting
What is Rembrandt lighting?
Rembrandt lighting is a dramatic and classic photography technique named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt, known for his use of light and shadow. It is characterized by a small, triangular patch of light on the shadowed cheek, achieved by positioning the light at a 45-degree angle to the subject and slightly above their eye level. This technique creates a striking contrast between light and shadow, adding depth and dimension to portraits. Typically, it involves a single light source, though subtle fill light can soften shadows if desired. Rembrandt lighting is widely used to create mood and emphasize facial features in portrait photography.
This is my most successful image that represents Rembrandt lighting, it does this as we can see a upside down triangle placed just below the models eye on the left of the picture
After developing this picture in photoshop this is my final image
Before :
After:
Butterfly lighting
How can butterfly lighting be described?
Butterfly lighting is a popular portrait photography technique named for the butterfly-shaped shadow it creates under the model’s nose. Achieved by positioning the light source directly in front of the subject, slightly above eye level and angled downward, it provides a soft, even illumination that highlights cheekbones and smooths facial features. This symmetrical lighting is especially flattering for beauty and glamour photography, creating a polished and professional look. We placed a reflector under the model’s face which eliminates the shadows under the model’s chin
In Lightroom I have developed this as it has enhanced the models skin making his skin smoother, this adds to the picture as the shadows darken under his nose.
This is a comparison of the picture before and after I imported it into Lightroom and edited it.
I personally prefer the black and white one as it puts emphasises on the shadows on his face.
Fill lighting
Why do we use it?
Fill lighting reduces shadows created by the primary light, also known as the key light. Its primary purpose is to soften harsh contrasts and ensure that details in shadowed areas are visible, creating a more balanced and visually appealing image. By lightening the darker parts of a scene without overpowering the key light, fill lighting helps to enhance details that might otherwise be lost in shadows. It also plays a significant role in setting the mood of a photograph. For instance, a subtle fill light can maintain a dramatic look with deeper shadows, while stronger fill lighting can create a more evenly lit and neutral appearance.
An example:
My Example:
To improve my image I should of put the light closer on the right hand side to eliminate slight shade.
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro lighting is a way of using strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a bold, dramatic look. It helps add depth, dimension, and mood to an image or scene. The term comes from Italian, meaning “bright-dark,” and was made popular by artists like Caravaggio and Rembrandt during the Renaissance. It’s still a go-to technique in photography, film, and art for drawing attention to specific details, creating a three-dimensional feel, or setting the tone of a story. It’s all about using light and dark in creative ways to make visuals more striking.
Tableau photography is a style of photography that involves carefully staged scenes that resemble a theatrical tableau, painting, or cinematic still. The term “tableau” refers to the creation of highly composed and deliberate photographic narratives.
Key Characteristics of Tableau Photography:
Narrative Focus: Tableau photographs often tell a story or suggest a larger narrative, leaving room for the viewer’s interpretation. A good example of this is some of Cindy Sherman’s work that I have already looked at. These are commonly studied and popular as each person that sees it, views it in a different light and from different perspectives
This picture is a good example of the use of narrative focus as you do not know what this hand is aiming to achieve but you can annotate it and compare with someone else and the annotations might be completely opposite.
For example I would talk about how this seems to be a child’s hand and how they value their marbles as they are portrayed in colour whilst the rest of the picture is in black and white. Furthermore this could also portray a sense of what this child finds fun as the colour could represent what brings the child joy. You could also go on to talk about the hard concrete floor that could be that of a car park or a neglected street. Then this brings in a factor of juxtaposition as a child is seen to be something to nurture and to take time and care over and in contrast a cold old floor.
This is just an example and shows how you can keep building on annotations and why this is a good type of photography.
Staged Composition:
Staged Composition refers to the layout of the entire shot; staging is the arrangement of objects and characters within the frame. Good composition and staging are key ingredients in any compelling professional image. The scenes are purposely arranged, with careful attention to lighting, props, costumes, and setting. They often mimic theatrical or cinematic techniques.
Painterly Aesthetic:
Many tableau photographers are inspired by the composition and lighting of classical paintings, creating works that resemble fine art.
The painterly aesthetic in photography is all about creating images that feel more like paintings than typical photographs. It focuses on mood, texture, and emotion rather than sharp details or realism. Photographers who go for this style often use soft lighting, blurred edges, and rich tones to give their work a dreamy, artistic feel. Sometimes, it’s about mimicking the look of old paintings, like those from the Impressionist or Romantic periods, with a focus on storytelling and atmosphere. It’s a way to turn photography into something more expressive and timeless, where the image feels carefully crafted, like a piece of art.
Symbolism:
Symbolism in tableau photography helps tell a deeper story through objects, colours, and body language. An apple might suggest temptation, a mirror could hint at self-reflection, and a clock can represent time slipping away. Colours set the mood for example: red for passion or danger, blue for sadness or calm, and black for mystery. Even the way people pose matters; looking away might suggest secrecy, while standing tall can show confidence. All these details work together to create images that make you think and feel something beyond what’s just in the frame.
A good example this picture taken by Cindy Sherman as the audience can look at it and pick out the finer detail
Jeff Wall
Jeff Wall is a Canadian photographer known for creating large, carefully staged images that feel like scenes from a movie or a painting. His photos might look like real moments, but they’re actually planned down to the smallest detail, sometimes taking months to complete. He often uses symbolism to suggest deeper meanings, drawing inspiration from art, literature, and everyday life.
One of his most famous photos, A Sudden Gust Of Wind (1993), shows four people outside as papers fly through the air, caught in an invisible gust. It’s inspired by a Japanese woodblock print by Hokusai, and the flying papers can symbolize lost ideas, sudden change, or the chaos of life. The whole scene looks natural but was actually pieced together from multiple shots to get the perfect effect.
Wall plays with the idea of reality and fiction. His 1978 photo Mimic looks like a documentary-style street shot but was staged to highlight racial tension.
In Insomnia (1994), a man sprawled on a kitchen floor creates an eerie, unsettling scene that could suggest exhaustion, mental struggle, or something more mysterious.
What makes Wall’s work so powerful is how it pulls you in. At first glance, his images seem like everyday moments, but the more you look, the more details emerge, making you question what’s really happening beneath the surface.
Cerise Doucède is a French photographer widely known for her imaginative and surreal style, which brings the hidden corners of the mind to life. Originally trained in graphic design, she found her passion for photography and graduated from the Spéos Photographic Institute in 2010. Her background in design and her attention to detail shine through in her work, which often feels like a mix of fine art and storytelling.
Doucède gained widespread recognition in 2013 when she won the prestigious Prix HSBC pour la Photographie. Her award-winning series, Égarements (which translates to “Wanderings”), features people surrounded by suspended objects—like cups, books, or paper—seemingly frozen mid-air. These surreal scenes represent the inner thoughts, memories, or emotions of her subjects, giving a visual shape to the chaos and beauty of the mind. What makes her work especially captivating is that these images are not the result of digital manipulation; Doucède painstakingly builds her installations by hand, creating something real and tangible before photographing it.
Her book, Liens Intimes (“Intimate Connections”), published by Actes Sud, gathers four of her photographic series created between 2010 and 2013. It explores themes of human connection and the way people relate to their surroundings, continuing her exploration of perception and reality. Her work often walks the line between the everyday and the extraordinary, transforming familiar objects into something magical and thought-provoking.
What makes Doucède’s photography stand out is its craftsmanship and the dreamlike quality of her scenes. By avoiding digital editing and instead focusing on elaborate, handmade setups, she adds an authentic, tactile depth to her images. Her photos invite viewers into a world where imagination runs wild, and where the inner workings of the mind become a vivid, visual experience. Doucède’s work is both relatable and otherworldly, offering a fresh perspective on the way we see and interpret our own thoughts and emotions.
How she inspired me
This is what inspired me to create the images I created as I strongly agree with the sense of portraying what’s going on inside someone’s head on the outside. I also agree and enjoy the fact that you use physical items and try to set it up really focusing in on the depth of field and other important areas of photography
This is my contact sheet. I went through and rated all of my images from the photoshoot on a star scale from 1-5. 1 being the poorest and 5 being the best. I rated them depending on important qualities such as the lighting and making sure everything is in focus. A big factor in this photoshoot was trying to manage to see the full depth of field.
Editing: As these pictures were taken with a relatively high iso, they required a high amount of editing. Also what I did was on Photoshop make layers of the blueberries and then duplicate them and enhance the saturations to make them pop more as they become more blue
Final Pictures:
My Annotation
In this photo, a woman stands in a kitchen with her hands on a blender, which contains fresh blueberries. Surrounding her head, blueberries appear to float in mid-air, adding an unexpected and magical element to the scene. The soft, natural lighting creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, enhancing the overall feeling of comfort and homeliness. The woman’s calm, focused expression contrasts with the playful movement of the suspended berries, bringing a sense of balance to the image. The photo is inspired by the work of Cerise Doucede, who often blends elements of everyday life with surreal, whimsical touches. Here, the kitchen—a place typically associated with routine—becomes a canvas for creativity, where ordinary objects take on a new, fantastical life. The floating blueberries add a sense of wonder and movement, transforming a simple moment into something extraordinary. The combination of vibrant colours and the surreal composition creates an enchanting feeling, inviting the viewer to see the magic hidden in the everyday.
