Straight images - Studio back of head

Straight images - studio back of head 

Work diary - Back of head portraiture location

Work diary - Back of head portraiture location:


In this session our topic was back of head portraiture, our task was to photograph the backs of people heads with a slightly blurred background. the point of this was for us to learn about the angles and composition of things in our pictures. This will be useful for when we shoot front of head portraiture as we will be able to think about composition when taking the picture and will be able to think where we position the eyes in the photo. if I could do this topic again I would think of more creative places to take my pictures so that my backgrounds are not always the same, I would also try to think of more original ways  to position and photography the backs of peoples heads.

The pictures below are what  feel are my best pictures. I like the picture above as I think that it look natural and unposed, I also like how the person is not in the middle of the picture but it is still clear that they are the main focus for the picture. I think like the picture below as I think that its original and is a different way of photographing the backs of peoples heads so that all the pictures don't look the same. I think that both of these pictures could be improved by making the backgrounds clearer or empty so that theres not a busy background going on behind the photo.

I have chosen to use these pictures to show the different ways of photographing back of head portraiture. The image above shows the back of someones head with quite a busy background for you to also focus on. I think that this allows the image to portray and deeper meaning and get across a emotion. The picture below is just of the back of the head with a plain background so there is less to focus on in the image. this allows for the picture to just focus on the back of the persons head.

Straight images - back of head portraiture Location

Straight images - back of head portraiture 

Image bank - back of heads portraits

Image bank - back of head portraits

The images that i have chosen all show the backs of a persons head. This is to think about perspective and positioning in photography. Commonly, in back of head portraits the background is blurred, this is so that the person looking at the photo can see that the background is not important in this setting of photo. This helps the photographer get across the main effect of the image.

In this image the back of head portrait has been placed against a busy background to give it sense of scenery and is able to allow the choice of clothing to sit in with the theme.

In the two images above the simple backgrounds highlights the simplicity of the back of head portrait. In this image there is nothing to distract people and they can easily see the type of hair of the people.

In this image the angle of the head in the photo allows you to see some more of the face and head, this gives a different perspective to the photo. This make the focus also look towards the face with the back not being the most important part.

In this image the use of tone helps to make the back of head be the simple focus of the image. The one colour shows the back of the head fitting in to the scenery without questioning the actual place and the style of the person.

In this image the plain background helps to focus on the back of the head which highlights the focus onto the hair. The focus on the hair allows for a difference in perspective and can show some of a persons identity without seeing their face.

Photographer 4 - Lee Towndrow

Photographer - Lee Towndrow 

Lee Towndrow is a visual photographer based in New York. He started his career as a designer and photographer for a design company that he started, the company is best know for creating many album covers for Canadian bands. He's also created visual effects and designs for TV adverts, music videos, and feature films.

I have chosen to include Lee Towndrow's work as i like the way that he uses colour in a lot of his photos. I find the way that he uses colour is original and creative. This gives him a slight edge to stand out and be different.

I have chosen this picture because I like the way that Towndrow has used bright vibrant colours to show the main points of the photo that he wants you to focus on. I also like the way that he has done this with just 2 colours by doing this he has been able to get across the effect without having to use multiple colours. In this image where a different colour is use it changes the focus of the image, it goes from being the blue background to being the bright pink on the person.

I have chosen to include this photo because of the simplicity of the actual photo with the use of a bright colour again to dull colours. I think that this makes one part of the picture stand out more than another.  The colour in this image is made clear against a black background. This is effective as you  cannot loose the brightness of the yellow against the background.

I have chosen this picture because I personally think there is a aspect of abstract to it, as to me this picture does not seem natural. I also like the way that colour is used in this picture as I like the way that each colour has been separated from each other.  The colour white is used in this image to break up the two bright colours. This ensures that neither colour is lost nor washed out and make sure that the brightness says effective.

I chosen this picture for the same sort of reasons, I like the way that Towndrow has used colour as he is able to make other aspects of the image stand out so that they don't blend in with each other.The people are positioned against the background to use their colours of their clothes to break away from the yellow.

I will try to incorporate some of the ways that Towndrow uses colour in his images to try and give my work some originality so that not all the colours blend in with each other.

Looking at Lee Towndrow's photography has inspired me to be more creative with colour in my photos and has given me the inspiration to be more experimental when using colour. His images have also made me want to use colour in a fun way and not always be sure that the picture will work out in the end.

To summarise Towndrow uses colour in a unique way to allow for original images as well as images that look different and fun as well as giving off the right effect. I hope to take this and use it in my own photography.

Personally, i have used Towndrow as a influence to try and use colour in a different way. I have tried to show colours in places that wouldn't usually be focused on. One of the ways that I have been influenced was in the editing process of one of my photos. I decided to use selective colour to make the colour of the rose stand out, I then decided to turn the background black and white to allow the flower to be the main focus. I the main way that I have been influenced by Towndrow is to use  colour as a effect and to allow it to change the way the picture looks.

Image bank - portraiture

Image bank - portraiture

I have chosen the images below to represent portraiture, these pictures range from studio portraits and black and white portraits. Each of these pictures can show a different style and mood in there photos.

In this image the portrait is effective because you can see a clear headshot of a person. You can see all the features of the person in the image, and the frame is adapted to be the right size for that person. In this picture you can clearly see who the photo is of, and the use of colour helps to enhance different features on their face.

In these two images the clear use of colour allows you to see the natural colourings in the peoples faces, this helps you to see a persons individual features. The colour also helps to highlight whatever emotion is being expressed and make it appear more natural on the face.

The first 3 images that i have chosen all have colour in them and you are able to clearly see the features of the person and a true representation of what they look like. The first images and a simple  portrait and you are able to clearly see who the person is, the use of editing has give the image a more unnatural effect which gives the image some originality. The second and third images have been left to show simplicity in the photos, if their is any editing in these two pictures it has been kept at a minimum so that the picture its self can give off the desired effect.

In the first image the use of tone allows the dark hair to be a major focus of the image. This draws in attention to be focused on this part of the image. The use of tone is also able to highlight the eyes in this image by making the black standout even more making the eyes become a prominent feature.

In these two images the use of tone is able to balance out the image and make it become completely focused on the emotions in the photo. In these images two different emotions are being shown yet the same effect can be used to highlight these different emotions.

The second 3 images that i have chosen have all been edited in black and white, this gives the images a more serious look the them. The first image has been edited in that way so that the picture is give a more dark and mysterious look to it, I personally think that this has been achieved. The second two images are not as serious but they still have that tone to them, the main effect of the black and white is that you can see a clearer focus on the image and it allows you to view it differently.

Definition post - portraiture

Definition post - portraiture 

Definition:A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant.

Describing words: portrayal, profile, account, sketch, figure, model, likeness.

These two pictures that I have chosen from the Internet are the typical kind of pictures that you would think of when thinking portraits. Both of the images show clearly who the person is and you are able to get a clear view of what they look like. The top picture is a more common studio portrait as all the natural colours from the studio where the picture has been taken has been left in. The picture below is a edited portrait where the photographer has decided to turn the picture black and white and then select one aspect and put some colour on it. This style of portrait changes the mood of the picture as it allows you to look at it from a completely perspective. 

These two pictures from the Internet have taken more of a twist on the style that the portrait has been shown. The picture above shows a clear focus just on the person even though there is not a clear background. This is achieved by the blurring of the background as the photographer is able to make the background seem less important in this photo. The photo below is a pop art portrait, these show a more creative view of showing a portrait. The use of colour and simple abstract makes the picture more original and more of a more fun image to look at.

My definition: portraiture is a form of photography that clearly shows quite a detailed perspective of a person. Usually taken mainly of their face.

Work diary - shape

Work diary - shape:

In this session our topic was shape, we had to go out and take pictures of anything that involved shape. Personally I found that this task was quite repetitive as I found most of my images being very similar as well as some of them showing the same style of shape. If i could do this task again I would try to find more original ways of showing shape in my images whether this is by the angles I take my pictures from or they shapes that I choose to include in my pictures.

Below are two images that I think best show my way of showing shape in a image. I personally like the first picture because I like the way that the focus is on the flower which is helpful to show the outline of the flower which shows the initial shape of the flower.

I think that the photo below is a more subtle way of showing shape. I think that this photo shows how shape can be in everyday surroundings. This picture also shows how multiple of the same shape and different shapes can make up one over all shape. The way that the different tiles in this pictures make up one shape makes a original way of showing shape in photography.

Below are two images that I have found from the internet that i think are some of the best ways that show how shape can be shown in photography. I think these two images show similar aspects of shape as they are both showing simple and elegant shapes.  However I also think that these images also have some differences. I think that the picture below is a more serious way of showing shape, this pictures has also be placed on a certain background in a certain way so that a certain effect is given.

I think that the picture below also shows shape as a clear outline of the flower (the object that is being focused on) is being shown therefore a clear idea of shape is being showed in this picture. This picture is different form the one above as the picture has not been placed on a certain background or has it been altered for the photographer to take the picture. I think that both of these pictures show a clear representation of shape and how it can be shown in photography.

Straight images - shape

Straight images - shape:

straight images - studio form

Straight images - studio form:

Image bank - shape

Image bank - shape  

Below are images that represent shape. they do this by showing the out line of an object. the pictures that i have chosen show how common shape is as some of the pictures are in realistic settings while others are not as common. The pictures below also show how some shapes can be made up from a collection of shapes to make up one big shape. As a whole the shape in the pictures help to give certain aspects definition and help to centre where you should be looking in the picture.

In this image the use of form and tone have been used to create a shape. This is effective as it is a creative way of showing a shape that clearly standout. The use of tone in this image helps to make the outline of the shape be clear and the angle of the photo makes the shape of the ring and the heart look 3D.

Above and below the a circle is shown clearly through the use of shape. In the image above a black outline allows the shape to standout in the photo. Also the blurred background means it stands out even more. The use of shape is clear here as the shape is easily identified and is made to be the main focus of the image. In the image below shape is show in a photo of multiple tubes. In the image the tubes are placed at different distances from the camera. By doing this you can get a clear view of multiple circles at the ends of the tubes. The one closet to the camera stands out more than others making this shape appear bigger than the others.

In this photo shape is shown through the positioning of a leaf stem. The leaf stem makes a out line of a heart shape, this creates the shape that is photographed in this image. This is a effective way of showing  shape as the shape is clearly identified, but in a simplistic way.

In these  two images the use of colour helps to make the shapes stand out. In the image about, each individual colour helps each section of the shape standout The single colours make the heart shape appear clearer to the human eye. The use of the pink colour with the light in the image below makes the heart shape look effortless. The shape is highlighted by the light in the middle making the colour standout even more.