Penn was among the earliest photographers to pose subjects against a grey or white backdrop and he effectively used its simplicity (Wikipedia). According to Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, a magazine for which Penn worked for more than 60 years, he ‘changed the way people saw the world and our perception of what is beautiful’ (Christie’s). His artworks are simple, and sophisticated, and evoke a strong emotion. He clearly captures the character or the style of different people. Irving Penn was one of the most important editorial photographers of the mid-twentieth century, breaking all the rules and going beyond fashion.

Elements in her photos:

  • close-up
  • black and white
  • different expressions
  • different angles
  • tone
  • shadow
  • simple background

I picked Irving Penn as my inspiration photographer because he took photos that contained elements I wanted to capture. I like how he presents close-up shots of different people in his photos, and his unique composition makes his photos interesting. The black and white in his photos helps the audience to focus on the people’s faces. For the ones that captured older people, the black and white color scheme can emphasize the wrinkles and emotions on their faces. He uses mostly simple black or white backgrounds, allowing the audience to focus on the people’s faces. He made the models do different dramatic facial expressions, evoking strong emotions in the audience.

A famous quote from Irving Penn: “A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.” This quote has a straight connection to his photography style, because it shows how he likes to communicate effectively.  For example, he uses a simple background to contrast with the people in front and uses close-up shots to create strong emotions. These are all straightforward techniques that can effectively emphasize the characters of models. Another quote from Irving Penn is: “I always thought we were selling dreams, not clothes.” This is the main thing that led to his success in fashion photography and portrait photography. He is very passionate about fashioned clothing and photography. Working at Vogue is not only his work, it’s his dream to become a passionate photographer and explore beyond fashion.

Irving Penn was inspired by many factors. From his early student years, Penn wanted to become an artist. Art was something highly valued in the Penn household; Penn’s father, though a watchmaker by trade, loved to paint. While attending the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts, Irving met Alexey Brodovitch at Harper’s Bazaar. The renowned teacher, photographer, and art director later became his mentor (The Collector). In, 1938, he began experimenting with fashion photography. Inspired by Surrealism, modern dance, and film noir, his images register as provocative visual statements, not just commercial photographs. “With a firm grasp on the geometry of the body, the psychology of consumerism, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of art, Penn lifted fashion photography into the realm of high art” (The Art Story).

This is one of my favorite photos of Irving Penn. It is a portrait of Pablo Picasso taken for Vogue Artists. In this photo, Penn used the technique of close-up, black-and-white, and large aperture. I like how the person fits the whole image, making the composition balanced and full. Picasso in this image is staring at the camera, making the audience feel he is staring right at them. The audience’s eyes are directly drawn to Picasso’s face and eyes.  I also like how the hat is tilted, adding more shapes and dimensions to this image.

MEANING /INTENT

•Mood: How does this picture make you feel? What elements (lighting, colors, shapes, texture, the subject) make you feel that way?

•Intention: What are the intended effects of the photographer’s choices?

•How do you want the photograph to make us feel?

•Why artistic choices did you make to enable this?

• Do you think you have achieved this?