Fashion and Portrait photography - Brian Duffy

Fashion and Portrait photography

Brian Duffy 

Fashion Photography is when images are captured to fulfill the purpose of promoting clothing. The figures in the photographs are not the main pieces or attractions. It is the clothing which it the centre piece.

Portrait Photography is when images are captured of either a single person or a group of people who are either expressing emotions or expressing moods through their faces. The centre piece for this photography is usually the face of a person/persons.

“The man who shot the 60’s”

Brian Duffy wanted to show the true 60's/70's culture through his fashion photography. "visual evolution". Most famous for his fashion photography, he worked for companies such as Vogue, French Elle, Glamour and a ten year working relationship with music artist David Bowie.

He is mostly recognized for capturing his photographs in Black and White. Through using Black and White his photos gave off a very stylish and high class image.   He died aged 76.

This example of Duffys work is of the famous model Lesley Hornby, also known as 'twiggy'. The picture appears to be captured face on to the subject, it gives the photo a more personal aspect as you feel the subject is looking straight at you. The photo has been captured in black and white, it gives the photo a true 60's look, adding a touch of vintage and class to it. Light appears to be hitting the subject head on, giving her face a flawless and youthful look. The overall image is effective for Brian Duffy as his aims were to capture the British culture in the 1960s and 70s and he has clearly portrayed that image through this image as it is revealing the popular fashion and styles at that time. The 60's were the beginning for women step away from the traditional full covered clothing and towards more risky and fun styles highlighted by the Hornby's short hair. Lesley Hornby was a perfect example to use at this time as she was a massive icon to the youth of the 60's/ 70's.

This image is of David Bowie. Duffy's input had an important influence on Bowie's public image creation.
Bowie wanted to make himself known to the public, he wanted to be able to be recognized and stand out from other artists. Duffy helped him do so.

The image here conveys Bowies creative side. The image gives him some mystery to his character. The use of the black and white effect gives the image more depth into the subject as you aren't distracted by any colours, you are just looking at the subject alone. The composition is situated mainly to the right leaving a rather large blank space to the left of the image, this highlights the importance of the subject. The overall image is effective for Bowie as Duffy has given him an image which shows mystery and it give him an image as an artist which is different to any other.

Brian Duffy is said to be known as a master of photography in the fashion industry.

I think that Duffy's work is so unique. Duffy really did manage to capture the fashion for the 60's. His work makes you realise about our worlds culture and how influential fashion really is and was. It makes you appreciate the fashion of the 50's and 60's. I personally think that his images of fashion are highly classy and unique as majority of them are in black & white (monochrome) which give his photographs a look of vintage and high class. I also think that his images for David Bowie fulfill their purpose to make Bowie stand out as a memorable musical artist but for me, I prefer Duffy's fashion photography to his portrait photography. This is because I find his fashion photography more interesting to look at. His work for Bowie is a little too creepy for my liking.

Bibliography;

http://mastersofphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/brian-duffy.html

c41.net/uncategorized/brian-duffy-the-man-who-shot-the-sixties/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Duffy_(photographer)

http://www.duffyphotographer.com/about/

The Film Polaroid Camera - Photographic making Equipment

Example 1;    The Film Polaroid Camera 'The Instant Camera'


"It was invented over 75 years ago by Edwin H. Land, to instantly produce a photograph once it had been captured. The camera began only producing photos in monochrome but eventually as time went on, colour was introduced."

The secret to the instant photo producing camera is in the film as a series of chemical reactions cause for the instant photo to be created.All cameras function in the same way-they capture patterns of light on plastic-based film covered with a compound.  When you take a photo, the 
shutter opens briefly to capture the image.  It then imprints it on the film's silver compound (it captures what the lens sees at that moment).  The colour film has three sheets of different compounds, each sensitive to different kinds of light.  In order for the film to be turned into an actual photograph, it has to be developed. The film already contains the chemicals necessary for photo development, whereas regular cameras need their film to be processed outside of the camera.  Many substances and compounds mix together once a photo has been captured to produce the photograph itself. The process needs a few chemical reactions to take place before the picture can be produced. But as the image appears slowly before your eyes, you're actually seeing the chemical reaction taking place. To produce the best quality photo, after the film has been ejected from the camera, you must leave it flat with the photo facing up (don’t shake it) otherwise you will not get the best results. It can take a couple of minutes for the image to come through clearly but you shouldn't interrupt the reaction as it could affect your final outcome.These types of camera are more used at social occasions where people stop and pose for a photograph which they can take home instantly. They aren't used for sporting events of any events where everything is moving at a fast speed as the photos will just come out blurry as the chemical reaction in the camera do not work at such a fast pace. They are not action Cameras as they cannot capture fats moving objects well. This means they shouldn't be used in extreme conditions (windy conditions) as you will not produce the best picture. The photos are best used as a ‘snap’ kind of camera but they can still produce some beautiful vintage looking pictures.In my opinion, Polaroid’s produce good quality photos when taken in the right conditions. (There used to only be a ‘film’ Polaroid camera but as technology has developed you can now purchase digital ones which can produce better quality photos.)
The Polaroid has developed through the ages and with carry on developing as time goes on. Polaroid’s were one of the first biggest steps that photography had taken. There are new models being produced, new shapes and sizes, better quality images being produced and maybe soon the photo won’t have to wait seconds to come through clearly on the film.  

Maybe in the future the pictures which are produced from the instant camera will come out already printed onto the film without needing time for the chemicals to work; maybe we will be able to put our own effects onto the camera before the pictures are produced?

I think the Polaroid will never get old, people will never stop buying them. I really like the Polaroid camera, i love the vintage look which they have to them. The images that are produced are a found keepsake to have. However, I think that if you want to capture some high quality photographs them maybe the Polaroid isn't for you. Polaroids are more for capturing memories rather than extreme photographs. The photographs are quite cute to stick up on the wall and create a collage with them.



web links used;
http://www.polaroid.com/instant-cameras-and-film
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how-does_4900152_polaroid-camera-work.html