Photographic style (U8: P1, M1)

P1(U8): Describe professional photographers and their photographic work

Henri Cartier- Bresson

https://www.magnumphotos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cortex/par44919.jpg

Henri Cartier- Bresson used an abstract style for his photographs, the images are often regular settings seen in an abstract way. The photographer enjoyed capturing candid shots to show the true emotions of a moment without it feeling staged. For example, one of his images depicts a scene of a man riding his bike, this photo captures the normalities of everyday life in a beautiful way. The image includes a shot of the cobbled street as well as carefully structured stairs to add textures and depth to the image, this adds meaning and helps viewers to understand the time period in which this photograph was taken. Henri's visual style is evident here as he uses the already existing structures to add depth to the image, making it more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The black and white finish further helps the photograph remain emotional and uninterrupted as colour would distract from the scene.

The purpose of his work was to satisfy and provoke thoughts in the viewers. Henri Cartier- Bresson believed that photography was able to capture the meaning of scenes which looked 'ordinary' at first glance. The instant captured would be able to last an eternity due to photography and generations to come would be able to unravel all the meanings behind it.

Henri was one of the first and most infamous street photographers, growing this genre into a vastly popular style. The photographer's style was increasingly appreciated by the UK population as traditional class roles began to change within society- shifting focus from hereditary class roles to a greater appreciation for those who attained artistic talent. Henri's work quickly grew popular within society as they felt understood through his surreal photography style.

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/77/2022/10/Behind-the-Gare-St.-Lazare.jpg

Henri was born in 1908 but his work was most popular around the 1930's. During this time period, Henri was photographing scenes in France and took some of his most famous images here. The photographer would go on to write a book called 'The Decisive Moment' in which he explains his photographs as capturing the exact moment of spontaneity to last an eternity. 

Henri Cartier Bresson was best known for using a 35mm rangefinder camera with the occasional 50mm lens, this allowed him to capture an image more wholly without distortion. He relied on the natural light of his surroundings and therefore didn't use any additional equipment. 

The most well-known image taken by Henri Cartier Bresson was an image of a man jumping into a puddle moments before the landing and consequent splash. This is named 'Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare'. This image builds anticipation as the subject is an instant away from hitting the water, causing a splash and in this way creates the perfect dynamic photograph.

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz is a photographer well-known for her engaging celebrity portraits. She uses a unique visual style in which the subject of the portrait is portrayed in an alternative fashion, aiming to capture their personality. The photographer uses portrait photography in order to achieve a thought-provoking image that truly captures the essence of a person, often celebrities.

Annie's work was often used on magazine covers as she worked for Rolling Stones, Vanity fair, and Vogue. The use of her photographs was to paint the celebrities pictured in a more interesting way in order to engage the audience and show them the true personality of the individual. Interestingly, the purpose was to present images that had an alternative style and therefore would fit the brief for the magazine cover while also enabling audiences to further understand the type of person featured on the cover, finding something to relate to.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpbHf46OdIUj7_Ja3CnZTchL1_mRrjcEAoQjI7NUvcGkKUmZck

The type of photography Annie was most famous for was capturing dramatic celebrity portraits. She does this through the use of bold colours, dramatic lighting, and alternative poses. This genre of photography uses regular camera angles which allows the sole focus of the image to go undistracted from additional elements.

Annie Leibovitz was born in 1949 and her career began to peak in the 1970s as she gained recognition while working for Rolling Stone magazine. The portrait photographer was primarily recognised in the US for her work in the popular magazine, she was named the chief photographer for Rolling Stone but shortly after moved on to work at Vanity Fair where she developed her iconic style. Annie Leibovitz is still a widely recognised name in photography today, capturing great names in the celebrity world and showing audiences their true identities.

The famous portraits Annie captures use a variety of equipment, including; a tripod, lighting equipment, and a Canon EOS 5D series. She has used a diverse range of cameras throughout her long-lived career to capture the individual in the best light but this has been her most recent camera. Interestingly, the dramatic lighting used in her images is an iconic element of her work and therefore plays an important role, in using lighting reflectors, umbrellas, and soft boxes allowing the final image to have the desired impact on viewers.

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/sites/default/files/styles/postcard/public/externals/42136.jpg?itok=GtsAQ_xK

Annie's most famously known for capturing the last image of Yoko Ono and John Lennon before he died. The image pictures Yoko laying on a carpet fully clothed, her hair fanned out and her husband lying nude alongside her in a foetal position, kissing her cheek, and framing her head with his arm. The image captured the celebrity couple's relationship perfectly as John quoted after seeing the Polaroid "This is it. This is our relationship". Sadly, the ex-Beatles member was soon after shot by a jealous former security guard, making the photograph that much more famous as it captured the couples last hours together.

Steve McCurry

McCurry's visual style aims to represent the world as we see it, in colour. He aims to capture and intensify this colour as this is how the real world is and he wants to encourage the beauty of everyday scenes in bold colour. He is best known for his portraits in which he is able to interact with the subject, learning about them and in this way capturing them in the best light- engaging audiences with the picture. The photographer is able to capture intimate photos in which the subject is able to connect with the audience by using wide-open apertures so the background cannot distract from the primary subject of the image.

Steve McCurry uses a portrait type of photography primarily, this is what he is best known for. The photographer uses leading lines and intense colours to achieve aesthetically pleasing visuals for audiences. The use of these lines helps draw the audience into the image and pulls their focus in the desired direction so they can focus on the key elements of the photo. 

https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/img/photo/2015/11/01_McCurry/original.jpg

The use of Steve's work is to demonstrate different cultures around the world, he is able to show the impact of devastating events such as war or poverty on humanity through these simple yet bold portraits. These photographs help those in privileged areas better understand what others are going through and in this feel a greater sense of empathy for others, urging them to appreciate other cultures around the world.

Steve McCurry was born in 1950 but his work was most successful between 1980 and 2011. During this time he travelled the world taking intimate portraits to depict a diverse range of cultures and grow an appreciation for this. In 1984 he won an award for 'Photographer of the Year' and has become a recognisable name in the photography community since.

Steve photographs using a Nikon D810, which allows him to shoot low-light scenes easily. In addition, he uses a 24-70mm lens. This is all he will use when carrying out a photoshoot as it allows him to capture the true moments without the need for long set ups, capturing the candid instances. He doesn't use a tripod or lighting equipment which he believes would take too long and gives the image a less authentic feel. Additionally, he uses software equipment in the post- production stage to intensify colours, showing his iconic style.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Sharbat_Gula.jpg

Steve McCurry has taken a range of recognisable photographs but his most famous image is one called 'Afghan Girl' which depicts a young refugee in the 1984 war. The image famously appeared on the cover of the 1985 National Geographic and has been one of the most famous works of Steve McCurry's career. The image captures the fear and uncertainty many individuals were feeling during this time in the war, evoking a great sense of sympathy for those suffering at this time. Following Steve's iconic style he is able to connect the subject to the audience and raise awareness for the troubles she is facing at this time.

websites used for research:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson
https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/henri-cartier-bresson?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-KiBhCsARIsAPztUF1--a95DJ_AjlI6IM5ATarGmwWcpPWZeIrMbIJogLgn-Cw1s7gNI08aAvKyEALw_wcB
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/henri-cartier-bresson-and-his-most-famous-photos/
https://www.artnet.com/artists/annie-leibovitz/
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-annie-leibovitz-perfectly-captured-yoko-johns-relationship
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/42479/john-lennon-and-yoko-ono
https://imageexplorers.com/photograph-like-steve-mccurry/
https://www.photocrowd.com/blog/159-how-shoot-steve-mccurry/

M1(U8): Describe your own photographic style and influences