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creative portraits

multi exposure

a technique in which the camera shutter is opened more than once to expose the film multiple times, usually to different images.

Man Ray

In 1922, Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radinsky) freed himself from traditional painting by working with light through camera-less photography. He called this technique “rayographs,” where objects were placed on photosensitive paper and exposed to light, creating abstract images. Though the process existed since the 1830s, Man Ray focused on chance, irrational combinations, and abstraction. His early rayographs were featured in Champs delicious (1922), with an introduction by Dada leader Tristan Tzara, and he later explored moving images in his 1923 film Le Retour à la raison.

Rooted in the Dada movement, which rejected traditional art for randomness and spontaneity, Man Ray’s work embraced these ideas in both paintings and photograms. His photography and art also connected with the Surrealist movement, which aimed to explore the unconscious and the uncanny. He created surreal images like Anatomies, which transformed the human form, and iconic objects like Gift (an altered iron) and Indestructible Object (a metronome with a photo of an eye). A major figure in early MoMA exhibitions, Man Ray’s work was featured in Cubism and Abstract Art (1936) and Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism (1936–37). In 1941, MoMA added key works, including 24 rayographs, highlighting his desire to make photography as automatic as a typewriter.

Alexander Rodchenko

Alexander Rodchenko was a ground breaking artist, both politically and artistically. He worked in many fields, including design, printing, painting, sculpture, and photography. He was also an art theorist and educator, teaching at VKhUTEMAS in Moscow starting in 1920. As a key figure in Russian Constructivism, he co-wrote the 1921 manifesto, advocating for the use of industrial materials in art for a society in revolution.

Rodchenko began photography in 1924, inspired by his earlier work in illustration and design. He incorporated his own images into photomontages and made it a key technique. Known for his experimentation, Rodchenko viewed the camera as a versatile tool for drawing, using unique angles and foreshortening. He encouraged photographers to take multiple shots of an object from various angles.

my image inspired by these artists –

for this photo I edited in photo show 3 different photos then made the effect in photo shop by dragging one photo on top of each other and then making so its blend is lighten and did same on other photo and edited the amount of opacity, on one of the photos the opacity was low so it blended in with the face and the other one is a bit higher but still blends in.

with in this photo multi exposure is used to seem like there is multiple of the subject, 3 different photos with this the subject is looking in 3 different directions to make photo look more interesting. which this photo style is seem more like man rays work.

for this photo i used double exposure, within in this photo, which its most similar to Alexzander Rodchenko. which I also tried with the same photo but added one more photo.

Montage –

 process and the result of making a composite photograph by cutting, gluing, rearranging and overlapping two or more photographs into a new image. Sometimes the resulting composite image is photographed so that the final image may appear as a seamless physical print. A similar method, although one that does not use film, is realized today through image editing software. This latter technique is referred to by professionals as compositing, and in casual usage is often called photoshopping. A composite of related photographs to extend a view of a single scene or subject would not be labelled as a montage, but instead a stitched image or digital image mosaic.

John Stezaker

Stezaker is a British artist who creates collages by combining classic movie stills, vintage postcards, and book illustrations. By manipulating and merging these images, he gives them new meaning. His Mask series, which blends glamorous portraits with scenes like caves or waterfalls, is known for its eerie beauty.

Kensuoke Koike

Kensuke Koike (b. 1980, Japan) creates unique art by altering vintage photos. His approach focuses on using only the elements within the original image to craft a new, contemporary story. For Koike, each piece starts like a puzzle, with its own challenges to solve.

Aleksander Rodchenko

In 1927, Alfred H. Barr, Jr., the first director of the Museum of Modern Art, visited Moscow and met Aleksandr Rodchenko, one of the first Anglophone art historians to do so after the Russian Revolution. Barr was shown a wide range of Rodchenko’s work, including Suprematist paintings, woodcuts, posters, book designs, photographs, and kino sets. Rodchenko was proud of his work, especially his 1921 declaration that painting was dead. He demonstrated this with three monochrome paintings—Pure Red Colour, Pure Yellow Colour, and Pure Blue Colour—exhibited alongside works by other Russian artists. These pieces focused on the material nature of paint, using the primary colours to eliminate representation and reduce painting to its simplest form.

image inspired by these artists –

within this photo its seems most like the artist Kensuoke koike, by that the face has been made into multiple circles which look a bit like an optical allusion.

within this photo I edited it so would give this rectangle distorted effect by the parts are lifted up. also the one blow i used the same original photo however I duplicated it and inverted it and then deleted the sections.

for this photo I used a similar method however i brightened the layer underneath and then blended the top layer, to give this effect.

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is a renowned artist from the Pictures Generation, a group of artists who sought to critique and analyze their relationship with popular culture and mass media. Sherman grew up on Long Island, New York, and in 1972, she enrolled at the State University of New York at Buffalo, initially majoring in painting before switching to photography. Her work is defined by her use of self-portraiture to create fictional characters, exploring themes such as identity, representation, and the construction of femininity. Through her art, Sherman challenges the societal norms and expectations placed on women. While Sherman herself contends that her images are not self-portraits, I believe that, technically, they still function as such, as she uses herself to explore and question the roles and stereotypes imposed on women.

Mood Board of her work

Image Analysis

Mise en scene

It is the arrangement of the scenery. Sherman has used it effectively to portray the woman as a house wife sort of person. The way she is stood over the sink with the white basket for dirty plates and cutlery and washing up liquid near her is very stereotypical. also you can see a pan in the bottom left and a mug bottom centre which she looks to be cleaning. The woman is also wearing an apron tied around her waist.

Visual

Sherman has taken on the role of a housewife preparing a meal for her family, as indicated by her apron and the cooking supplies visible in the frame. The photo appears to have been taken at the kitchen counter, with part of her head cropped out, emphasizing the cramped space and the sense of confinement she may be experiencing. She stands at the counter, holding her stomach and looking over her shoulder, conveying a sense of worry or concern about what might be happening behind her. The act of cradling her stomach suggests protectiveness, possibly toward herself or an unborn child. The overall atmosphere is one of unease, further emphasized by the tight space around her, as she is positioned against the wall, hinting at isolation. Her placement to the right third of the image subtly reinforces her secondary role or diminished importance in the scene.

Technical

The shutter speed in this image is relatively fast, ensuring the subject remains in sharp focus with a well-balanced exposure, despite the monochrome palette. The camera angle is positioned lower, enhancing the sense that we are either sharing the moment with her or observing the scene from an outsider’s viewpoint, much like a friend. The composition is a half-body shot, focusing on her waist and above, which adds intimacy by bringing us closer to her—rather than seeing her full body from a distance. The aperture appears small, keeping most of the image in focus, although the depth of field is shallow, with the pan handle in the foreground blurred.

Contextual

Historically, women have often been depicted in the media as housewives whose roles were limited to depending on men, staying at home to clean, cook, and care for children. They were also expected to maintain their appearance for their husbands, always having their makeup and hair done, in addition to fulfilling these domestic duties. This portrayal reduced women to objects, reinforcing traditional gender roles. However, Sherman subverted these stereotypes by dressing as these idealized women, challenging the media’s narrow and unrealistic representations. Through her series Untitled Film Stills, she highlighted that these portrayals are mere stereotypes, not reflective of the diverse and complex reality of womanhood.

Conceptual

Given the context, it’s clear that Cindy Sherman is the subject in every one of her images. She uses herself to embody various stereotypes, critiquing the film industry through her Untitled Film Stills series. By choosing this title, Sherman targets the film industry as the source of these limited, dominant portrayals of women. By acting as the subject, she mocks the media’s idealized image of the “typical” woman, revealing how these depictions are fabricated. Sherman exaggerates her features, using fake noses and eyebrows to transform her appearance, highlighting the artificiality of these representations. Her work also resonates with today’s media landscape, where many young girls are influenced by models who embody similar stereotypes of femininity, something Sherman was already challenging in her time.

Linking Image

In this pseudo-self portrait, Sherman assumes the persona of Claude Cahun, pioneer of self-portraiture and the French surrealist movement. Like Sherman, Cahun’s interdisciplinary and political art practice explored notions of gender performance, using masquerade and costumes to play with identity construction for the camera. 

Close-cropped and black and white, Sherman highlights the artists’ signature French mime makeup and confrontational gaze. She holds a piece of silk fabric tightly bound at her chin. 

Claude Cahun

Like Sherman, Cahun’s interdisciplinary and political art practice explored notions of gender performance, using masquerade and costumes to play with identity construction for the camera. Close-cropped and black and white, Sherman highlights the artists’ signature French mime makeup and confrontational gaze.

Her work left a huge impression on photography and directly influenced contemporary photographer Cindy Sherman who developed a fascination for disguise.

Identity

What is identity?

identity definition dictionary

It’s a bit like your administrative identity combined with your physical characteristics, such as your date and place of birth. A photographic identity allows you to reveal yourself, to stand out among the crowd of photographers, to ensure your individuality and your irreplaceable artistic fingerprint.

i think that identity describes a person for example the way they appear, the stuff they wear. This can say a lot because it can show what there interests are, additionally identity can have a very big meaning for example like the environment a photo is taken it can be important to someone

masculinity

Masculine images typically convey power, strength, virility, athleticism, and competitiveness whereas feminine images show beauty, submissiveness, nurturance, and cooperation

i think masculine photos show how a male is compared to a women for example the male should be bigger and stronger then a women

femininity

A woman connected to her feminine essence: Chooses cooperation, kindness, and compassion over competition and dominance. Prioritizes creativity, emotional intimacy, and sensual experiences as essential to her well-being.

Claude Cahun

claude cahun is best known for her portraiture and writing, In her writing, she consistently referred to herself as elle (she), and this article follows her practice; but she also said that her actual gender was fluid. For example, in Disavowals, Cahun writes: “Masculine? Feminine? It depends on the situation. Neuter is the only gender that always suits me.” Cahun is most well known for her androgynous appearance, which challenged the strict gender roles of her time.

Claude Cahun was born Lucy Schwob in 1894. She came from a wealthy Jewish family of intellectuals and publishers. In 1918 she adopted the surname of her great uncle Léon Cahun, an Orientalist and Novelist. Her forename, Claude, in French can be either male or female or, in Claude’s case, both.

The goal for Cahuns work is to make people recognise her and that people can be different and at the end of the day everyone is still a human, she achieved these goals by going to prison and getting the death sentence and always stood by her opinion and she never switched up and when she came out of prison she carried on what she thought was right

Cahun’s connection with Jersey began early, with childhood holidays spent in Jersey and in 1939 the start of world war 2 Cahun decided to move to jersey for her safety as she was, lesbian, jewish and an artist

Image Analysis

Technical: the technical aspect of this photo is that Claude Cahun is using a low iso so less light is absorbed by the camera and it gives it the darker affect on lighter things like her hair because her hair is blonde

Visual: In this photo Cahun is angled so her head is facing the camera and the reflection is looking the other way the mirror is kind of like a barrier with her and the reflection.

Conceptual: Cahun is the main target of the photo she is the central idea of the photo, additionally she has no reaction

Contextual: the context behind this photo is that the world war 2 just started and she was Jewish, rebellious, creative and free thinking she was everything the Germans didn’t want but she always carried on and it was kind of like motivation for her

Cindy Sherman

Cindy is one of the most significant artists of the Pictures Generation, who are artists set out to make art that analysed their relationship with popular culture and the mass media. Sherman grew up on Long Island, New York. In 1972 she enrolled at the State University of New York at Buffalo and majored in painting, later switching her major to photography. Cindy Sherman’s work is characterised by her use of self-portraiture to create fictional characters and explore themes such as identity, representation, and the construction of femininity. She challenges societal norms and expectations placed on women. Although Sherman believes her images are not of herself, I technically believe it is her self portraiture.

Mood Board of Cindy Sherman’s work

Image Analysis

Visual

Sherman has adopted the role of a housewife who is cooking for her family as she is wearing an apron and she has cooking supplies in the frame of the image. It looks like this image was taken on the kitchen counter, as some of her head is cut out of the frame to show the cramped environment that she feels. She is posed at the counter whilst holding her stomach and looking over her shoulder to represent her concern for whatever is going on behind the scenes. The fact that she is holding her stomach gives a vibe of protectiveness and nurturing for herself/ the possible child on the way. There is an essence of worry and concern paired with the small area she’s in as she is pushed to the wall to show she’s not alone, and she is to the right third of the image to show she’s less important in the image.

Technical

The shutter speed in this image is quite fast as the subject is in focus, with a well-balanced exposure although the image is monochrome. The angle is taken from a lower position to embrace the feeling that we are there with her in the image, or that we are viewing the situation in the image from an outsiders perspective, like a friend. This image is a half body shot, as it only shows her waist and above. This makes the shot more intimate as it feels like we are closer to her, as we are not seeing her full body like if we were far away. The aperture is small as most of the image is in focus, however the depth of field is shallow as the pan handle is blurred in the foreground.

Contextual

Historically, women have typically been portrayed in the media as housewives whose jobs are to depend on men and be a stay at home mother who cleans and cooks. They were also expected to be carers for the children, and were seen as objects to men, as they’d be expected to have makeup and hair done for their husbands whilst also doing all of the previous roles I mentioned. However, Sherman challenged this dominant ideology by dressing up as these stereotypical women to prove that everything portrayed in the media is not realistic and that it doesn’t define being a woman. Sherman’s ‘untitled film stills’ were intended to resemble the fact that it is all just stereotypes.

Conceptual

By knowing the context, it’s obvious that Cindy Sherman herself is the subject in every image. She uses herself to perform in these images to capture different stereotypes to criticise the film making industry as her images are part of the ‘untitled film stills’. She targets the film industry by using this title, to show they are the industry who represent women in this dominant gender ideology. By being the subject, she makes a mockery of the mass media and the stereotypical “woman”, as she shows that none of it is real when she uses fake noses and fake eyebrows to change her look and make it overdramatic. This could also link to the media today as many young girls see models online who dress as the stereotypical girly girl, which Sherman challenges in her images from her time.

Claude Cahun

Claude Cahun was a French surrealist photographer, sculptor, and writer. Schwob adopted the pseudonym Claude Cahun in 1914. Cahun is best known as a writer and self-portraitist, who assumed a variety of performative personae. 

Studio Portraiture

Photographers use studio lighting to be able to have full control over the lighting used on the subjects face. This way, it is easier to direct the model or manipulate the lighting by changing the position of both to create the effect that Whereas, with natural lighting, it can be more unpredictable, so it makes it harder to get the shot. There is more consistency with studio lighting as the weather and time of day does not affect the lighting unlike the natural light so many photographers prefer to use it.

1 point lighting helps to illuminate the subject so they are visible in the camera lens, but with this lighting it also helps to define and dramatise their features as it enables a lot of shadows, creating a high contrast in the image as there is only one light source. This can create a minimalist look as it is the most basic type of lighting to do. This setup can create different looks depending on where you place the light. For example, putting the light directly in front of the subject gives even, flat lighting, while moving it to the side or above can create shadows and highlight texture. This simple lighting technique is used for portraits as it gives a dramatic or natural effect depending on how the light is positioned. It focuses the attention towards the subject and also helps to control the mood of the image.

1 Light Setup — Joseph D. Tran | Commercial Photography

2 point lighting uses 2 light sources where one acts as the main and key light source whereas the second is an accent light that can help to add interest to the image and also reduce shadows in comparison to 1 point lighting, but they are still noticeable. This is useful as it introduces depth as the second light source can enhance the contrast or soften it depending on what angle the light is at.

3 point lighting is the most commonly used type of lighting as it involves 3 varied lights to illuminate the face, which automatically makes a well-balanced, controlled image as the shadows are more soft. Typically, with 3 point lighting, there is a main light (the key light) which is used as a primary source of lighting the face up, followed by a fill light which is used to soften the shadows created by the main light to make the image less intense, and lastly, a back light (which is normally behind the subject) to separate the subject from the background and create a distinct divide between them. This is mostly used for high-end fashion, or beauty as the lighting focuses on the subject by illuminating them fully.

Three-Point Lighting: Basics and Setup Tips

Fill lighting in photography refers to a technique where additional light is used to soften and reduce the harsh shadows created by the key light. Its primary purpose is to balance the overall exposure of the image, ensuring that the shadow areas are visible and not overly dark, while still maintaining the dramatic contrast created by the key light. This is usually a reflector that is placed on the other side of the light to balance the harsh shadows created with the key light.

What is Fill Light in Photography? | PetaPixel

For Rembrandt lighting, the aim is to light one side of the face while leaving the other side in the shadow, creating a highlighted and obvious triangle of light on the darker side of the cheek. This technique is perfect for producing a dramatic yet natural-looking portrait that accentuates the subject’s facial features, adding depth and dimension, whilst also being creative.

Rembrandt Lighting: What it is and Why You Should Use it

Butterfly lighting is a regularly-used, portrait lighting technique where the light is placed above and directly in front of the subject, creating a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly shape (which is where the name came from). This setup is often used to flatter the subject’s face, highlighting and exaggerating their cheekbones and jawline while creating soft shadows. It’s commonly used in beauty and fashion, as it provides a slightly dramatic look with a focus on the face. This technique is great for giving subjects a polished, elegant appearance.

Chiaroscuro lighting in photography refers to a technique that emphasises and exaggerates strong contrasts between light and dark areas to create a dramatic effect. The term is Italian, which translates to “light and dark,” and is inspired by the painting style of the same name. In photography, chiaroscuro lighting is achieved by using a single light source to cast shadows and intense highlights, often leaving parts of the subject in complete darkness while brightly lighting up other areas. This lighting style is very effective for creating a mood or depth in the image. This lighting technique is mostly used for portraits, and dramatic fashion photography. By carefully controlling the light and shadow, chiaroscuro can highlight the subject’s shape and form.

This is my contact sheet for all the images I took. As you can see, there is a wide variety of poses and angles to capture the lighting in each photo, as I used all three of the lighting techniques (Chiaroscuro, Butterfly and Rembrandt).

Below is my image selection, where I carefully highlighted the best photos in green. The images I placed in red were the ones that I thought weren’t to the best standard they could be, due to the positioning of the camera (off centre) or due to the model not being serious. The images I placed in yellow were the ones that I thought were average, but they didn’t stand out to me.

This is my example of Rembrandt lighting, where I outlined the triangle on the darker side of the face in red, to exaggerate the obvious difference in lighting. This happens as the nose casts a shadow onto the darker side of the face due to the position of the lighting, and therefore the light can only hit a certain amount of the face (creating the triangle).

This is my example of Chiaroscuro lighting, where the contrast between light and dark is key to this technique. This technique makes half of her face blend into the background, to highlight the light side and draw your attention.

Lastly, this is my example of Butterfly lighting, where the light casts a shadow beneath your nose by placing it above the camera position.

Virtual Gallery

Evaluation

Gel Lighting and Split Lighting

Contact Sheet and Image Selection

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman was born in January 19, 1954 in the United States, She was part of the Pictures generation photography movement whose purpose was to make art that analysed their relationship with popular culture and the mass media. She worked at the intersection of personal and collective memory section where she rummaged through the throwaway products from their youth.

Before she became a photographer she at first experimented painting in a super-realist style in art school during the aftermath of American Feminism. She then in the 1970s decided to turn to photography to explore a wide range of common female social roles.

Her key goals of her photography is that she wanted her work to be characterised by her use of self-portraiture to create fictional characters and to explore themes such as identity, representation and the construction of femininity.

To achieve her goals she would typically take photographs of herself in a range of different costumes to portray the common roles of women, the way society portrayed women as back then. And she would then take the photos by herself in her studio assuming multiple roles such as an author, director, make-up artist, hairstylist, wardrobe mistress, and model.

Cindy Sherman herself does not consider her work to be self-portraits as she took the pictures while wearing a costume/being in character but she does acknowledge that technically in the photo wearing the costumes is her but in her opinion she does not agree that her photos are a self portrait.

Cindy Sherman Image Analysis

Visual

Untitled, Film Still #14, New York, Museum of Modern Art (1978)

The character that Sherman is adopting may be a women in her home who is not very comfortable and may be stressed, to back up my claim you can see on the right side of the dresser the picture frame of her, you can also see the positioning of her hand where on hand is comforting her neck like she is holding it up and on the other hand it looks like she’s holding a weapon especially with the angle that she’s holding it at. The mirror on the wall reveals her back which can suggest that she is vulnerable and we also get to see a table with a cocktail glass and a jacket on the chair which could be hers or it could be someone else’s, and in the top left corner you can notice smoke which could suggest somebody else is in her home.

From all the things we can see in this image and the title being called an “Untitled Film Still” this may be trying to portray the typical women in distress that are often seen in movies and this photo was most likely created to criticise the media and their depiction of females.

Technical

The photo could be using a wide focus aperture as all the details in the foreground are clear and easy to see, the photo could of also used a slightly fast shutter speed as the subject doesn’t appear blurry and the photo also has a lot of light coming in. The angle of the photo is quite high to show her full body so we can have more of an idea of her character but also be able to view the things around the room which helps you immersive yourself in her environment. The photo is a full body shot as well as this helps to get a full view and understanding of her character.

Contextual

Back in 1978 where the picture was taken, women were perceived as house wife’s, being weak, couldn’t fight for themselves and struggling to be independent in society. The photo she has taken takes these ideas and she portrays them to criticise the media with how they used this perception of women that society saw back in the day and how they integrated those stereotypes into their films, hence why these series of photos she took were named “untitled film stills”. This photo is meant to show that women can fight for themselves and that the stereotypes that were used and seen were not accurate.

Conceptual

Seeing that the photo is not a housewife but instead Sherman herself who is posing, it gives us the idea that Sherman is the one directly calling the media out as she was the one who took and posed for her photos. She may have done this to show the mass media that she’s aware of what happens in the media and how females are presented in those films, and criticises how they always make females look so vulnerable. This could link to the media today as there is still many movies and different types of media which still show women playing the same stereotypes from decades ago, However it is less common now then it used to be back in the 1970s.

Identity, Femininity and Masculinity

Identity is the unique set of characteristics that are used to describe and identify the person themselves. Identity is not just based off looks but also their personality, views, interests and what they do in their life in general. Having an identity is important as you can identify yourself as a person and it can also help you connect with people who may have similar interests as you.

Femininity is the characteristics, attributes, behaviours and anything related that is generally associated with women and girls. For example this is things like long hair, wearing pink, having long nails or they’re moods and personality. It is basically a typical representation and picture of how women and girls are seen.

Masculinity is the same but with characteristics of men and boys. This can be things like being strong, independence, confidence and taking interest in things like football and cars. Its the typical representation and picture of how men and boys are seen.

Identity can be influenced by lots of things like for example:

Gender identity is the identification of someone’s gender and how they perceive themselves. People may identify themselves as someone different and differ themselves to how society would perceive them as.

Culture identity is a part of a persons identity and is usually related to their race, culture, nationality and religion. For example stating your nationality would be identifying your culture identity.

Social identity is the group in society that you identify as, for example people born in 1997 – 2012 would be identified as gen z as they were born in that specific span of a few years. So if they’re gen z they would be seen in the gen z group of society.

Geographical identity is the identification of a person based in the country/area they live in, for example lets say you were born in Texas and raised there for a majority of your life you may refer to yourself as a Texan to other people.

Political identity is where people define and engage their beliefs in relation to the political system, movements and policies. There beliefs typically come from personal beliefs, cultural influences or experiences with governance and power dynamics.

Lack/loss of identity is where someone experiences confusion or absence of their identity. By having a lack or loss of identity it can affect a persons personal, social, cultural or political parts of their life and often leading them feeling disconnected with other people.

Stereotypes is assumptions or generalized beliefs made based by a persons characteristics such as their race, gender, age, religion, profession, nationality and other traits. These beliefs are often exaggerated and inaccurate and can lead to certain biases in how people see and interact with others.

Prejudices is a opinion or judgement made on someone without any reason, experience or evidence. This often involves negative attitudes, feelings or beliefs about people based on their particular group, such as gender, religion, race, ethnicity.

Artist Reference -Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman was a key figure in the pictures generation. The purpose of the movement was to make art that analysed their relationship with popular culture and the mass media.

Cindy Sherman  enrolled in the visual arts department at Buffalo State University, where she majored in painting. this was before she did photography. In the late 70s she switched to photography.

Cindy Sherman’s work is use of self-portraiture to create fictional characters and explore themes such as identity, representation, and the construction of femininity. She also  To portrayed the various roles and identities of herself and other modern women.

Her work usually features photographs that depict herself dressed and made up as different female characters. Sherman’s photos are often interpreted as feminist art since her works raise questions regarding the objectification of women by the male gaze and the construction of the female gender.

Cindy Sherman’s photos were self portraits because a statue or a person was present every time. Cindy Sherman think her photos are not self-portraits because it looks nothing like her, she stated.

Cindy Shermans Photos In A

Mood board

Image Analysis

Visual

Sherman is looking away from the camera this implies she might be looking at someone or she might be guarded. By having the mirror it shows her back, which is quite revealing and it implies she’s quite vulnerable. In her left hand she’s is holding her own evening bag, this isn’t being held the correct way, by holding it like a weapon it shows she’s in danger. By seeing the smoke in the mirror it shows someone else is present in the room at the same time. She is posed with the right fist on her neck to support it this shows she may be uncomfortable or she might of hurt her neck. Furthermore there could be a bruise on her arm which would explain her discomfort and vulnerability.

Technical

The aperture in this Film Still is a narrow aperture because everything in the photo is in focus. A smaller aperture suggests there is a larger depth of field. The shutter speed is slow because you can see all of the details and there is no filming any action in this photo. I predict the shutter speed is 1/15-1/2. This photo is a full body shot because none of here body has been cut off. This photo has photographed the important things.

Contextual

Historically,media narratives have constrained women to follow what the man does. In the 1950-60s the film stills that Sherman made imply femininity that, through the media culture of movies, had a hold on America’s collective imagination at the time.The film also represented social class, status and reputation.

Conceptual

Overall, Cindy is using selfies to show she can deceive everyone and can be who she’s wants to be. Furthermore challenging mass media. This also relates to the current culture of phones and media.

EXPLORING LIGHTING

Studio Lighting: An Overview

Studio lighting refers to artificial lighting used in a controlled environment, like a photography or film studio, to illuminate a subject. It allows the photographer to manipulate light to create desired effects, emphasize particular features, and achieve consistent results regardless of ambient light conditions.

Why use studio lighting?

  1. Provides total control over light intensity, direction, and quality.
  2. Enables unique effects like dramatic shadows, soft highlights, or a specific mood.
  3. Maintains the same lighting conditions across multiple shots or setups.
  4. Helps eliminate unwanted shadows, balance highlights, or fill darker areas.

Common Lighting Techniques

https://www.brightonwestvideo.com/blog/setting-up-a-video-studio/

1-Point Lighting

Setup: A single light source, typically positioned at a 45-degree angle to the subject.

  • Use: Creates dramatic shadows and emphasizes texture or mood.
  • Drawbacks: May cause harsh shadows on the opposite side of the subject.

2-Point Lighting

Setup: Two light sources — key light and fill light.

  • Use: The key light defines the main source of illumination, and the fill light softens shadows.
  • Advantage: Balances the shadows while retaining some depth.

3-Point Lighting

Setup: Adds a third light (backlight) to the 2-point system.

  • Key light: Primary source, highlighting the subject.
  • Fill light: Reduces contrast and softens shadows.
  • Backlight: Separates the subject from the background by adding a rim of light.
  • Use: Widely used in portrait photography and videography for balanced, professional lighting.
https://streamyard.com/blog/how-to-set-up-a-three-point-lighting-system-key-fill-backlighting

Notable Lighting Styles

Rembrandt Lighting

https://falconphotographic.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/how-to-create-a-simple-rembrandt-style-lighting/
  • Features: A triangle of light under the subject’s eye on the shadowed side.
  • Use: Creates dramatic, moody portraits with a natural feel.
  • Setup: Key light placed at 45° above and to the side, creating shadows.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tawcan/3626391329/

My attempt.

Butterfly Lighting

  • Features: A butterfly-shaped shadow under the nose.
  • Use: Flattering for beauty shots, minimizes wrinkles and skin imperfections.
  • Setup: Key light positioned directly in front and slightly above the subject.
https://profoto.com/uk/tips/how-to-create-butterfly-lighting

Backlighting

Features :High contrast , silhouette , highlights edges, gives glowing outline. Dramatic effect

Use: This method is used to create visually stunning and dramatic effects in photographs.

setup : the technique where the main light source is positioned behind the subject, illuminating them from the back and facing the camera.

https://www.blairacademyphoto.com/how-to-create-a-silhouette-portrait-with-backlight-and-uv-details

My attempt.

chiaroscuro

https://expertphotography.com/chiaroscuro-lighting/

chiaroscuro lighting is a technique that emphasizes strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic, three-dimensional effect. The term “chiaroscuro” originates from the Italian words chiaro (light) and scuro (dark), and it was historically used in painting, especially during the Renaissance period, by artists like Caravaggio and Rembrandt.

  • Features: High-contrast light and shadow, emphasizing dramatic intensity.
  • Use: Evokes mood and depth; often seen in film noir and classical paintings.
  • Setup: Key light with minimal fill, or a single harsh light source.

In photography and studio lighting, chiaroscuro is achieved by using a single light source or a focused lighting setup to create pronounced shadows and highlights. This technique is particularly effective in creating depth, mood, and a sense of volume in portraits, still life, and conceptual photography.

Artist Reference research

  1. Annie Leibovitz: Known for her dramatic use of soft lighting and shadows in portraiture.
  2. Richard Avedon: Famous for minimalist lighting in studio portraits, highlighting facial expressions and details.
  3. Irving Penn: Renowned for his use of controlled lighting to emphasize form, texture, and elegance.
  4. Gregory Crewdson: Uses cinematic lighting setups to create complex, mood-driven narratives.
  5. David LaChapelle: Known for vibrant and surreal compositions, utilizing bold lighting techniques for impact.

Further detail on my favourite artist, David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle is a renowned photographer and director known for his bold, surreal, and hyper-stylized imagery. His work often combines elements of fine art, pop culture, and social commentary, resulting in vibrant and thought-provoking compositions. LaChapelle’s photography is iconic for its extravagant use of colour, dramatic lighting, and creatively staged sets. He frequently collaborates with celebrities, creating editorial pieces that blur the line between fantasy and reality.


  • LaChapelle’s work often addresses themes like materialism, celebrity culture, religion, and human vulnerability. His images tell intricate stories through their elaborate setups and symbolic elements.
  • Staging and Detail:
    Every element in LaChapelle’s photographs is carefully planned and executed. He uses custom-built sets, costumes, and props to bring his visions to life.
  • Colors: His work is saturated with intense, often unnatural colors that make his images pop.
  • Lighting: He uses bold lighting setups to create a sense of drama and dimension, often blending hard and soft light for contrast.
  • Surrealism: Props, costumes, and sets are often exaggerated or surreal, adding layers of meaning to his work.

LaChapelle`s Work


My attempts at using Coloured gels in the studio.


I used coloured gels and strategic lighting to emphasize contrasts and create a sense of mood and depth in the portraits. Here’s how I approached the process:

Lighting Setup

I placed coloured gels over two types of lights to achieve this effect:

  1. Spotlight: Used to direct focused light on the subject’s face or create striking highlights. The gels added bold, saturated colours, like red and blue, which helped shape the mood of the image.
  2. Honeycomb Light Modifier: This was key to controlling the spread of light. By narrowing the light beam, I could focus on specific areas of the subject while preventing unwanted spill into the background, allowing for sharp contrasts between light and shadow.

Creative Process

  • Colour Selection: I chose complementary colours (e.g., red and blue) to create visual tension and contrast in the portraits. These colours helped highlight the contours of the face and added a dynamic energy to the shots.
  • A red gel on the side light created a strong outline of the subject.
  • A blue gel from the opposite side added cool highlights.

Camera Settings

  1. ISO 100: I selected a low ISO to ensure the cleanest possible image with minimal noise. Studio lighting provides ample light, so a higher ISO wasn’t necessary.
  2. Shutter Speed 1/125: Studio flashes have a sync speed limit, and exceeding this (e.g., going faster than 1/125) could result in a partially exposed frame, as the camera shutter might not fully open during the flash. Keeping it at 1/125 allowed me to properly sync with the studio lights without losing any of the exposure.
  3. Aperture (f-stop): I set the aperture based on the intensity of the studio lights and the desired depth of field. A moderate aperture (e.g., f/8) helped maintain focus on the subject while keeping the lighting balanced across the face

Shooting Process

  • Flash Syncing: The studio flash provided consistent light bursts, so I ensured my settings were in sync with the flash duration for even illumination.
  • Colour Gels: The gels absorbed some light, so I occasionally adjusted the aperture to compensate and maintain the correct exposure.

Exploring Lighting

This photo shows difference types of lighting and how it affects the portrait.



Studio lighting setups give photographers the flexibility to create different looks and lighting effects in their photos. These setups have a big impact on the style and mood of your images–allowing you to create the effect you or your clients desire.




In photography, 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point lighting refer to different setups for illuminating a subject. These setups control the mood, depth, and focus of the subject through how light is positioned. Each technique addresses different visual and narrative needs.


1-Point Lighting

One-point lighting is the most basic lighting setup, involving a single light source. This primary light, known as the key light, is typically placed at an angle to the subject. The result is a photograph with strong shadows and high contrast, which adds a dramatic and mysterious feel to the image. This setup is often used in portrait photography to create a moody and intense atmosphere.

In this portrait, I used a hard one point lighting so create half light half shadow effect. This one point lighting technique uses a single key light at an angle to the face this makes one half of the face lit up and the other in darkness. This particular one point lighting technique is also called split lighting. This is where the face is split in contrast between light and shadow. This technique is used to create a dramatic and moody atmosphere. I also experimented with a black and white version of the portrait which gives the image a dramatic effect.


2-Point Lighting

When moving to a two-point lighting setup, an additional light source is introduced—the fill light. The key light remains the primary source of illumination, placed at an angle to the subject, while the fill light is positioned opposite the key light. The purpose of the fill light is to soften and reduce the shadows created by the key light, resulting in a more balanced and natural look. This technique is useful in both portraits and product photography to highlight details without casting overly dramatic shadows.


3-Point Lighting

The three-point lighting setup is more advanced, involving three light sources: the key light, the fill light, and the back light (also known as the rim light). The key light and fill light are positioned similarly to the two-point lighting setup. However, the addition of the back light, placed behind the subject, adds a crucial element by creating a sense of depth. This back light helps to separate the subject from the background, giving the image a more three-dimensional and professional appearance. This technique is widely used in film, television, and portrait photography to achieve a polished and well-lit look.




Rembrandt lighting is a popular technique in photography where the light source is positioned at about a 45-degree angle from the subject. This setup creates a distinctive triangular patch of light under the eye on the side of the face that is in shadow. It’s named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who often used this lighting style in his portraits. This technique adds depth and dimension to the subject’s face, making the photograph look dramatic and visually appealing. It’s particularly effective for portraits, as it enhances facial features and adds a professional touch to the image.




In these photos, I attempted to create Rembrandt Lighting by positioning the light source at about a 45 degree angle from the subject. These photos were successful as I managed to create the distinctive Rembrandt triangle underneath the eye. To improve these portraits, I could experiment with the angle of the lighting more to create a more vivid and bold triangle of light on one side of the face making it more distinct and standing out more. I also experimented with black and white versions of the portraits which accentuate the lighting technique and creates a more dramatic effect with the light and shadow.



Butterfly lighting is a technique where the main light source is placed directly in front of and above the subject, typically above their eye level and angled downwards. This setup creates a shadow under the nose that resembles a butterfly, hence the name. This lighting style highlights the cheekbones and creates a flattering, glamorous look, making it popular in beauty and fashion photography. Butterfly lighting is especially effective for subjects with prominent cheekbones or a slim face, as it enhances facial contours and adds a touch of elegance to the portrait.




Chiaroscuro lighting is a technique in photography that creates a strong contrast between light and shadow, resulting in a dramatic and moody effect. The term “chiaroscuro” is derived from Italian, where “chiaro” means clear or light, and “scuro” means dark or shadow. This lighting style uses a single light source to illuminate the subject, while the rest of the scene is left in shadow. The stark contrast enhances the three-dimensionality of the subject and adds a sense of depth and texture. It’s often used in portrait photography to create intense, powerful images with a striking visual impact.




Fill lighting in photography is used to reduce shadows and soften the overall lighting of a scene. Imagine you’re taking a photo of someone, and one side of their face is in deep shadow because of the main light source, called the key light. By adding fill light, you gently illuminate those darker areas, creating a more balanced and natural-looking image. This helps to ensure that details are visible in both the brightly lit and shaded parts of the photo. Essentially, fill lighting adds that extra touch to make your photos look more even and pleasing to the eye.



In these portraits I used one key light positioned to one side of the face. As shown in the first portrait, one side of the face is lit up and the other is in shadow. In the second portrait, the model held up a reflector. This reflector acts as a fill light in which it subtly lights up the other side of the face. This fill light reduces the shadows and improves the general lighting in the portrait and shows more detail in the face. This creates a more balanced and natural looking image. Essentially the reflector makes the image more pleasing to the eye and reduces the moody effect that the extra shadow portrays



Back lighting in photography is when the main light source is behind the subject, pointing towards the camera. This creates a silhouette effect, highlighting the edges of the subject with a glowing outline while the front of the subject is darker. It’s often used to create dramatic or ethereal images, making the subject stand out against the background.



This isn’t perfect backlighting in this portrait because the light source isn’t directly behind the subject, it is more to the side. As shown in the example images above, the image on the left is more silhouette like and is what backlighting would look like if the light source was directly behind the subject. The example image on the right of Leonardo di Caprio is more like the image I created. With this particular lighting the left side of the face is illuminated however there is shadow around the eyes and the centre of the face. This creates a moody tone and a different effect.


This is a portrait with the same lighting as the last however, the subject is in a different pose which their face is illuminated and since they are looking up at the light and the light is shining down on them, it creates shadow underneath the chin and from the jaw. This makes most of the neck area in shadow. This lighting creates a dark and moody effect with the shadow, however the face being in light still gives the image a natural look.







Finally, I created a virtual gallery to show all the different types of lighting techniques in my portraits. One, two, three point lighting, Rembrandt lighting and butterfly lighting. All these different lighting techniques are used to create different atmospheres and each portrait has its own mood and vibe set by the lighting. If that’s lots of shadow or minimal shadow in different areas, all the techniques create unique portraits with their own feel.