Preparing For Portraiture + Self Reflection

In preparation for the photographing for my portraiture assignment, I have loaded into my camera Ilford HP5 Plus 400 speed film.  This is as I will be photographing in doors (inside buses) in possibly overcast, sun setting/night time conditions.  

I will shoot a roll of film with the aim to capture bus goers from behind and if possible with their reflection in the window - should they have a window seat.  With this idea I am wanting to explore what I can capture when public transport commuters have time to themselves. 

My series or portraits will hopefully convey an outsider sight into the world of another person - as I plan to capture them while they are unaware. 

I would also like to talk briefly about lighting and the advancements (or so I think) of my knowledge in this area.  The first is about key light and contrast.  

Here is  photo of my mum:

I really like the way the above photo has turned out.  The key light is coming from the left of frame (that left side is lit the best) and there are shadows on the right side of frame (her left side).  The light side is backed by a dark (wooden) background, while the shadowy side is backed by a bright light to contrast.  These slight contrasting details bring out the subject of the photo.  

NOTE: The scratches and irregularities are caused by the glass used to push down the negatives, not in the photo themselves - however it does give a nice effect.  

The picture below is also a nice use of contrast in black and white hues

The other thing I have realised is an important factor to photography is an eye light.  The picture below has a good use of an eye light which even though the picture is quite dark and not very well detailed brightness wise, it is still clear to what it is.  The eye light in her eyes also helps to bring some life to the subject and photo overall.  

Similar to this note is also this photo:

Use of shadow and contrast between surfaces of skin/wall worked out really nicely.  Though the subject doesn't have any kicker light, the back of his head is completely black, it still works really well as a photo especially because this is against white which helps bring it out more.  

I'll let you be the judge, but I have realised that light is probably the most important thing when composing shot.  Because without light - what's the use in having a subject?  Unless you are using longer shutter speeds.

See below for my contact sheet (Ilford HP5 Plus - 400 ISO Speed Film):

Sally Man

Today we were able to learn about photographer Sally Mann.  Currently 61 years old, she lives a fairly sheltered farm style life.  

She conceptualises, develops and beings to life many many different photography work. 

To note, her main passion is landscapes, but throughout her children's adolescence she took many photographs.  It was interesting to me the way she and her family described when she looked ready to take a photograph.  They said they always knew when she had seen a setting for a good shot, like a spark would go off in her eye.  Many of the photos she has taken in her photographic career have been the subject of much debate as they are deemed in some circles as bordering on pornographic. 

I however see great beauty in many of these photos.  Many of them are natural occurrences of life and the way we as humans grow into this world.  However today's social norms push us to sometimes view work such as this as wrong, but I believe it simply is not - we must look further. 

One of the other interesting photographic series' she has done is one concentrating on death.  Many find this such work to be too confronting or 'gross'.  She describes it as people do not want to be confronted with death so they tend to steer away from it which is likely the reasons her death show was cancelled last minute by the gallery that was putting it on.  One of the more interesting things I learned from Sally Mann's death series was her point about how when people/animals/pets have passed away they simply are not there anymore.  Their soul is not there and the entity is somewhere else.  The body or carcass if you will is what remains, remembrance of life but not the person or life itself. 

Even though Sally has (I believe) lived a fairly sheltered life - being able to go out and photograph as she will, not have to work etc - I think her work is absolutely amazing and definitely grabs me on a whole new level. 

I think her work has definitely pushed me to think on a whole new level about environment and settings as much as any other subject.  She definitely has a very good talent for not only shooting portraiture and people, but bringing her landscapes to life. 

One of the other things I will take away from Sally is her comment about her mistakes being her positives.  She says jokingly that she will stop making good work when she stops making mistakes, as when she makes little mistakes here or there and it slightly warps the photograph/end result in some way, it attributes to the final product and adds to it's beauty.  So I will definitely not be afraid in the future to do just that, make a few mistakes - and just see what I can come up with.  

There is much other work that could be spoken about in a  lot more depth, but this at the moment is a fairly good summary of the points that I have found valuable of her work.  

Definitely chuck her into Google if you want to see more!
Or her website: http://sallymann.com/

-Bayley