Independent Shoot (Portraiture)

This independent shoot is focusing on the photo genre portraiture. I've decided to continue on my portraiture skills and develop my presentation of fashion and model style photos. Instead of only taking photos of myself, I will use a new model so I can develop my own camera technique skills further. The urban style of 'outcasts' keeps portraiture interesting and complex in the presentation when it is actually simple, I would like to develop this aspect of my skills and be able to create character and atmosphere in a simple portrait.

Research
Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus was an American photographer. Although Arbus's most famous subjects were outsiders such as transgender people, strippers, carnival performers, nudists, dwarves, and other marginalized people, she was equally drawn to subjects as ordinary as children, mothers, couples, old people, and middle-class families.

This portrait of an unidentifiable person presents them in an authentic form, creating a simplicity with a person that was probably outcast in their time for their alternative presentation. Due to the facial structure of this person, you could assume they are physically male. Although, with the feminine nails, drawn on eyebrows, and hair rollers, all being female associated things, this could suggest this person is presenting female, that possibly being drag or simply transgender. Either way, this person evidently doesn't fit a gender stereotype, the even balance in tone and use of desaturation creates a suggestion that this person is rebellious in a sense when it comes to gender presentation; the careless expression, rough complexion and cigarette in hand all create a rougher appearance. The rollers in this person's hair and simplicity in visual maintenance can suggest that this person's day has just started and they're getting ready for their life; Arbus presenting this person's routine or simple structure of alternative lifestyle.

Image Bank

These photos display my intentions for this independent shoot. All photos are from the photographer Diane Arbus, her portraiture captures simply anyone but always owned an alternative appearance. I enjoy the effect of something in a portrait not fitting a stereotype and presenting something more than just someone's appearance; this is what Arbus's work does. I intend to create portraits of a visually alternative subject and compose them in a way to present the subjects self-made atmosphere.

Contact Sheet

These are my raw photos for my independent shoot on portraiture, captured on my DSLR camera.

Best Photos
These are my best-captured photos, untouched.

Photos that require improvement

These photos did not meet my standards of quality for this shoot. For the first photo, the shutter speed at 1/25, aperture at F5 and the exposure at ISO 200; I also took the photo using flash because it brought out better quality. The main issue with this photo is the facial expression, I attempted to capture a candid photo since I find that style the most appealing in portraiture. Unfortunately, the expression the model made when I captured it isn't very flattering to the composition. If I were to retake this photo, I would better time capturing the model, either a little earlier, or a little later on to get a more relaxed and natural expression just intended for a candid shot.
For the second photo, shutter speed at 1/25, aperture at F5 and the exposure at ISO 200; I used flashed also with this photo. The composition of this photo appears unflattering and uneven. The model's body composure appears uncomfortable, her back looks hunched slightly and her hips seem uncertain of their positioning; her arms seem awkwardly placed also. If I were to retake this photo, I'd make sure the model is in a more comfortable position and maybe change the camera angling so it appears more flattering.

AO3: Record ideas, observations, and insights relevant to intentions reflecting critically on work and progress.

My Ideas

My intention for this shoot was to further my portraiture skills, with more angle variety and character representation in the photo, creating a better atmosphere. My main inspiration was Diane Arbus, her portraiture was deemed alternative and focused on representing the model and their self-made atmosphere in the photo, I found this inspiring and decided I would attempt to recreate her style with one model. I believe I met these intentions, my portraitures represent the model in a variety of ways and atmospheres, due to the composition and her facial expressions, the quality is also the best I believe I've had my portraits taken in.

Reference to my best photos

This photo presents power and dominance from the model. The worm-eye viewpoint displays the model as above the viewer and therefore more powerful than the viewer. The models pose presents confidence and a lack of concern, she appears aware that she is above the viewer, and embraces that with her body and facial expression.

This photo makes the model appear more delicate and softer in appearance. The more birds-eye viewpoint has the model below the viewer, being weaker in power. The model not looking at the camera/viewer suggests shyness and a lack of confidence. This angling looks as if the viewer is admiring the model and the delicacy that she presents. 

This photo doesn't really own a power presentation, more presents an admirable character. The casualty that the model presents in her body and facial expression can be seen as admirable because she appears content and comfortable; something everyone can desire.

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

Use of Camera

I used my Nikon D3400 DSLR camera for every photo taken. I decided to not use a tripod since I wanted to be able to move around and get a larger variety of angles when capturing the subject. The camera was set to manual mode, shutter speed at 1/25, aperture at F5, and exposure at ISO 200; I also used flash since it captured the model in better quality.

Final Pieces

All of Arbus's portraits are black and white, and I personally prefer a colourless portrait since it only gives the viewer the subject itself to focus on and removes distractions of more dominant colours, so I decided to edit my photos to be black and white, and to up the quality using the dodge and burn method.

Firstly, I copied the original photo, so if any mistakes are made I can always go back to the original piece.

Then, because these photos will be black and white, I pressed CTRL+SHIFT+U to remove the whole photos saturation.

To add some more definition since the photo appears flat and lacks a range in tone, I used 'levels' by pressing CTRL+L and darkened the dark tones and brought up the light tones so there was a heavier contrast.

I moved onto the dodge and burn method. Firstly, I added an adjustment layer of 'curves' and brought the centre point down to darken the whole photo. I then pressed 'layer mask' and CTRL+I to invert the effects.

Then, I do the same exact thing, but this 'curves' adjustment layer, the centre point is brought up to lighten the whole photo.

After this, I use a soft brush, on a lower opacity and the opposite colour to whatever the layer mask is on (black or white). I'll then use this brush to either lighten or darken certain areas of the photo to draw more attention to somewhere, or remove attention from it, and to in general add more definition and contrast to the photo.

Before.

After.

In some of the photos, there are little parts of furniture or just something simply in the background that I thought are too distracting, so I used the 'spot healing tool' to remove any of these from a photo.

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

My research, being only on Diane Arbus, helped me feel further inspired and understand better how to create a person's atmosphere in a photo. Portraiture I believe is evidently my favourite form of photography, because I believe there's so much variety in something so simple. It can represent many messages and can also simply present someone beautifully. I learned how to improve my camera setting quality to get the best settings for a portrait, and how to better work with someone to create a good portrait.

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

I believe my final pieces have met my intentions, the quality is I believe the best its been, and the atomsphere is dominated by the model, making her presence significant to the viewer. These are my final pieces.