Photographic portraiture
Photographic portraiture-Recent and Current Trends and Influences in Portrait Photography-
Many photographers in the past have had dynamic careers that have influenced many up and coming photographers and will for years to come. Because their work at the time has been preserved in inspirational and innovative images of their eras rock legends and cultural icons, similarities yet progressions can been seen through a comparison of photographers such as David Bailey, Anne Liebovitz and Rankin one of today's most talked photographers.
David Baileys career was at a high between the years of 1957 and 1969 and was most famous for his striking black and white images of icons including John lennon and Paul McCartney; Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton and the Kray Twins. At this time Bailey was making a revolutionary progression to 35mm cameras at the beginning of the 60's. The SLR camera Bailey purchased in '61 allowed him the flexibility to loosen up the fashion genre. For example on of his early fashion shoots for Vogue 'Young idea goes west' featured Jean Shrimpton in the chaotic urban environment of New York. These photographs epitomized a new street realism and marked a drastic departure from the Static formally posed fashion and portrait photography of the previous decade.
Bailey's mapping of the '60s was marked by two collections of portraits; David Bailey's Box of Pin-ups in 1965 and Goodbye Baby and Amen in 1969. Powerful portraits of musicians including Mick Jagger, Lennon and McCartney reflect the stature of these 60s media heroes in these volumes. And actors such as Michael Caine and Marianne Faithful. Along with models Jean Shrimpton and Sue Murray. Baileys portraits are characterized by close cropping, strong lighting and often stark, bare backgrounds; which have given them a dramatic and enduring intensity. With most of his models Bailey had a very close rapport that brought a certain level of intimacy to his photographs, which was unique amongst his contemporaries. Some examples of his work can be seen on page six. In these examples you can clearly see Baileys simple yet distinctive style, the two small photographs of Michael Caine and Mick Jagger clearly show that Bailey has lit the subject with either one or two softboxes from the front or 45 degrees and has also lit the background very strongly to allow the model to stand out more clearly from the background. Bailey�s photographs seem to be quite contrasting and he uses quite harsh side lighting on Micheal Caine it makes the character appear to be very strong and threatening which may have been Baileys intention.
Bailey remains still as active as ever and has continuing importance as a portrait photographer evident in his contemporary photographs of Naomi Campbell, Amber Valetta, Johnny Depp and Ralph Fiennes.
Anne Liebovitz whose career has to be renowned for her work for Rolling Stones magazine was spread throughout the years of 1970 to 1990, and alike Bailey she had a very close rapport...
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