1. Sharpness
  2. Colorless
  3. Sculptural
  4. Artistic
  5. Slight motion

The works of this photographer are mostly displayed in colorless and with sharp focus. Most of Avedon’s photos are still life, which makes the people look sculptural. Other photos also include poses with a slight motion that adds emotion and abstraction to the scene.

I chose Richard Avedon because of the multiple similarities between the ideas I want to include in my photo sets and the characteristics of his photos. Unlike my past works, this is the first time I want to step aside from blurred focus and try sharp focus on the person in order to express the uniqueness of the character. This means that the makeup and the materials have to be set up perfectly so that the photos will bring full emphasis to the people.

“My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.”

–Richard Avedon

Image #1: This was the first image that caught my attention when browsing through his photos.

Even though there isn’t a sharp focus on the person, the photo surprisingly demonstrates an intriguing sight of emotion and intensity. This can be shown through one of the most important formal elements which is tone. In this photo, the traces of shading bring contrast to the facial structure and hair. With a contrast of light and dark tones, the picture adds more sharpness to the woman’s body and its beauty.

The tone of this photo is important because it’s one of the main aspects to catch the view’s attention without any color. Apart from using vibrant colors, the tone also levels the brightness and adds layers of meaning beyond the photo. From solid black to pure white, the viewers are more likely to evoke emotion because of the mysterious effect the tone creates to a scene.

The creations of my chosen photographer are considered self-identity because the photos identify more of himself than the people in the frames. The characteristics of how the people are positioned are adapted by Avedon’s own style and techniques. At the same time, the facial expressions, poses, and eye contact of the people are all telling a story about the person in the portrait. This evokes a specific emotion by making the viewers feel a special connection between a captured essence of a person.

Something that I like about Avedon’s style is that his photos exhibit the beauty of human nature in simple ways. There aren’t high-saturation colors or a complex background, but he’s still able to beautify the scene in his own ways and use photos to make a work of art. This is effective for me because the photos show complete confidence and attitude using the simplest context.

I will adapt this style to my own photography by using different props to gather in the frame with my model. I will also choose simple backgrounds so that the scene won’t be too crowded. This photographer inspires me by expressing a clear mood and attitude when taking a photo of a  human being. With this idea, I will make sure to capture and emphasize the disposition and movement of my model.