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
“Pinterest.” Pinterest, au.pinterest.com/pin/AdY-UPgV6ZXnt7gMTpOQU28qWRcdxBl56IM4drmIpWELKr0PXppv9XI.
This photograph shows a young girl standing outside at night holding a neon umbrella that glows in bright pink and purple colours. The subject is placed near the centre of the frame, which immediately makes her the main focus. The background is dark and blurred, suggesting an urban environment, possibly a street or city area at night. The modern clothing and artificial lighting show that the photograph is set in a contemporary time period.
The lighting is the most important element in this image. The neon umbrella creates a soft glow that lights up the subject’s face while the background stays mostly in shadow. This strong contrast between light and dark draws the viewer’s eye directly to the subject. The colours are vibrant but not overwhelming, which helps create a dreamy and calm mood. The light feels controlled and intentional, rather than harsh or random.
The subject’s pose and expression feel relaxed and natural. She is not doing anything dramatic and appears comfortable, which makes the image feel genuine and emotionally engaging. The photographer’s point of view is at eye level, which helps the viewer feel connected to the subject, as if they are sharing the same space. This image is effective because it combines bright colour with a sense of realism and emotion.
Least Favorite Photo:
McElfish. “Fairy Lights.” CVHS Photography, 30 Nov. 2021, cvhsphotography.com/fairy-lights.
(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.