Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.





CreditPierre Gonnord

This image was taken when workers in a mine were rescued after a fatal accident. The subject stands in darkness as they were rescued during the night time and he is clearly still in shock and very tired. The photographer did an excellent job in capturing the mood in the image and emotions that would arise from a situation like this.



Erik Madigan Heck

This photo shows Adele standing against a blank background as if her body language and facial expressions are the only things that should be recognized. I get a sense that her character in this image is innocent yet frightened. The face tells me that she is frozen in fear or suffering from internal conflicts. The photographer did a great job capturing the mood, especially with the black and white.



Brian Flood

This photo is very interesting especially in these modern times. It is clear that Donald Trump is pointing in the direction of a crowd supposedly after giving a speech with a curious and "dumb" look on his face. This goes along with what many people think of him as a "joker" and an "idiot". The portrait shows that in a public view, he has a dumb look on his face and pointing in another direction as to find a scapegoat to make a bigger idiot out of (voters and other candidates). This photograph could say a million different things, but this is just a few of them that the photographer captured.


MARTIN SCHOELLER

If you have ever seen the Social Network, then you would know how Mark Zuckerberg earned millions of dollars. The way he did it was not a noble one, however. He double crossed his friends and left them without any credit in the product of Facebook. This image can show his guilt years after what had happened. His eyes are somewhat red and pink that indicate he could have been crying (from guilt). His mouth that is partially open sends a message that he is speechless. The image capture Mark as if he is trying to apologize for all he has done wrong and is emotionally speechless.