Unit 57: Photography and Photographic Practice

Research of other photographers work (P1, M1, D1)

Photographer: Jesca Cluff – Studio PhotographerImage 1:

Image 2:

Image 3:

Image 4:

Theme or focus of images We can see that all of these images are quite similar to each other, for example all of these images only feature one model in the image. Also, all of these images have a brightly coloured background that contrasts with the models hair and makeup. Each model has one picture with their eyes open and looking either directly at the camera or near the camera, and they also have an image with their eyes completely shut. All of these images are taken at a studio, with only one person, the model, featured in the images. I think these images are used to make the viewer completely focus on the model alone, as there is nothing in any of the backgrounds.

These images are all quite loud and colourful, there isn’t any action going on apart from with the actual models, as we can see in image 2. However image 2 is the only image featured with some kind of action going on. In all of the images, there is a very clear contrast in colour with each of the images. In images 1 and 2, the models hair is a very bright blue, which is a complete contrast with the bright pink background used. Again, in image 3 and 4 the model has light pastel purple hair, which contrasts with the teal/green/blue background. The models hair colours are completely opposite with the background colour on the colour wheel, which makes the hair stand out from the images. I think this technique was used to immediately draw attention to the images, because the contrasting colours catch the viewer’s eye immediately. Even the makeup the models are wearing contrasts with the background colour, which again makes the image stand out. For example with

images 1 and 2, her eye makeup is blue, which matches her hair but contrasts with the background.

All of the images are quite busy and exciting due to the vibrant colours involved, however there isn’t much action going on apart from in image 2 where her hair is being wind swept. I think the reason for not having a lot of action involved is because the photographer wants the focus of the image to be on the model alone. The model is the main focus point of each of the images. In all of these images the model is typically posing, for example in images 1 and 3 the models are clearly posing. The focus in image 3 is the portrait of the models face, her face shape and hair. The focus in image 1 is the model, her complete face, make up and hair, as the model looks to the left of the camera. However with image 2, I think the pose of the model is more natural as she has wind being blown to her making her hair wind swept, which I think is why the model has her eyes closed. I think the focus of image 2 is the colour, movement and shape of the hair rather than the emotions she is showing. In image 4 the main focus of the image is the models eye, its looking straight into the camera as if the model is looking back at the viewer. This makes the viewer look at the colour of her eye, her hair and the surrounding colours, rather than paying attention to the emotions she could be portraying, as we cannot see her mouth.

I think the photographer uses this technique because the whole point of these images is to catch peoples attention, which the photographer has done with colour. I definitely do not think that the photographer is trying to portray any story or emotion, I just think these images are used to catch peoples attention with colour.

CompositionIn all of these images the model takes up almost the entire frame of the image, which I think shows the photographer wants our focus and attention completely on the model. There isn’t much background involved other than the bright colour, I think the photographer chose to do this and probably either got closer to the model or cropped the background out afterwards.

Techniques usedIn images 1, 3 and 4 I think a regular shutter speed could have been used because there isn’t any quick action going on that the photographer has to capture quickly. However with image 2, I definitely think a quick shutter speed was used because of the wind blowing her hair, the photographer would’ve had to capture where her hair falls while being blown with wind perfectly.I think the only image with depth of field is image 4, because her eyes and nose are in complete focus where her ear is more blurred out. I think that depth of field was only used in this image because in the others there isn’t anything in the background that could be blurred out, there is only colour. Where as with image 4 the photographer wanted the eye and nose to be the main focus of the image, hence why the ear is blurred.Strengths & WeaknessesA strength of these images would be that I like how vibrant they are, they catch the eye immediately and I love the use of colours in these images.

However a weakness would be that I think these images could involve some emotion or story behind the images.