Research: Studio Portraits
Group Discussion

The group discussion consisted us to bring in a image that we thought was a portrait and explain what you felt towards it and why you have chosen it. Everyone had different views on what portraits were which was interesting and gives the class to learn about how they think and what their opinions were on everyone's images and thought about how the photographer would of portrayed the emotion and how lighting helps express the emotion further.

Photographer Fritz Arno Wagner was a past master of creating atmosphere for dramas. Wagner began his career as a newsreel cameraman for Pathe Freres and worked widely for UFA. 

Warning Shadows (1922)
Schatten: Eine Nachtliche Halluzination

Waning Shadows was an Early German cinema that held a fascination for shadows and their doppelganger implications. Warning Shadows puts the idea to good use in an expressionist film that introduces a sinister puppeteer who shows an range of characters as they really are.

I had chosen this image to discuss on because I felt that Ruth Weyher, German actress looking as if she's trapped by the shadows are tormenting her and messing with her mind making her feel insecure of herself.

Studio Portraits Evaluation

This assignment I was looking forward to as I'll have the feel and experience on what studios and lighting are all about and whats the process of it all which isn't easy at all. Starting this assignment I have noticed that the class and me all put up a mask on us to hide the uncomfortable feel towards taking pictures of ourselfs and just pull faces until it was the right time for everyone to not feel awkward with each each other and have fun, get to know everyone with banter, but eventually near the end we took serious portraits to show the subjects real self. Learning all the lighting techniques was interesting how shadows create a mood to a persons face such as making the faces appear dramatic. For my final portraits I have used the lighting of Rembrandt triangle that is illuminated underneath the eye socket on one side of face creating a shape and subtle tones revealing a side light, but doing this lighting creates an mystery emotion on subject as it can give a look of a dark place which I liked to show insecurity to one of my subjects. Researching into history of photographs helped me think in depth on what portraits means, to give me ideas on what my theme could be on this assignment which I would like to bring out subjects souls to picture, bringing out their personality and character making a meaning to the portrait. I admit I was scared when tutors brought out all the equipment used in the studio, a lot to take in but great to be taught the lighting techniques and never knew that shadows can create moods and excitement. I didn't think much at start of course what a portrait is, I thought at first it's kind of like taking photo's of yourself seeing your changes through the days and coming out of your shell, showing who you are and viewers just read whats in front of their eyes. Most people don't like getting pictures taken because it's a scare to let loose and express your beauty due to judgement on looks and personality so they become a mask.  The real challenge for me is to get the focus right from inside the camera and press the button quickly to get the emotion that is made as I wanted a portrait natural and not the subject forcing a face just capturing a part of their character flashed into an image. For my finals I have used the technique on creating a black background to make images dramatic by having the backing light lower Fstop than the subject and having camera back in distance, being in a small group was easier to interact with each individual as you can get to know them comfortably and less crowded to set up the studio kit correctly and less stressful. By knowing the group split into a small one helped to get great pictures as I think this helps people to feel more settled and not rushed to get portrait's done as you don't feel the need to finish as quickly for people to have a go.  The first image I liked as she brought out character who is worried, deep in thought, or a slight shock expression. Third image I took the shot of him all laid back and relaxed.

Research: studio portraits lighting

Rembrandt Light

This lighting technique is named this way due to the Dutch painter Rembrandt often used in his paintings. This is the most exciting and demanding position key light. The technique is a variation of the sidelight where the shadowed side of face captures a little illumination small triangle below the eye 'Rembrandt triangle'. To create this natural, dramatic effect is to move light source up and a little back towards camera.

Frontal light

This technique not that fussy as you need to place light just above camera, this should give hardly any shadow just a small one beneath chin.

Slight light


For this technique to be effective you move lighting down to get shadow under chin has gone and move light sideways. This creates a soft growing shadow on side of face but don't move light too far so that subject won't get shadow on nose. Doing the side light  it should show a three dimensional and shaped the face.

High Frontal light

Need to keep the light above camera and slowly move upwards and start to see growing shadows. Shadows firstly appear underneath chin then get more and more on the nose and stop within the eye socket. High Frontal lighting is another name for 'glamour lighting' to use for a flatter face and appear leaner which works best for oval shaped faces and strong cheekbones. Another term of this lighting technique 'butterfly lighting' that refers to the shadows formed below the nose making an image of butterfly wings. 

http://jmcolberg.com/weblog/2008/02/what_makes_a_great_portrait/
Research- Studio Portrait
What makes a good portrait

Portraits can define what work the person does and to construct reality rather than reproduce it, they densely coded such as ladder tights can  be meaning to them, might want to come out as different not looking perfect.

Portraits can challenge stereotypes we have on children, mothers and can explore issues of themselves.

Trying to pinpoint what really makes a good portrait is like trying to figure out why the person smiles at you and feels good. Portraits can become a great image when photographer creates a strong and moving story when viewed and furthers itself with great use of light, lines and framing. Photographers can make a strong meaningful portrait because subject and photographer are both willing to take a stand and make a statement about the subject. What strikes a good portrait can be a full visual combination of texture, light, expression, the eyes and regard of the subject and portraying a sense of  tense from the moment  and humour coming from the subject. The subject being vulnerable and looking awkward can be access  point for a viewer to point out humanity.

Research: Studio Portraiture
Hasselblad and Lighting techniques


Within the studio space there are different ways to manipulate styles using lighting to give a completely different look to a portrait. Light hitting on background can dramatically change the feel of surrounding such as a bright white back with a soft focus giving the image a contemporary clean look. To create a bright white background needs a higher F stop on subject. Bowen and Elinchrom lighting  used as a back light with a lower F stop to subject can create a pale grey background. Black backgrounds, the subject stands at a far distance, the backing light needs to be set on a lower Fstop than the subject light which is measured with a light meter that helps to guide photographer to get a perfect aperture and exposure within the camera.

The hasselblad connects to the computer, that transfers into a programme called 'capture one'  this helps to view images on screen to see if its in focus and if it is we can five star  on favourite images on each shoot.  A fine cable also needs to be synced with lights so when flashed onto subject, the image will appear into camera and software. Hasselblad cameras are very expensive which were originally used to produce negatives but camera can be used to produce digital images where there is a separate back available called a digital sensor. The camera equipment is set up by hand this makes the camera fragile to attach equipment forcefully together especially when camera isn't 'cocked'.