Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 2

Activity 2
Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

Chrisitian Stoll. 

This picture was taken at a high angle. I think the photographer framed this image well and did so because skyscrapers are tall and from the bottom you could of gotten a some what decent image of a part of the building but by going to the top we can really see the of the buildings from the floor. 

Yuni Sidqialubis. 

This image was taken at ground level. I think the photographer used this method to show the level of the swan clearer. I think it was smart because any level would of made a better image but the ground level made sense because the photographer got a clear shot of the beak and its right in front of us and it gives the entire shot a cool angle. 

Yuni Sidqialubis. 

This shot was taken at low level. It wasn't taken straight from the ground but it wasn't taken above or at the tip top of the eifle tower. I think the photographer captured the image well because were able to see a lot of the tower but not from the normal view of just looking at it. We can see it like were under it. 

Adrian Limani. 

The photographer captured this shot that as the person was jumping that it would make them look like they were sitting on it or jumping over the moon, which I think is really unique and cool. Its defiantly different from what we normally see and I think the photographer altered the image to bring out the effect of the person and the moon. 

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.

Thomas Nutzl.

(magazine)

This is Lana Del Ray. She was in a section of a magazine for Grazia. From the environment, it looks like she was in a studio area with a plain background behind her and some lighting that brightens up her image. From normal shoots that I've seen in magazines, Lana looks natural and beautiful. Her make up (if she has any on.) looks very natural and doesn't make her or the entire photo look fake. She seems to be a person who is true to herself and just normal.

Mario Testimo. 

(magazine)

Taylor Swift was on the cover of Vanity Fair. Its not that she looks fake in this but it looks very staged. She's a singer and an artist, so they have the piano to bring that part out of the person she is. Which is a good theory and idea to bring that out to show that. They also made her look very sophisticated and rich. I don't know if I can determine the person she is from this shoot but the person I would think she is sort of just a regular model pose.

Dorothea Lange. 

(internet)

This is a very famous photograph called "The Migrant Mother." It was taken during the Great Depression and shows a mother and her three children. If I had never seen this picture before and didn't know its history, I would suspect that they are poor and struggling. From the image I can see that though the mother is struggling she is a support and comforter of her kids. You can for sure see that as they are crowded and lay on her. I can tell that this mother is strong for her kids. 

Sam Shaw. 

This is the Iconic image of Marilyn Monroe's flying skirt. It is said that Monroe was shooting a movie when she was walking over a vent type of thing and her skirt flew up. Many photographers were all surrounded being pervy and get a good story for the world to see. It ended up becoming one of the most popular portrait photograph's known. I could think that Monroe is shy and embarrassed a bit and she doesn't want people to see her under garments. But you can see behind her a creepy man looking and smily. While another man is trying to capture the shot as well. 

Self Image: Activity 3

Activity 3: Blog Entry

Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1.

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen?

I think over time I've gotten past social pressures a ton easier and I've been able to stand up for myself and be confident. A lot of the social pressures deal with popularity and being "in". A lot of the kids around me cuss, drink, and take illegal substances. People think that if you want to be cool you need to do some of that stuff. I've just been able to surround myself with good people who don't do that or be myself. Being shaped to the person I am, I've been surrounded by people who have the same beliefs or morals and me. So it makes living easier and not getting tempted into bad stuff.

Self Image: Activity 2

Activity 2: Blog Entry

Find images in the media, which have been used to represent attractive and unattractive aspects of the human face. Examine and record carefully the photographic techniques used to accentuate both these qualities, drawing up a list that relates to the images you have found.

List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions:

Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes?
I think that the definition of beauty universally has become stereotypical. When we look on tv or read magazines we see that perfect guy or girl. They are either the people we want to be or who we want to be with. I think the worlds definition of beauty means perfect. You need to have the perfect teeth to give you the perfect smile. You have no pimples, or you're a size 0, then you're considered beautiful. Those things may make you a little more flattering but it shouldn't define the beauty of a person. Universally we see the guy with the abs and everything perfect and the girl with the perfect body and lovely everything. So the world has changed what beauty really means.

Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?
It depends. People see media images and its people they look up to and have as role models. I think it can turn bad when people are trying to do whatever they possibly can to become them and be perfect. There will be girls and guys trying to loose weight, cover their with a ton on make up, etc.

Self Image: Activity 1

Activity 1: Blog Entry

What follows is a list of categories that serves to define and divide us. Make a personal list of the categories you belong to or have conflict with and visual symbols that are associated with each. Aspirations and expectations should also be listed.
1. Age/generation - is can dictate levels of independence afforded to the individual.
2. Gender - Our sex affects the way we are treated by some individuals.
3. Race - Prejudice and perceived racial superiority can affect hopes and aspirations.
4. Religion - Moral codes and ideologies that serve to guide, unite and divide.
5. Class or caste - A classification that an individual may never escape from.
6. Personality - Extrovert and introvert are classifications of personality.
7. Intelligence - educational establishments, based on IQ, often segregate us.
8. Political persuasion - Left wing or right wing. Each carries its own ideology.

1. A lot of the time I hear that my generation has things easy. For example, we have technology now and we get a lot of help from that, while pasts generations had to work a lot harder to get things done. They didn't have google, to search for help and answers for homework. I think pasts generations were able to enjoy nature and the simpler things in life, like just watching a movie with your family or getting lost in a book.

2. There are a lot of stereotypes saying that girls can't work out and be as tough as guys, or they cant achieve higher roles in work because they are girls. So back then we had to work hard and fight for the same rights as men. I think were doing a lot better in that and girls do have a lot more confidence in accomplishing as much as men could. Men have a lot of stereotypes too that they can't be sensitive and if they are crying during a chick flick then its unique for a boy to be like that. Or if they care about their appearance than they're being a girl. So I think we place a title on how guys need to be and how they act. So they need to be tough all the time.

3. We've progressed a lot with racial discrimination. I think its gotten a lot better through time. It still exists but its improved so much. When someone looks at one race they tend to categorize them with the rest of their race. If you're white, you're a snobby rich person. If you're black, then you aren't as successful and you don't work hard and do illegal things. If you're asian, then you speak Chinese and people mock the language. Theres ton more racial stereotypes that I can think of. But any race can be as successful as another race. Race does not tell you what the kind of person is and where they've come from. From what we could know, there could be an asian that knows English and know no Chinese. There could be a very successful black human and a white person who is struggling.

4. When there are rules in the religion you follow and theres someone that sees that you're making bad decisions and breaking those rules than you are going to hell or you're not meant to be in the religion group anymore. Outside of people that aren't apart of your religion, they want to argue with you and say that your God isn't the right one and theirs is.

5. If you are on a higher class then you are looked at as better. Yeah, you have the most money and such but class doesn't define a person. If you are lower class you can't afford anything, so you're worthless and not smart and have nothing going for you. What if they wanted to be that way? What if they are way smarter than you but couldn't afford going to a good college and get a good career. I think everyone is a person no matter on class and how much dough you got.

6. There are a lot of good people in the world and in that mix, they can be shy or social. When you're an introvert you can't really show anyone your personality but you right away come off as someone who is shy and might not be funny. But when you get to know them, they could be way different from what you were thinking in the beginning. Extroverts come off as the popular and fun to be with type of people.

7. If you're not smart, people may think that you can't get far in life and you won't have much to look forward too. When they could become as successful as the person who is a genius. When you work hard, you could land in any situation you work up to have.

8. Politics can be a very touchy subject and can lead to many disagreements and opinionated titles. I feel as if its a lot based on what you believe in and what you feel is "right" and how things should be and how it should be runner.