Isabella

Composition & Technique

1. Focal Point & Eye Movement

•  The viewer’s eyes are immediately drawn to the subject’s face, lit by the red stage light, and the bright blue lens flare cutting across the frame.
• My intended focal point is the subject’s smile and the mix of red and blue light on his suit, but the lens flare competes with this focus.

2. Distracting Elements

• A chair with a gold ribbon in the bottom right corner partially covers the subject’s torso, creating a small visual interruption.
• The background has cluttered tables with glassware and floral arrangements that are slightly in focus, pulling attention away from the subject.
• The blue lens flare covers a small part of the subject’s hair and shoulder, obscuring those details.

3. Exposure

• The red stage light causes slight overexposure on the subject’s right cheek (viewer’s left), and fine skin tone details are lost in this area.
• The darker parts of the background (like the tables on the far left) are underexposed, but this choice keeps the subject as the main light focus.
• The stage light bulbs in the upper part of the frame are blown out, with no visible detail in the light sources this is a natural outcome of shooting in low light with direct bright lights.

4. Background

• The background shows a formal event space with decorated tables and stage lighting, which provides context for the setting (a banquet or gala) but is not blurred enough to stay secondary to the subject.
• The mix of bright stage lights (yellow, red, blue) in the background adds to the event atmosphere but creates extra visual noise around the subject.

5. Composition & Balance

• The subject is centered in the frame, which creates symmetrical balance but lacks visual dynamics. Placing him slightly off-center (following the rule of thirds) would have made the composition more engaging.
• The horizontal lines of the tables and stage lights in the background contrast with the vertical shape of the subject, which adds some visual interest but also makes the frame feel a little unbalanced.

6. Color Accuracy

• The red light from the stage creates a strong color cast on the subject’s skin and suit, which is not natural skin tone but is an intentional choice to highlight the color’s symbolic meaning.
• The blue lens flare and background lights add cool tones that clash with the warm red, which supports the statement of intent about color contrast and societal perception.

Storytelling Quality

• The vision of exploring color as a visual language for identity and societal perception is clear in the photo. The red light (symbolizing joy, celebration, and boldness) on the subject’s formal black suit (linked to formality and social conformity) directly shows the clash between personal expression and societal expectations.

• The casual smile of the subject, paired with the formal suit and dramatic colored light, tells a story of staying true to personal identity in a socially structured environment (a formal event).

• The cluttered, real-world event background grounds the story in everyday life, which supports the intent to show how color shapes identity in ordinary spaces.

Emotional Impact

• Feedback from peers shows the image evokes feelings of warmth and relatability the person’s genuine smile makes viewers connect with the moment of personal joy in a formal setting.

• The contrast of red and blue light makes viewers notice the tension between societal norms (black suit, formal event) and personal expression (smile, red light’s warmth), which sparks curiosity about the person’s identity.

• The image aligns with the statement of intent because it uses color to communicate emotion (joy from red) and societal perception (the black suit’s link to formality, blue’s hint of distance from social expectations). Viewers easily recognize how color can change the way we see a person’s identity in a social context.

The photographer I have chose: Brandon Woelfel

Intent and Message of the Photographer

Brandon Woelfel’s photographs explore how light and color can be used to express emotion, identity, and atmosphere. His work often focuses on people in everyday or social environments, but he transforms these moments through the use of strong artificial lighting. Rather than documenting reality exactly as it appears, Woelfel uses color to suggest feelings such as confidence, calmness, joy, or emotional tension. His photographs reflect modern youth culture and how identity can be communicated visually through mood and lighting rather than words.

Analysis of Artist

Across Brandon Woelfel’s images, there is a clear pattern in his use of bold, saturated colors such as red, blue, and pink. He frequently uses artificial light sources like neon lights, LEDs, or stage lighting to shape the mood of the photograph. His subjects are usually placed clearly within the frame and are well lit, while the background is often darker or softly blurred. Light flares and reflections appear often in his work, adding a dreamlike or cinematic effect. His camera technique prioritizes lighting and colour contrast over detailed backgrounds.

Justification for Choosing this Artist

I chose Brandon Woelfel because his use of dramatic colored lighting closely connects to my photograph. In my image, red and blue stage lights play a major role in shaping how the subject is seen and felt. Like Woelfel’s work, the lighting in my photo creates emotion and meaning rather than simply illuminating the scene. His photographs inspire me to experiment with color contrast, artificial lighting, and atmosphere. He shows how color can influence how a person is perceived, which directly relates to my focus on identity and societal expectations.

Favorite Photo

Least Favorite Photo:

(Some sources say this is Brandon Woelfel’s photos others say the artist is unknown I am not exactly sure but hopefully it is his work)

This photograph features a subject holding or surrounded by fairy lights inside a jar. Like many of Woelfel’s portraits, the focus is on a single person, but in this image the lights become the most noticeable element rather than the subject’s face. The background is again blurred, but the image feels more cluttered due to the brightness of the lights.

The lighting in this photograph is very strong and heavily edited. The fairy lights are extremely bright and the colors are highly saturated, which causes some areas to lose detail. Because of this, the image feels less natural compared to the favorite photograph. The glow effect is interesting at first, but it distracts from the subject instead of enhancing them.

The pose feels more staged and less spontaneous. The subject appears to be posing specifically to show the effect of the lights rather than expressing a natural emotion. This makes the photograph feel more like an experiment with visual effects instead of a captured moment. While the technique is creative, it feels less emotionally engaging.

What I Want to Use in My Own Photography

From my favorite photograph, I want to use bright colors and creative lighting to create a strong visual impact. I especially like how colored light can be used to highlight the subject while still keeping the image soft and balanced.

However, I also want my photographs to feel natural and genuine. I will focus on relaxed poses, real expressions, and minimal editing so the subject remains the main focus. By combining bright color with a natural feeling, I want to create photographs that are visually interesting but still emotionally authentic.

1. 1. Young girl in a red hood (top left):This photo features a girl with striking green eyes, wrapped in a deep red hooded garment against a muted green background. Her intense, direct gaze conveys quiet resolve, while the rich red fabric anchors the image echoing Steve McCurry’s use of bold color to highlight personal identity and cultural clothing.
   2. Women in a green-walled room (top right):Set in a space with faded turquoise walls, this scene shows women engaged in daily life: one sews at a machine, others stand nearby, with a figure visible through a distant doorway. The soft, worn colors and calm interactions capture the quiet rhythm of community and routine.
   3. Portrait with sunbeams (left middle):A moody, artistic portrait where dramatic light beams fan across the subject’s face, casting sharp shadows. The high-contrast lighting adds depth and mystery, framing the image as a stylized exploration of identity (tied to creative portrait photography ideas).
   4. Flower seller in a boat (right middle):A vendor tends to vibrant, multicolored blooms piled high in a small boat, floating on dark green water. The bright flowers pop against the muted surroundings, blending everyday work with natural beauty.
   5. Man on blue steps (bottom right, upper):An older man in traditional white clothing and a colorful turban sits relaxed on bright blue stairs, with a bare foot visible nearby. The bold blue background emphasizes his cultural dress, creating a vivid, peaceful snapshot of daily life.
   6. Elderly man with a long beard (bottom left):This close-up portrait shows an older man with a thick, white beard, holding a thin stick near his mouth. His weathered features and intense gaze tell a story of lived experience, leaning into portrait photography’s focus on capturing personal history.
   7. Fishermen in choppy waters (bottom right):Several men fish in rough, blue waves, some balancing on poles, others wading. The dynamic scene (wild water, active figures) highlights the physicality and resilience of their daily work, set against a dramatic, cloudy sky.

   

My project is inspired by photographers and photography styles that use color in a meaningful way to communicate emotion, identity, and culture. One major inspiration is Steve McCurry, who is known for using strong, rich colors to tell human stories. His photographs often use color to highlight emotion and cultural identity, showing how color can make a subject feel powerful or vulnerable.

Another inspiration is William Eggleston, a photographer famous for using everyday scenes with bold, unusual color choices. His work shows that color alone can change how we view ordinary moments, making them feel important or symbolic. This inspires me to use color intentionally, even in simple settings, to suggest deeper meaning.

I am also inspired by portrait photography as a genre, especially portraits that focus on clothing, backgrounds, or lighting to emphasize certain colors. This genre helps me explore how color can represent personality, mood, and social identity. Looking at these photographers and styles has helped me understand that color is not just decorative but a tool to communicate ideas, which has directly influenced how I plan to compose and edit my photographs.

The societal and cultural issue I want to explore through my photographs is how color represents identity, emotion, and how people are viewed in society. Color is more than just something we see; it carries meaning, stereotypes, and feelings that can influence the way people are understood and treated. Different colors are often connected to certain emotions, moods, or social ideas, and these associations shape how individuals express themselves and how others judge them.

For example, bright colors like red, yellow, or orange are often seen as bold, confident, or loud, while darker colors like black, gray, or navy can be associated with seriousness, sadness, or power. In society, people are sometimes expected to dress or present themselves using certain colors to “fit in,” and when they don’t, they may be judged or misunderstood. Through my photographs, I want to show how color can both express individuality and reflect social pressure.

I also want to explore how color can represent cultural identity. Many cultures use specific colors in clothing, celebrations, and traditions to symbolize values such as pride, mourning, happiness, or strength. By focusing on color, my photographs can show how culture and identity are visually communicated without words. Overall, my goal is to use color as a visual language to explore how society connects meaning to appearance and how that affects personal and cultural identity.

Black-and-white smoking portrait: A moody, shadowed close-up of a man smoking while playing cards.

It’s a quiet but interesting moment. The shadows add a little mystery, the part of life while smoking and playing cards make it very natural.

A colorful, emotional shot of a young boy crying with his mother? in a public square.

It shows the different emotions going around the hutong. The mom I would assume was trying to cheer the boy up, he started crying instead. Gives the viewer the idea that you can hear his cries, like pulls the viewer in to wehn this happened.

A black-and-white candid moment of a local strolling near a bridge.

It captures how hutong life isn’t just busy and boisterous, its peaceful too. The man looks relaxed, like he’s taking time to enjoy the view. Black-and-white keeps it simple and focused on his calm mood.

A colorful shot of a driver relaxing under willow trees, his car’s red popping against the green in the background

t’s a happy, calm moment, him even posing for the photo. The bright colors make it feel cheerful, and the willow trees add that classic Beijing vibe. (this might be a stereotype im sorry)

A wide shot of a traditional alley, capturing pedestrians and old architecture

It gives a “big picture” of where hutong life happens. You can see how people’s life were back then (a glimpse) of course different. And see the more “real” side of life with no sky scrappers or fancy buildings just the everyday moments of life.

A color close-up of a man pausing to smoke in a busy hutong. It’s a genuine, “no-filter” moment. He’s not posing, just enjoying a smoke. d. The color makes the hutong’s details (like the old walls behind him) pop. Gives me the idea like from a scene of a movie.

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A bright, lively shot of a driver navigating a tree-lined street with tourists.

It shows how hutong life connects people from different places. The driver looks proud to share his city, and i like how the colors contradict.

A street food seller engaging with customers, and because I found the lady really pretty, with “地道味” (authentic flavor) signs in the background. I like because it shows the friendliness of huton life, and how the vendors don’t only sell food but connect with people.

Together these photo show the real side of hutong, how there’s joy, but also sadness. How its loud and crazy, but also a side of it is peaceful and quiet. It shows the real and honest side of the hutong.

A portrait is more than just a picture of someone’s face. It is a photograph that tries to show who a person is—their personality, mood, feelings, or story. Portraits have been part of art for many years, and photography has made them even more creative.

A photograph becomes a portrait when the main goal is to show something about a person. This can be what they look like, but also how they feel or what makes them unique.

For example, Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl” is famous because her expression shows fear and strength at the same time.
Irving Penn also took portraits of workers holding their tools, which showed what their jobs meant to them.