PHOTOGRAPHY
STEVE MCCURRY: A PORTRAIT STUDY
March 16, 2021
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Steve McCurry's career has spanned decades, and the photographer has been influential in his field for years. He is best known for his photograph, "Portrait of an Afghan Girl," which was featured on the cover of National Geographic and selected by the editors for the magazine's Top 100 Photos special edition. Aside from this image, McCurry is perhaps most known for his stand-out style of portraiture, most often featuring subjects from Asia and the Middle East who peer directly into the camera. His style can best be described as rustic and vivid. His portraits have a simple background, with a focus on color and texture in clothing, and heightened contrast in the face so as to highlight blemishes and skin.
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Aside from simple portraits, McCurry is also known for his candid-style images depicting village life in India. May of these images have been featured in magazines and photography shows, with one of Indian men around a train again being featured on National Geographic. The images have not come without their criticism, however. McCurry has been criticized for portraying a stereotyped, "Slumdog Millionaire" picture of India that is often offensive to Indian viewers and alienating of true Indian culture when shown to Western viewers (the target audience). Critics say that the stereotypical pictures of India contribute to a negative view of the world on India, and portray the country as less developed than it actually is.
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McCurry has also been criticized for staging his so-called "candid" shots--even ones that have appeared in such widely viewed forums as National Geographic. There is a question of authenticity within professional photographer circles regarding McCurry's work.
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Despite this, photography lovers and photographers alike can be sure that the impact of McCurry's work will be seen for generations to come
PORTRAIT OF AN AFGHAN GIRL
Perhaps one of McCurry's most influential and well-known works, Portrait of an Afghan Girl uses vivid color and texture to portray a stylistically interesting picture. The subject stares directly into the camera, lending a chilling atmosphere to the photograph. Her eyes, beautiful and light, tell a story of a thousand words. "Who is this girl? What traumas does she carry in those eyes?" the viewer might ask. Though the image shown here is off center and edited, in his original, McCurry centers the image to add an off-kilter feel and focus attention on the subject.
PHOTOGRAPHY STUDY: ARCHITECTURE AND CITYSCAPES
October 13th, 2020
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I began my study by researching tips from expert photographers for taking architecture and cityscape pictures. I've compiled a few here:
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1. Prioritize good lighting
2. Shoot in variety of weather conditions and at a variety of times
3. Find a unique angle
4. Don't be afraid to include people and their interactions with architecture--they make everything more interesting
5. Explore detail (textures, graffiti) as much as the whole
6. Look for lines and shapes
7. Include people in motion, as this can add a sense of excitement to an otherwise dull picture
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I've put together some examples of notable photography in the architecture and cityscape genre, and analyzed some of the techniques used in each one below. Using these techniques as a guide and these photos as inspiration, I took the photos below to show what I learned.
PHOTO BY BAS PRINCEN
Using a masterful comparison between the workers and the building in progress, Princen skillfully transmits the gigantic size of the building. The stark blue of the workers' uniforms, possibly edited to be more blue, draw a sharp contrast with the building's dark black color. The angle of the shot draws the viewers' eye along the lines of the building.
PUTTING THE STUDY INTO PRACTICE
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PORTRAITS IN MODERN SETTINGS
Stock focus I: An exploration of the relationships between subjects and cityscapes, architecture, and modern art
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A STUDY OF PORTRAITURE
EARLY BEGINNINGS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITURE
Project Subtitle
According to study.com, the first photographic portrait, a self portrait of Robert Cornelius, cropped up in 1839. Following this, portrait studios started to open. They were initially unsuccessful, as the public didn't trust this new medium. Eventually, however, photographers won the trust of the public and the art form became more prevalent after they managed to capture portraits of famous people, such as Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens. Portraiture provided a cheaper and less time-consuming alternative to portrait paintings, and soon grew to be accessible to even lower classes.
MODERN PORTRAITS
June, 2023
As technology has advanced, photography has become more and more accessible as higher tech cameras become available on smartphones. Today, the average person can easily become a good portrait photographer, as long as they keep in mind some basic rules of portraiture.
LIGHTING
Photo by Andreas Jorns
Lighting can be one of the most important factors in creating a good portrait. Portraits should be taken in natural light in possible, such as near a window. However, photographers should avoid direct sunlight, as this can create harsh shadows. Avoid indoor lighting, which can have a yellow cast.
In this photograph, the lighting plays a key role in the atmosphere. The lighting solely on the subject's face restricts the viewer's eye to the subject, and creates an aura of mystery. The lighting also highlights the subject's good features.
BACKGROUNDS
Photo by Eric Kim
Backgrounds should be interesting, but not distracting. More professional portraits will typically have single-colored backgrounds. Photographers can play around with either matching the background to the subject, as in this image, or create an interesting contrast between background and subject. Typically, subjects should wear clothing that makes them pop against a background and draws attention to them. Another common technique used by photographers is placing a slightly out of focus object in the background that pertains to one of the subject's interests, or simply having the subject hold an object.
POSING
Photo by Jackie Lamas
Posing can make or break a portrait. Photographers should work closely with the subject to obtain a relaxed, non-stiff pose so the photo will look most natural. For full body pictures, have the subject shift their weight to one side and lean forward from the waist. This can make them look slimmer. Especially for close-ups, shoot the subject from multiple angles, as most people have a good side that may not be seen by the naked eye. The photographer can pick out the best side later when reviewing pictures.
Dynamic poses can also make for interesting portraits. Have the subject pose with a clear line of action in mind, or take a candid picture of a subject in motion.
LINE IN PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LINE
Photo by unknown
Lines are interesting tools in a photographer's arsenal to create subconscious reactions in the viewer's mind. It's important for a photographer to know what reactions each type of line will cause, because these lines will almost always be present in any picture. Some of the most seen examples of line in photography are rails, paths, buildings, or streets. These can make the viewer feel like they are within the picture.
DIAGONAL LINES
Photo by Angie Harms
Diagonal lines, if used correctly, can create intrigue. They can also give images depth, and suggest perspective. Since they are not quite as normal as the typical horizontal and vertical lines in photography, they can give a photograph energy and force.
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In this picture, the diagonal lines lead the viewer's eye naturally from the lower left to the upper right, where the subjects of the photo are. Here, the lines also act as a mesmerizing pattern to create interest, but lines do not always form patterns.
VERTICAL LINES
Photo by Richard Drew
Vertical lines can stimulate feelings of grandeur, strength, and height. They can also convey growth (as in trees in a forest). When placed against a subject, the vertical lines can accentuate the subject's height. Photographers should make sure to keep the vertical lines as parallel to the sides of the photo as possible.
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This famous photograph, "Falling Man", depicts a man in the 9/11 tragedy left with no other option but to jump out of the collapsing building. The vertical lines create a feeling of slow movement and calm, even, freezing a horrible tragedy into one quiet frame for maximum emotional impact.
HORIZONTAL LINES
Photo by unknown
The horizontal line is the line found most often in photographs--and real life. The line gives a sense of calm, stability, and weight. However, that stability is lost as soon as the viewer detects a lopsided horizon line, so photographers must be careful to keep horizontal lines parallel to the edge of the frame.
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In this picture, the horizontal lines create a sense of stability and order. Since the horizontal line is the most natural type of line, our eye follows it easily though the picture. The neat parallel horizontal lines give the viewer a sense of ease and calm, and because of that, the viewer perceives this building as a calm and welcoming place.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Send them my way—I thrive on constructive criticism.