Research & Moodboards:

Fashion Photography:

Alex James - 
Alex James is a fashion photographer who is based at a location studio in east London, which he opened in 2009. He has worked in most UK based magazines and shot for numerous high street fashion houses. However, he still enjoys working with smaller labels and discovering new talent.

I really like the composition of this image as the model looks really high fashion however, the location looks like an industrial warehouse which emphasises  her even more. I also like the fact that the background is blurred. It keeps all the focus on the model. Furthermore, the darkened corners of the image makes the model stand out more. I like the detail of the light beams from the windows on the roof as it keeps the background light and airy. Overall, I really enjoy the simplistic aesthetic of this image.



David Bailey -
David Bailey is a highly recognised Fashion photographer and is widely known for his part in creating 'swinging London' in the 1960's. He then went on to work with Vogue, producing numerous covers for them. He also shot 800 pages of Vogue Editorial for Vogue in one year alone. Although David Bailey does still work today, I decided to use him as my historical Photographer as he really changed the way everyone saw Fashion photography and will always be remembered for his work.

 I enjoy David Bailey's older work more because it fascinates me how his images were so simplistic yet so captivating. Sometimes when shooting in studio the images produced can seem boring but David Bailey's work captures your attention and keeps it. This image in particular is a perfect representation of this. The model fills the full frame and everything about her pose, position of her draws you to her face. Everything is upwards, including her clothes.

Portrait Photography:

Steve McCurry - 
Steve McCurry is an American Editorial Photographer best known for his 1984 image of 'Afghan girl' which appeared in the National Geographic Magazine. McCurry continued to cover armed conflicts including the Iran- Iraq War, Lebanon Civil War and the Cambodian Civil War including many more.

I chose this image to represent Steve McCurry's work instead of the 'Afghan girl' because I love the colours and the beauty of this woman. Her eyes really draw your attention in which is emphasised by the direct eye contact. Like a lot of his work, the model is the main focus which is something I really like and want to experiment with in my own work, as well as using on location. I also enjoy the way the woman looks put together then being able to see the exposed bricks of the background.


Andrea Hubner -
Andrea Hubnew is a German Fine Art Portrait Photographer. Andrea became interested in Photography at a young age and started with sport photography. She then discovered her passion of portraiture and nudity. Although photography is her passion, it isn't her profession.

I really enjoy this image as I really like the earthy tones throughout. I also really like how the model is posed. It's almost giving off the effect that she's in the middle of no where breathing the fresh air but also making eye contact to draw the viewer. I personally think this image is a mixture of both lighting, natural and artificial. I also like the fact that the model appears to have minimal make up on. It creates a very relaxed and natural image that I really enjoy.

Landscape Photography:

Charlie Waite -
Charlie Waite was born in 1949. He was very involved with British Theatre and Television for the first 10 year of his professional career. He then became fascinated with the way landscapes can portray a feeling using light and shade. His work is displayed all around the world in private and corporate  collections.

I chose this image as I really like the whole dynamic. Throughout the whole image there is leading lines whilst being relatively symmetrical which it very satisfying to the eye. I also like how he captured the light beams caused with the natural light. It gives the image contrast and emphasises the small detail of the bricks. I personally don't think I would have enjoyed this image in colour as the black and white makes it look timeless. Black and white I like a lot, especially when achieving the timeless look which is why I'm going to try use as much black and white as possible within my own work.




Joe Cornish - 
Joe Cornish was born in Exeter in 1958. He studied art at Reading University and worked as an assistant for four years in London and Washington D.C, after graduating. In 1986 to 1995

This image is personally very satisfying to me as everything is very clean cut and ties together. Nothing really stands out from nothing else and I really like that. I also like how the bridge draws your eyes straight into the centre of the image.
From there taking you all around the image. 

Abstract:

Aaron Siskind -

Aaron Siskind was an American abstract photographer who was widely considered to be closely involved with the abstract expressionist movement. Siskind was first introduced to photography when he received a camera as a wedding present and started taking pictures of his honeymoon. He quickly fell in love with the creative potential it could offer. He then went on to work for New York Photo League. He then went onto to teach until he died in 1991.

Although I enjoy abstract photography, I much prefer abstract images when they're monochrome or minamilistic. I chose this image as an example because I like how the black and is emphersised by the contrast. Also, personally when look at it straight away, I thought it was paint that had been peeling however, when looking at it longer, you question it. Is it burnt wood? Is it burnt paper on a wooden floor? It gives you an impression at first glance however, you don't actually know what it is. 

Harry Callahan -

Although Harry Callahan didn't focus on mainly abstract, the images he produced in this genre are amazing. Callahan was enrolled in Michigan State University studying engineering however, he dropped out to work for Chrysler and joined the photography club in which he taught himself photography. He then went on to teach at The Institute of Design. After moving to Rhode island in 1961, he established a photography program at the Rhode Island School of Design and worked there until his retirement in 1977.

Again, I only really enjoys abstract photography when it's monochrome or minamilistic which this image certainly is. I really like the crisp white against the black and slight tint red on the berries. It's direct and straight to the point. There's nothing to distract you on the main focus and it's something I really enjoy. This is one of the reasons why I want to use the 135mm lens as it cancels out the background, focusing on just the main subject. 

Moodboards:

Fashion

Portrait

Landscape

Abstract