curlyclio
01:02 on the 21st of February 2010
Listening to: Points of Authority by Linkin Park
So this blog is about the portraits I've done over the past few years.
In my opinion portraits are all about honesty, showing the audience the real person that is being photographed, ignoring how they want to be seen to lay bare who they really are. To convey this in one shot is a big ask, but I often feel more can be told in a close up than in a photograph with that's busy with the surroundings outfits and fashion statements.
This first photograph is my favourite I've ever taken - not that the lighting is perfect or that it's a particularly technical shot, but because of the girl, and my experience speaking to this classroom of 40 students in South Africa. It was probably the first time I understood how truly privileged I have been to grow up where I did with the support I've had. After a timid start some students asked Max, Nathan, Jess and myself some questions about the Netherlands where we were living.
We were asked twice: "What is the most dangerous animal in the Netherlands?"
South Africa, 2008
These are Laura's (my wonderful flat-mate's) final photos for her Self Portrait project. Love the vulnerability in them, the underlying idea was with the black mask as a protection.
London, 2010
I really like this shot for the shadow on the wall and for the first proper "art shoot" I've done. Although wearing my artwork may stretch the bounds of fashion that's also the point. My model was Sally and I thank her very much for taking the time to wear these spiky, painful pieces.
London, 2010
In Holland, however lovely it is, you get bored. So one afternoon Jess was up for a photo shoot and I was excited to do her make-up and these are just two of the many photos I took that afternoon. I'm devastated she can't model my newest artworks (due to the fact she's in Perth), but she can make up for it next time I see her.
Den Haag, 2009
Rebecca is an incredibly talented and interesting painter, who I feel I've known much longer than for the past 5 months, but I highly recommend you take a look at her blog:
http://missmoss6.blogspot.com/
Personally I feel these two photographs are a good depiction of her personality. What do you think Becca?
Bringing it to family now, my Grandpa and my Dad. These are another two of my favourites, because I'm a big fan of B&W and I think both (especially the one of my Grandpa) are open to personal interpretation.
The Netherlands, 2009
Ehigie, Max and Giulia. All of these are very similar in arrangement but are utterly different in the feelings they show and evoke (or don't).
The Netherlands, 2009
Sicily, 2009
The Netherlands, 2008
This pretty boy is Sam, who throughout my A levels never complained about doing yet another photoshoot. Such a character, I don't think anyone that meets him easily forgets him. These were influenced by Bruce Weber's work for Calvin Klein and the like.
This was such an enjoyable photo shoot with Rosie, she was fantastic and put up with me drawing tatoos on her and fiddling around with camera for ages.
The Netherlands, 2009
Nathan is a special one. Tall, skinny and dashingly handsome - I don't see why he's never tried modeling. But instead he's spent his time traveling and getting to know the world, which is probably the more rewarding choice.
The photos with glitter were very exciting: we sneaked into one of the music rooms at school, got him semi-naked, scattered a load of glitter over his face onto a piano, took these fantastic snaps, freaked out the head of the music department Mr Saunders would see us, dragged a hoover from the art department to the music room, did the worst job of removing the glitter and beads we'd used and legged it back to the art department. All in the space of about 20 minutes. But it was so much fun, and from the outcome: utterly worth it.
The South of France is all I feel I need to say for these photographs:
These are just two of the photographers that have influenced how I view portraits.
- Martin Schoeller - whose use of lighting is beautiful and pure, showing the same beauty and pureness in the subject. Although the lighting is almost the same in each shot it makes for a very recognizable photograph.
I think I need to talk to you about my plans for the FMP! It ties in brilliantly with what you are discussing here.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for capturing me so well. I love the fact that in the second photo it was that afternoon where we got lost and had our first proper discussion! Good times :)