Portrait from a Hidden Bar-

For this project, was to take a portrait of a stranger, off of the university campus. In order to do this, I went into the cocktail bar Vice and Co and asked if there was anyone there that I could take photos of. I asked if one of the bar staff had time to be the subject of a photography project and one of them agreed. I selected a corner of the bar with a suitable background and set up a light to compliment the preexisting lighting of the bar.

Influences-

Before taking my portrait, I researched the work of multiple portrait photographers. Although I did no try to replicate their style, they were influential in how to plan and compose my own image.

The first photographer I researched was Marcia Chandra. I liked the way that her photos give a depth of character into the subjects by using and controlling clothing, backgrounds and poses. The lighting in each photo seems natural, although lights may have been used to take the images. There is also a broad range of culture across her portraits that gives an insight into different ways of life.

 

The second was Sam Whitemore a local photographer who primarily takes portraits of live bands. In his photos he makes use of a mix of flash and preexisting stage lighting. The photos are all candid as the subjects are all mid performance. As the subjects are often moving, the shutter speed would have to be high in order to take crisp photos.

 

The final photographer I researched was Mark Newton. He takes photos in bars local to the UK to be used as promotional images for the establishments. The lighting used is natural to the location and there is a large emphasis on the background as well as the subject. This influenced me to use Vice and Co as the location for my photography as it would be an interesting background and there would be space to set up additional lighting.

Evaluation-

My intention for this project was to create a high quality portrait that is analogous of both subject and setting.

In preparation for the final image, I took portraits in the workshops of members of my group. In doing so, I experimented in using different lighting styles and backgrounds. In image 1, I used one of the staircases and windows in the MHT building to create an interesting background that contrasted the subject. I also used a reflector to control the lighting to create a warm, split lighting effect. In Image 2, I experimented with colored gels in order to create a photo that invoked emotion beyond the subject. Although the subject has a contented look on their face, the lighting is used to suggest that he has an envious side, as it uses green split lighting. In Image 3, I drew attention to photographic practices by including some of the backdrop that would be hidden from the frame in conventional photos. I also used a 35 degree angle for my main light source to fill the subjects face with neutral light

Before I took my final image, I experimented with various framing techniques and subject poses which I didn’t select for my final image. I decided against Image 1 as, although I like the framing and composition, the drink blocked too much of the face for it to be a recognisable portrait. I decided against Image 2 as, although I liked the subject’s pose, I thought that the candle and mirror drew too much attention away from the subject. I decided against Image 3 as, although I liked the framing of the background and the expression on the subject’s face, the cold lighting didn’t work for the mood of the photo I wanted to create.

I was happy with my final Image as I managed to create an aesthetically pleasing photo that showed a believable bond between the subject and the location. I asked the subject confidently if she would be willing to pose for some portraits and then selected an area that would both compliment the subject and that could be lit without the LED and stand causing any health and safety problems. After this I gave the subject instructions on where to look but let her decide on the posture and facial expression. I set up the LED to give off a warm light and be at a 35 degree angle before using a small aperture number and an ISO of 800 in order to let more light into the photo, as it was still fairly dark even with the additional lighting. I focused the Image to the subject’s eyes and took the photo. I left the subject an email address so that I can send her the finished photos and thanked her for her time. When editing the photos, after adjusting the light levels in order to create the mood I intended, I edited out the blemishes in the background of the photo (as seen in test image 3 above). I feel as the photo links with my experimental workshop images as I have used the same lighting techniques of warm lighting and at a 35 degree angle, as well as semi-canted direction. In the final image I like the leading lines of the books and wooden panel as they draw the eye towards the subject. I also like the way the subject’s hair colour creates a split complimentary color scheme with the blue and green of the books, which is taken further by the red, green and blue of the lamp and subject’s eyes. I feel as if my final image also links well to my research because, although it is not visually similar, it uses some of the same styles and techniques. These include, Marcia Chandra’s synchronicity between background and subject, Sam Whitemore’s use of lighting that is both simulated and also naturally occurring in the environment, and Mark Newton’s mix of portrait and promotional image.