Introduction to Portraiture

A portrait is a representation of a person, usually focusing on their face and expression while conveying deeper meanings about identity and emotion. It showcases the individual’s personality and feelings through careful arrangement and detail. For example, Annie Leibovitz’s portraits often create strong emotional connections with strong expressions. Selfies can act as portraits by reflecting how someone sees themselves, similar to Cindy Sherman’s self-portraits that explore identity. Effective portraits can zoom in on small details, like hands or other body features, adding depth. Abstract images, such as blurry figures in the work of Andreas Gursky, may challenge traditional ideas of portraits by focusing more on the setting than the person. Additionally, a person can be represented through objects that relate to their identity, broadening what a portrait can be and also showing the essence of individuals without showing them directly. Lastly, a series of photos can show different sides of a subject, telling a more narrative story than a single image.

Task 1: Brainstorm – Mind Map

Task 2: Finding a Focus

Societal/Cultural Issue: I want to explore poverty and its impact on identity and community. This theme highlights the struggles and resilience of impoverished individuals and families, capturing their daily lives and moments of joy.

Task 3: Image Inspiration

For inspiration, I will focus on Dorothea Lange and her famous photograph “Migrant Mother” (1936).

Migrant Mother” was taken during the Great Depression and shows a mother with her children, highlighting the struggles many families faced. It reflects the hard lives of migrant workers seeking better opportunities.

The close-up shot emphasizes the mother’s worried expression, while her children cuddle to her, showing their vulnerability. This connection draws viewers in.

The photograph evokes feelings of despair and resilience. The mother’s gaze suggests hope for a better future despite her challenges. This combination creates a powerful emotional impact.

Culturally, “Migrant Mother” has become a symbol of the Great Depression, shifting attention from statistics to personal stories and urging society to recognize the struggles of those in poverty.

This photograph is relevant to my project as it reflects themes of poverty and identity. It showcases the strength of individuals facing hardship and serves as a reminder of resilience in tough times, making it an important source of inspiration.

Task 4: Mood Board

Task 5: Statement of Intent

Inspired by Dorothea Lange’s unflinching humanism, this project, Resilience in Shadows, documents the lived realities of poverty to interrogate its corrosive impact on individual identity and communal bonds. I aim to do away with stereotypes by photographing ordinary things individuals from marginalized communities do that show their dignity, practical nature and strength as a group. I will combine Lange’s approaches to ethics and to formal design, using light, expression and context to present people overcoming hardship. I try to stir strong feelings and promote reflection in people by highlighting how those who are strong often endure even when systems let them down. Recording stories that have been overlooked, this project continues Lange’s tradition: using photography to encourage sympathy and greater understanding.

Artist Research: Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange received long-lasting admiration for her humanist style of photography which focused on real moments of difficulty that poor Americans faced from economic operators during the Great Depression. She preferred hands-on research and cared for her subjects, recording them with a Graflex camera that made them look dignified and celebrated the truth while adding poetry to her photos. Her works, showing agrarian poverty with strong emotions and scenes, caught audience attention by building stories about people coping with the end of the market economy. She had to balance sensitivity to people’s feelings and get close to her subjects as she purposefully arranged images so that viewers could see the significance of her subjects’ situations. Reinhard’s main belief was that photography could change society since she encouraged witnesses to both describe suffering and empower her subjects. When Dorothy combined her strong views with artistry and images of dignity and quiet opposition, she helped photography become a key force for compassion in the minds of Americans.

The artist that has inspired my work most is Aaron Siskind, particularly for his ability to find the extraordinary in ordinary scenes.

I have developed my approach by focusing on the relationship between industrial development and human experiences in urban areas. This is shown through the use of color and contrasts in my triptych.

To create my project, I shot with different compositions and color combinations, taking various photos of urban settings. This helped me find the elements that best fit my theme.

I selected images that not only looked good together but also told a cohesive story about urban life. The blues and reds connect the images while highlighting their contrasts.

My goal was to capture moments that reflect both the beauty and challenges of urban life. I aimed to show the calmness of the sky alongside the harshness of industrial structures, encouraging viewers to think about the impact of progress on the environment and human connections.

I chose this approach because I believe art should contribute to thought and conversation. The triptych format allows viewers to engage with the complexities of urban living.

I think the project’s strengths lie in its ability to evoke emotions and provoke discussions about social and environmental issues. The colors and compositions effectively highlight the tension between industrialization and the human experience.

In future projects, I want to improve my technical photography skills, especially in post-processing, to enhance the visual impact of my images and their narratives.

Ultimately, I hope viewers will understand the balance between progress and the human experience in urban life and reflect on their own interactions with their environments.

BEFORE

AFTER

In these two triptych’s after the feedback I made the color in the second draft more bright by photoshop, this corresponds with my middle image (the wall) making a stronger connection and bond throughout the whole image, making the triptych more effective and strong, moreover, this explains my theme, why it is imperative for people to realize the importance in communication in this modern and advanced industrial era and period of time.

798 Contact Sheet

Above are all the images I have taken in 798 there are 95 photographs in total

798-Green

The collection of photos showcases urban scenes that highlight themes of transformation, blending old and new, and human interaction with the environment. Common elements include vibrant colors, contrasts of light and shadow, and the dynamic presence of people. Each image tells a story, capturing free moments that reflect daily life in the city, which matches my theme of finding the extraordinary through the ordinary. The composition, with its effective use of lines and framing, draws the viewer’s eye and adds depth. Overall, these images beautifully illustrate the nature of urban spaces and the rich narratives embedded within them.

798- Yellow

I chose these four photos for their strong representation of urban life and the stories they tell. The first image, with the ladder against the blue and red wall, symbolizes progress and construction, highlighting transformation in the city. The second photo, featuring smoke stacks against a blue sky, illustrates the industrial side of urban living, prompting thoughts about pollution and modern complexities. The red telephone booth in the third image serves as a reminder of the past, emphasizing communication and cultural evolution. Lastly, the alley with shadows creates a sense of mystery and invites exploration, adding depth to the urban experience. Together, these photos effectively capture the rich narratives and emotional layers of city life. Moreover, I deliberately chose these four photos also because all of them are portraits, which at the end of the triptych unifies the triptych.

798- Red

These three photos create a harmonized visual narrative through their colors and themes. The vibrant blue of the wall in the first image harmonizes with the clear blue sky in the second, establishing a serene background that contrasts with the industrial smokestacks. This highlights the tension between urban development and environmental impact, also the vibrant red of the wall in the first image harmonizes with the red of the telephone booth, it introduces a warm, nostalgic element that stands out against the cooler tones, drawing attention to the importance of human connection in an increasingly industrialized world. Together, these images not only complement each other visually but also explore the relationship between progress, industry, and the human experience in urban life.

1. Select an artist

“Aaron Siskind.” International Center of Photography, 21 Apr. 2018, https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/aaron-siskind?all/all/all/all/0.

Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Characteristics of Aaron Siskind’s Photographic Style

1. Abstract Form: Emphasizes basic shapes and forms, prioritizing texture and pattern over clear representation.
2. Texture and Surface: Highlights the texture qualities of objects, such as peeling paint and rust.
3. Composition: Carefully arranged with strong lines and asymmetry to promote visual interest.
4. Single Color and Contrast: Uses black and white to highlight light and shadow and strengthen abstract qualities.
5. Powerful Emotion: Evokes feelings, allowing personal views despite the abstract nature.

Reasons of Abstraction

Siskind’s work is abstract as it often removes context, allowing subjects to exist as single forms. He emphasizes how light and shadow transform ordinary scenes, allowing viewers to feel them differently.

Appreciation

I admire Siskind’s ability to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary. His focus on texture and form encourages deeper observation, creating a warm feeling and deeper thoughts in his work. The abstraction allows personal views even in abstraction, allowing viewers to show their emotions onto the images.

Quotation of Aaron Siskind

“We look at the world and see what we have learned to believe is there. We have been conditioned to expect…. but, as photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs.”

“Photo Quotes.” PhotoQuotes.Com, https://photoquotes.com/author/aaron-siskind. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Explanation of Quotation

This quotation highlights Siskind’s belief that photography is subjective. It encourages viewers to explore their interpretations, coming together with his abstract style that promotes deeper engagement with the images. His work challenges us to discover emotional and aesthetic views within the ordinary.

2. Fully Evaluate ONE image

“Martha’s Vineyard 108.” International Center of Photography, 25 Feb. 2016, https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/marthas-vineyard-108. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Why did you choose this image in particular?

I chose this image because it captures a unique moment in time that reflects both the beauty and complexity of everyday life. Siskind’s ability to transform ordinary subjects into extraordinary scenes resonates with me.

What do you find surprising or unusual about this photograph?

What stands out about this photograph is its abstract quality, which blurs the perspective between reality and art. The way Siskind uses texture to form and create an emotional impact is also surprising and unusual, how the stone is both rough and smooth, in different angles and perspectives. Despite how the rocks formed are unusual, how they maintain their balance is surprising, aligning with the overall emotion of balance of the image.

Formal Element:

Aaron Siskind’s “Martha’s Vineyard 108,” balance creates harmony and guides the viewer’s eye. The mix of light, dark, shapes, and textures adds emotional depth and invites exploration of the photograph. Overall, balance strengthens the viewer’s experience and the beauty of the work.

The message of my triptych will be to focus on the complex textures and patterns found in human experiences, which can involve architecture and surroundings. I want my audience to think about how our surroundings and interactions shape our identities. I hope to promote feelings of curiosity and connection.

For inspiration, I will seek out photographs that explore the details of urban landscapes, the interplay of light and shadow, and the emotional depth in everyday moments. I will look for images of the beauty in the ordinary and reveal the stories behind the surfaces.

Through this project, I aim to remind us that every texture tells a story. By looking into the layers of our environment and our lives, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGewKQrrFU/iJ7ArydEmF2utAjIgF5GBw/view?utm_content=DAGewKQrrFU&utm_campaign=share_your_design&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=shareyourdesignpanel

1. The 1st picture represents the element of composition, specifically framing in this case, this picture captured used elements in the scene to frame the subject.
2. The 2nd picture uses the elements of composition and the focus on the subject, the little “square” presented is clear and well-defined and also draws the audience’s attention.
3. The 3rd picture focuses on the element of texture; it adds depth and interest by capturing the surface quality of the flowers on the tree.
4. The 4th picture highlights on the element of lines, specifically horizontal lines creating parallel-lines in the picture, it evokes a sense of calmness and stability.
5. The 5th picture represents the element of lines, especially vertical lines, giving a feeling of strength and stability.
6. The 6th picture uses the elements of composition and the focus on the subject, the dot or circle in the middle is the subject we are focusing on, it is distinct from other elements in the picture and also attracts the viewer’s attention or perspectice.
7. The 7th picture focuses on the elements of lines and composition, combination of lines of both vertical and horizontal enhances the composition, drawing attention to the picture itself.
8. The 8th picture represents the elements of patterns and shapes, specifically circles it symbolizes unity and wholeness, giving a sense of harmony and balance.
9. The 9th picture focuses on the elements of lines and composition; similar to picture 7, both vertical and horizontal lines are included to enhance the composition. However, the amount of lines increases while the thickness decreases, and more lines can create a more dynamic and complex image, capturing the viewer’s attention.
10. The 10th picture uses the element of lines in a different way, the use of diagonal lines and leading lines leads the viewer’s eye toward the main subject or deeper into the scene.
11. The 11th picture highlights the element of lines similarly to picture 10; however, from a different angle, the change from diagonal lines across two corners to running from the bottom of the picture to the top. Lines moving upward can evoke feelings of growth and aspiration.
12. The 12th picture emphasizes the element of texture, being different from picture 3, it uses straight vertical and horizontal lines, this makes the whole picture a more serious and formal tone, rather than an arbitrary and disorganized texture.

“Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element. Albert Renger-Patzsch, Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind photographed the ordinary to reveal their beauty. Uta Barth reversed the typical use of the camera, shooting out of focus and Andreas Gursky photographs the repetition of elements. During this unit you will investigate appropriate examples of abstract photography and respond in your own way..”

“Snake Head” Albert Renger-Patzsch German 1927

In “Snake Head,” Albert Renger-Patzsch might have been interested in capturing features such as:

Detail and Texture: The complex patterns of the snake’s scales and the slight variation in color and texture displays the beauty of the nature.

Form and Shape: The unique shape of the snake’s head, including its eyes and mouth, emphasizes the snake’s distinct features and creates a sense of three-dimensionality.

Light and Shadow: The interaction of light and shadow on the snake’s surface, fosters the depth and deeper meaning of the image, drawing the audience’s attention to its natural beauty and elegance.

If I were the photographer, I would title it “Nature’s Elegance.” This title shows the beauty and detail of the snake’s shape. It highlights how the photo captures the art found in nature. The name invites viewers to see the grace in small details of the natural world, matching Renger-Patzsch’s goal of showing beauty in real life.

If I were the photographer, I would title it “Nature’s Elegance.” This title shows the beauty and detail of the snake’s shape. It highlights how the photo captures the art found in nature. The name allows the viewers to see the elegance in small details of the natural world, matching Renger-Patzsch’s goal of showing beauty in real life.

In Albert Renger-Patzsch’s “Snake Head” the six elements mentioned in blog post 4 can be use to describe the photo for these reasons:

Line: The curves and angles of the snake’s head create smooth lines that leads the viewer’s eye around the image.

Shape: The clear shapes of the snake’s head and features, like its eyes and nose, make it easy to recognize.

Pattern: The repeating pattern of the scales adds interest and realism, drawing attention to the details of the snake’s skin.

Texture: The photo shows the texture of the snake’s skin, highlighting and comparing the roughness of the scales and the smoothness of its eye, making it feel more real.

Tone: The light and dark tones create contrast, adding depth to the image, helping to show the snake’s three-dimensional shape.

Focus: The sharp focus on the snake’s head makes it the main subject, allowing viewers to look closely at its details.

“Albert Renger-Patzsch.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/283285. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Formal elements in photography refer to the visual factors that create a photograph’s structure and aesthetic to us. Understanding these elements helps photographers compose and evaluate their work. The elements it includes are the most basic and fundamental factors in photography. However, it is one of the most important factors we should realize that affects the photo. These are some brief definitions of the six examples of formal elements that we are focusing on:

1. Line

Lines are paths that lead the viewer’s eye in a photo. They can be straight, curved, or diagonal and help create structure and movement.

2. Shape

Shapes are flat forms made by lines or objects. They can be geometric (like squares and circles) or organic (irregular) and add interest to the composition.

3. Pattern

Patterns are repeated designs in a photo. They create rhythm and can draw attention to certain parts of the image.

4. Texture

Texture refers to how a surface looks in a photo. It can feel rough, smooth, or detailed, and it is affected by light and focus.

5. Tone

Tone describes how light or dark a color is in a photo. It affects the mood and depth of the image.

6. Focus

Focus is about how clear or sharp an image is. It shows which parts are clear and which are blurred, helping to highlight important details.

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (1889)

In “The Starry Night,” Vincent van Gogh uses important elements to create an eye-catching scene. The swirling lines in the sky show movement, while the tall tree and flat hills attracts our eyes. The painting features round shapes, like the stars, and angular shapes, like the buildings. A pattern of stars and the moon adds harmony. How Van Gogh paints the art piece gives its texture, especially in the lively sky, and the mix of dark blues and bright yellows creates drama. The focus is on the sky, highlighting the swirling stars and letting the quiet village below blend in, which adds a sense of wonder.

Team, Artistro. “30 Most Famous Paintings in History: The Best Art of All Time.” Artistro, 13 May 2021, https://artistro.com/blogs/news/30-most-famous-artworks-in-history-the-greatest-art-of-all-time. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

The pictorialism movement shifted photography from commercialism to a more artistic, handcrafted approach. Photographs began to resemble paintings and drawings, evoking an unreal, rule-free world.

Modernist photography, known as straight photography, emerged in the 1920s, focusing on capturing images as they appeared through the viewfinder without manipulation. This approach encouraged photographers to confront reality directly.

Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind embraced this sharp realism, with Siskind paving the way for abstract photography by capturing natural environments in expressive ways. Abstract art invites viewers to interpret its meaning.

Andreas Gursky is a straight photographer who highlights the beauty of everyday settings, like fields and desert roads, with clear, unaltered images. In contrast, Uta Barth’s photographs of homes and offices are intentionally blurry, making her a pictorialist. Overall, many contemporary photographers now focus on straight photography to showcase the beauty of modern life.

Snodgrass, Susan. “ARTnews.Com.” ARTnews.Com, 3 Nov. 2011, https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/aia-reviews/uta-barth-2-61042/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

“99 Cent – Andreas Gursky.” The Broad, https://www.thebroad.org/art/andreas-gursky/99-cent. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.