Ian

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

Category: Portraiture

Task 5: Statement of intent

The title of my project will be “Insecurity and Beauty.” After COVID-19, our world has entered an “anxious generation,” where children feel absolute insecurity and discomfort when facing people and communicating in person. The chase for fake beauty on social media has led to body dysmorphia. It is interesting how social media can change a child’s psychological thoughts in such a short period. It is funny how the algorithm on social media makes children inhumane. It is so frustrating how social media is changing the beauty standards of children, making society lose eternal beauty and appreciation for the surroundings. I want my audience to realize that beauty isn’t from the first looks; it all comes from the heart, emotions, and attitude. Leave the fake social media life behind and let yourself shine from the inside out. A person’s looks may not satisfy the beauty standards on social media, but affection and heart can make the world a better place. Be more confident, inspiring, engaging, kind, and unique. As an inspiration, I’ll look at photographs that express dominant facial expressions such as a gazed eye, low brows, and weak chins. Also, body features such as muscular, straight postures, and firm stances, and body language such as adopting open and erect stances. Lastly, the theme of the clothes and background should be primary colors like red, yellow, or orange to express dominance. I want photographs that express dominance to show that everyone has specialties and values,  so don’t fear the beauty standards on social media, and be confident and express eternal beauty.

Task 4: Mood Board

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGhYk-ZPxg/jHYRcp9KG7jR345UGLfcIQ/edit?utm_content=DAGhYk-ZPxg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Task 3: Image inspiration

Annie Leibovitz explores many themes using staged settings, superb lighting, and vivid color. Specifically, the photograph that inspired me the most was Rihanna’s pregnancy. Rihanna, a world-renowned celebrity, loses her values and faces insecurity due to her appearance during pregnancy. But Annie uses this as an opportunity to express that beauty doesn’t only come from appearance but comes from confidence. As seen in Rihanna’s face, she is full of dominance and power. The eyes are staring, showing intensity. The red dress also adds distinctive strength to her appearance, and her intentionally standing sideways, putting her hands on hips, and posing shows her strong mindset of having an appearance that many people may feel insecure about.

Phaidon. “Annie Leibovitz Photographs Rihanna for Vogue | Photography | Agenda | Phaidon.” Phaidon.com, 2022, www.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/2022/April/03/annie-leibovitz-photographs-rihanna-for-vogue/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Task 2: Finding a focus

As a photographer, I would like to explore eternal beauty. We depend on perfection and beauty, continuing to further the people with special abilities from society and living an inhuman life on social media. In reality, all humans will never achieve perfection. So, we must appreciate our confidence, appearance, and abilities because that is where real eternal beauty comes from. The theme of “eternal beauty” portraits is to let humanity understand we all are unique and should be included.

Connect Identity Portrait notes Task 2- Mind Map

https://app.mindmup.com/map/new/1741331283263

 

Blog Post 1- Introduction to Portraiture

  1. A portrait photograph is the subject of identity, personality, or story using light exposure, composition, posing, and expression.
  2. Selfies are another form of portraiture. In a selfie, the main elements are light exposure, frame, angle, and expressionism. Both selfies and portraits have control over our images because they have the freedom to explore many variations and moods. For example, the photographer can make vintage, emotional complexity, psychological tension, loss, and mortality, or a bizarre mix of serenity and suffocation.
  3. Firstly, portraits must need a facial expression. Facial expressions can explain or emphasize a mood, concept, or photograph’s theme. The elements of facial expression are the central symbolism of portraiture. Also, portraits should not include any attention-seeking backgrounds. A portrait relies on emotions and facial expressions, but if the background grabs the viewers’ attention, they won’t be able to see the small details and symbolism of what the artwork is trying to possess.
  4. The definition of a “good portrait” is never to be revealed, but the photographer’s intentions, values, and symbolism make the perfect portrait. Photographers should decide on their portraits rather than listen to what the people say. An ideal portrait comes when the photographer tries to break the rules, attempting new viewpoints of photography, trying out different forms of art elements, and finding the symbolism and theme of the portrait.
  5. An ideal portrait form would be to close up the photograph and take shots of the small details of a facial expression, like the eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. However, it is never wrong to attempt taking portrait photographs from different angles and not only focus on facial expressions because photographs are never wrong; it’s just it has found itself in another form of trend and fashion, just as John Baldessari once said, “I will no  make any more boring art.”
  6. Again, there is nothing wrong with photographs. So, why not try blurring, cropping, changing the tone, and making it look ripped or faded. If all portrait photos are focused on such a traditional form of taking a clear close-up photograph of a person’s face, photography will lose its uniqueness and value. Trying these new forms of abstract representation on portraits is strongly recommended, as it will create new vibes and trends in art.
  7. Another form of attraction of portrait photographs can be represented through the arrangement of inanimate objects to visually represent someone’s expression. Why not? The pattern, lines, shapes, colors, textures, and values of the objects could perfectly replace a facial expression, just in a different form or version. Overall, it can still symbolize and deliver the theme the photographer tries to possess.
  8.  A portrait does not need to be in a single photograph. Rather, splitting a portrait into sections may help further emphasize and explain a detail like texture, color, or pattern included in the portrait, helping to reveal a deeper symbolism or theme the portrait tries to exhibit.

© 2025 Ian

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

Skip to toolbar