Photographer Research

Elliott Erwitt
"Elliott Erwitt was born on 1928 in Paris...In 1948 Erwitt met Edward Steichen, Robert Capa and Roy Stryker who liked his photographs and took a personal guiding interest becoming significant mentors...In 1953 freshly decommissioned from military service, Erwitt was invited to join Magnum Photos as a member by its founder Capa. In 1968 he became President of the prestigious agency for 3 terms. To date he continues to be one of the leading figures in the competitive field of photography. His journalistic essays, illustrations, and advertisements have been featured in publications around the world for over half a century." 

Elliott Erwitt uses framing devices in a number of ways, he uses reflections, objects, people and windows. 

This photo uses the reflection of a car to make the couple the subject rather than the shore. Depth of field is used to make the reflection the subject by keeping the car in focus and keeping the rest of the photo out of focus. Making the car in focus shows it as the important part of the photo and makes the viewer want look at it. There is links to American Culture with the iconic 1950's taking a girl out and 'park'. The mirror itself has links to America as it is rounded which is iconic with classic 1950 American cars. 

Elliot Erwitt uses people to frame this photo with the rule of thirds. The subject of the photo is created by having her centre frame and using two men in the left and right third and being out of focus which makes the centre frame the subject area by having it in focus. The two men are also both looking at her which leads the viewer to do the same. The clothing has connotations to a extravagant event, the women seems to be either hosted or in honour of the women as the two men are standing in line and looking at her which has connotations that she is of importance. 

This photo uses a car window to create the subject, attention to the subject is created by having them in the direct centre of the photo. It also helps that the rest of the photo is not of that much interest and in parts out of focus. The couple is seen through a window and the woman is wearing a white vail and the man a suit which links to the idea that this is after a wedding, also in the reflection of the window we can see what seems to be a church which links to the idea of marriage. 

This photo uses windows to frame and image, the boy is clearing the subject and attention is drawn to the cracks in the glass which are directly over the boys eye. This has connotations to violence and crime which links to the expression of the boy, rather him being happy and childlike he looks mature and depressed.

Window framing is used again but combined with rule of thirds. The subject of the photo is the boy and the large inflated animal; The Pink Panther. The boy is in the left most third inside an apartment and can be seen through a window, The interior of the apartment is darker than the surface of the building making him standout more and helps him be framed. The Pink Panther is in the left most third and is little bit more exposed which draws the viewers eye towards it, it is also large and cartoonish so it stands out. We then have connotations of a parade which could be going on on the street below which is what the boy is looking at but the picture by itself makes it look the boy is trying to see The Pink Panther. 

Florence Henri

This photo is good in using mirrors as a framing device in an abstract way. The use of two mirrors makes a simple image of fruit far more complex. The image cuts of parts of the subjects creating a much more complex image. There is also some reflection in the base that an orange which adds another dimension to the image.

The image uses a mirror to frame the subject. Because the camera is at an angle we can't see it. This allows for the frame to only be framing the subject and not distracted by anything else. The subject fits centre frame in the mirror but slightly to the left of the of the actual image. The mirror is put up against a plain background, can't say what colour it is becasue the image is in black and white but we can see that it is just a solid colour, this means that the frame and its contents are undistracted and nothing else becomes takes the focus away.

This image uses an empty frame and a frame with a mirror to create a portraiture. The person adds a subject is easily where the viewer focuses on because of the surrounding white around her, this use of negative space also helps frame the subject. The light also helps as it keeps one side in darkness but the other side that contains the subject is well lit. 

Tom Hussey

"Tom Hussey is an American photographer specialising in commercial advertising and lifestyle photography"

This portrait uses the mirror to reflect the subjects past. The image is clearly an edited image that shows how the subject used to be when she was young but now has become older and is different. We get the connotation that she stills her as the young version or that she does not want to see what she has become rather than what she is. Also the props that she is her hands changes from reading a book to writing, linking to the idea of things she could do back then but cant now. 

This image does the same as the last where it shows the same person but old and young. It has the same features where the prop is changed but links together as the older version is stirring a drink but the younger version is stirring a flask, this also links to the idea that the older version has retired. The 50's cartoon style filter is also on the younger version linking to the time the older version was young in.   

 This one links to the idea of the military and also links the america. The younger version is wearing a US military uniform used in the Second World War which links the idea of who the man used to be and what he is now. It also links to the idea that he only sees himself as solider and nothing else.

This one has the mirror props usage in regards to letters to his certificate for graduation. This one also shows the difference in emotion as well. The younger version is very happily smiling but the older version is reflecting on the happiness rather than sharing it.

Pablo Bartholomew

"Pablo Bartholomew is an Indian photojournalist and an independent photographer based in New Delhi, India"

This photo uses a similar technique to the mirrors and reflection but instead uses a magnifying glass to create a frame. The subject from a small child to a stranger almost monster like subject. It also draws the viewers eye straight to the face of the subject. 

This one focuses on using reflection as a frame. The mirror frames the subject in the reflection. There are connotations of beauty pressures on women. The background also links to that as it is another woman putting makeup on, she is out of focus but we can tell what she's doing as the only part of the photo that is in focus is the reflection of the subject adding makeup so the whole image is linked to that and the background is explained by the main subject.

 This image uses reflection again but instead uses a leading eye to make the viewer look to the left. The reflection shows a more concerned girl rather than a girl adding makeup. The eyes are prominent and makes the viewer follow them.

This photo uses the window frame to frame the subject of the driver. The subject has a bored emotionless expression which relates to the idea that he is bored of his mundane job and city life which we can get from the vehicle and background as it is a taxi and it is a city. 

Ben Heine

This photo contians a frame that links to the rest of the image. The holding of the paper allows for a creation of a frame and for the photographer to put anything into them. The contents of the frame is also comedic relating to the idea that it is differnet to the reality and how the photographer perceives the enviroment, 

With this photo we also have a paper frame within the image, the subject within the frame contians a opposite to the actual image by it being at night and then goes on to have some unrealistic imagery by having a wild large lion running down the street. We can draw conotations to danger in the streets at night but they are safe during the day. 

The paper frame contains a subject that matches the rest of the image as they both in black and white, we also get to see a different perspective on how some sees the alley and the idea of being swallowed whole. We also don't know if this is actually how the alley looks it could be the end of the alley and the photographer is adding the idea of it contonuing out. We also get connotations to escapism as the are at the end of the alley within the frame has a tree which links to the idea of escaping city life to nature. 

This images varies from the others as the subject within the frame does not contain something abstract or different from the norm or what is expected. The frame instead adds something that should be there and could be there. Giving an intersting look at the subject rather than just a plain photo of the tram. It is also interesting how the subject would be moving but instead we have a freeze frame of the Tram. 

Research Log

The framing in this photo has connotations to how mundane travel is on public transport. Each passenger has no real signs of individuality which makes them blend into the background and create no real subject in the frame apart from the train itself. The lack of a subject centre frame shows how there really isn't anything interesting on public transport and it is just boring. The frame itself is also part of the train is out of focus showing that it is also as mundane as the rest of the train. The fact that this is the end of the train seen by a lack of window at the end of the carriage shows that the photographer is trying to show the lack of interesting by removing a visual interesting element. 

This photo uses depth of field to well frame the image. Having the bolt out of focus makes the viewer not want to look at it but rather look at the in focus centre. The bolt also links to the main subject of the photo (railway). 

The photo uses a reflection to frame the photo and make the photographer as the subject, there is also someone in the background of the photo which suggests that the photo was taken in a public place and adds more interest to the photo. The photo uses rule of thirds to also frame the photo well as in the left most third we have a mostly empty third that is used as negative space to highlight the reflection in the centre third by having it out of focus. The right most third again is out of focus and used to highlight the centre third but still contains a person in it to help add more to the photo. 

This photo uses contrast of a nature and tarmac. Having the mirror on the floor to reflect the sky and leaves creates a perfect way to show contrast. Using a mirror on the floor with a relatively simplistic background is something I would like to use in my own work to frame a subject or show contrast

This image is edited to have the subject in colour but the rest of the image in black and white. I would like to use this in my own work but to have the whole reflection in colour rather than just the subject. Using a sunglasses as a reflection device is also something I would like to use as it works well in a portraiture frame. 

Overall, I am not found of this photo. The depth of field is off putting and makes it hard to look at, but the idea of using a phone to reflect is something I would like to try in my shoots. This photo uses it to reflect a tree to have connotations of nature vs the modern day but I would like to use it as portraiture to link to the idea of people constantly being on their phones. 

Work Record 2

Work Record 2

Plans for shoot:   Discuss what you planned to do and the resources/techniques you will use.

For my second shoot I want to focus on portraiture framing in a studio. I want to create a series portraits using different framing devices to highlight the subject. I would like to use reflections, hands and light to frame the subject.

Research influence:

For my research I looked into other portraits that use framing devices. A lot of images use reflections to frame the subject, some use arms and hands to frame the image. I would like to replicate some of these and create some images in my own style.

Contact sheet:

Image bank (containing 5 images):

My Best images (target 4 - 6)

Images that require improvement:

For this photo I just used the wrong aperture that made the eye out of focus which was meant to be the subject of the photo. A re-shoot for this is required

This photo has the same problem as the last photo and would require another re-shoot. 

For this photo a n incorrect shutter speed was used and meant that parts of the photo were blurry. Also the lighting set up meant that there is an orange glow. I would need to re-shoot this and correct the settings and lighting setup. 

For this photo my intention was to get the subjects reflection in the phone screen, I failed with my framing and rectified it in my other photos.

The lighting in this photo meant that the subject was blurred out. 

This has the same problem as the last photo. 

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
With regards to my shoot as a whole I managed to create some images that use framing devices. The pictures linked to the photos I researched and mimicked their style. Some photos were too dark in places due to the lighting I used. 

AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.

My intetions with editing this photo is too drop the left and right edges more so that the subject takes up more of the frame and then adjust the contrast and levels to help show the reflection.

I first cropped the image to focus on the subject more but still allowing for some negative space with the black background. 

I then went on to use curves to create more contrast. this made the reflection stand out more in the mirror and allowed for the person holding the mirror to standout as well. 

For this photo, I want to do edit it similarly to the last by cropping edges out to allow the subject to fill the frame. And then use curves to create more contrast. 

I started with cropping the image so that the subject filled the frame and removed the pink paper in the background that distracted from the subject.

I then used curves to increase the contrast which allowed the reflection to blend more with the photo but still have the strong black frame. 

With this photo I just want to work with curves to create the a stronger reflection.

To make the photo I used levels. Which made the photo much darker overall and allowed the reflection to have a darker tone.

AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

Researching the artists and techniques gave me the inspiration to go on and create images in similar way, this allows for me to go on and experiment with my photos in the future. Without research into my artists and techniques I would not have go on to experiment with my photos.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. 

I like this photo as it relates to the photo Saul Leiter took that was a portrait of himself, his picture was taken in a public place and showed elements of the location mine however uses the holder of the mirror to become part of the photo. 

I believe that I have created a strong series of images that link to my artists and influence photos. The series also links to the subject of framing devices and explores many of the areas I have researched previously. The portraiture works well as a subject for the frames and many of the images have conotations to how the youth are preceived and act. 

Progression: 
I would like to go on and explore the use of mirrors in portraiture and the work of Florence Henri using mirrors in an abstract way.