Portrait Photographer Research
Photographer; Steve McCurry
Where is the light coming from?
The light is shining directly on the models face and illuminates her whole face.
What is the position or gesture of the model?
The model is looking slightly to the right and up. She is centered in the middle of the photo.
What is the background or setting?
The background is a blurred reddish brown backdrop.
What is the point of view and distance of the photographer?
The point of view is the models eyes, which are icy blue and the right eye has a section of brown. The photographer is around 5 feet from the model, but has probably zoomed in a little bit.
What does the lighting, position of model and expression on face communicate?
It communicates a serious and slightly sad tone. The model's head is wrapped in a cloth, potentially from an injury, creating a sadder tone.
Where is the light coming from?
The light is shining directly on the models face and illuminates her whole face.
What is the position or gesture of the model?
The model is looking slightly to the right and up. She is centered in the middle of the photo.
What is the background or setting?
The background is a blurred reddish brown backdrop.
What is the point of view and distance of the photographer?
The point of view is the models eyes, which are icy blue and the right eye has a section of brown. The photographer is around 5 feet from the model, but has probably zoomed in a little bit.
What does the lighting, position of model and expression on face communicate?
It communicates a serious and slightly sad tone. The model's head is wrapped in a cloth, potentially from an injury, creating a sadder tone.
Portraits
Top Left Photo
Lighting: 1 pt
Describe the lighting in the shot. Where is the light coming from? How is it falling on the models face/head/body?Describe the shadows that are created in the photo.
The lighting is coming from the right of his face (left when you look in the picture) and it is illuminating that side of his face. This creates a shadow on the left side (right when you look at the picture) of his face.
Position of the Model: 1 pt
How is the model situated? Is the photo a head shot, or did you include more of the torso?Is the model facing the camera, looking to the side, tilting their head.
The photo is a headshot and the model is looking straight at the camera.
Position of the Camera/Composition: 2 pts
Did you take a horizontal or vertical photo?What was your point of view? Did you shoot from above, below, from the side or on an angle?How close or far were you from the model?
I took a straight on horizontal photo that was on no angle. I was about 10 feet from the model and I zoomed in a little.
Impact/Expression: 1 pt
What does the lighting, position of model and expression on face communicate? What aspect of the model’s personality is being revealed in the portrait? (serious, humorous, sad, anxious…)
This photo communicates a serious tone and brings out a serious personality in the model.
Compare and contrast: 3 pts
Compare the photo to another with a different impact/viewer response. How did you use different lighting, positioning or expression to communicate a different feeling?
The top right image portrays the same model, but with a completely different impact. In this photo, the model is smiling and the light is lighting up their whole face opposed to half.
Lighting: 1 pt
Describe the lighting in the shot. Where is the light coming from? How is it falling on the models face/head/body?Describe the shadows that are created in the photo.
The lighting is coming from the right of his face (left when you look in the picture) and it is illuminating that side of his face. This creates a shadow on the left side (right when you look at the picture) of his face.
Position of the Model: 1 pt
How is the model situated? Is the photo a head shot, or did you include more of the torso?Is the model facing the camera, looking to the side, tilting their head.
The photo is a headshot and the model is looking straight at the camera.
Position of the Camera/Composition: 2 pts
Did you take a horizontal or vertical photo?What was your point of view? Did you shoot from above, below, from the side or on an angle?How close or far were you from the model?
I took a straight on horizontal photo that was on no angle. I was about 10 feet from the model and I zoomed in a little.
Impact/Expression: 1 pt
What does the lighting, position of model and expression on face communicate? What aspect of the model’s personality is being revealed in the portrait? (serious, humorous, sad, anxious…)
This photo communicates a serious tone and brings out a serious personality in the model.
Compare and contrast: 3 pts
Compare the photo to another with a different impact/viewer response. How did you use different lighting, positioning or expression to communicate a different feeling?
The top right image portrays the same model, but with a completely different impact. In this photo, the model is smiling and the light is lighting up their whole face opposed to half.