Image Bank - Robert Mapplethorpe Portraits

I feel that these 6 images represent Mapplethorpe's portraiture work extremely well. The models in the photographs are all the main focus and as the photographs are in black and white it empathises the form of the models. The first two only have a small segment of the models in which shows a good composition. This is an element in which i would like to use when taking my photographs as i feel it creates and effective look. 

Straight Images - Walk 2

Straight Images - Walk 1

Straight Images - Contrast Studio

Straight Images - Contrast Location 2

Connecting Essay 2

This photograph was taken by Ross Hoddinott. It is showing a robin perched upon a piece of wood, which i believe to be a spade. This photo is showing contrast as compared to the white background the bright colours of the robins fur look bold and look more prominent due to the fact that the background is extremely plain. There is further contrast with the robin and the spade because the robins fur looks soft and fluffy where as the texture of the spades surface looks rougher and is hard. The placement of the wood and robin are also very important because if there was darker objects in the background then it wouldn't create the same effect which it has. 

 This is one of my photographs which i cspturedd during a colour session, it is showing my dog sitting calmly. There is contrast in this photograph as the dogs fur coat is a bright white where as in the background there is the bold colour of the green grass. There is also contrast with the dog and its collar as the purples and pinks are bolder due to the colour of the fur coat, this makes the collar more prominant in the picture.

These two photographs are connected as they are both showing photographs of animals but they are also showing the formal elements of colour and contrast in a similar way as both photographs have animals which contrast with the back ground which makes them the focus of the image, and in both photographs there is also an element of colour upon white which makes the colored object, in this case a robin and a dog collar, bold and catches the eye.

Connecting Essay 1

This photograph by Dimitri Otis is demonstrating a contrast of colours by using a variety of coloured pencils to form a circle. In this photograph the pencils have carefully been placed as the reds and greens are opposite to each other just as the purples and yellows this is because they are complementary colours so by this placement it is making the contrast smoother as if they were next to each other the colours would change dramatically  which would reduce the quality of the photo. Also the placement of the pencils is important because as the photograph is in colour it makes the palette of colours available infinite so in order to create a good contrast it requires more consideration and by placing the colours almost directly opposite to their complementary colour it still creates the effect intended. 


This is one of my photographs which I captured during our contrast location shoots. I have captured four different shoe colours. This shows contrast as all the shoes are different colours so by placing them in this cross shape it compares all the colours with one another. There is also contrast as all the shoes are different brands which is a non-visual contrast. The colours of the shoes are also in contrast with the floor as the shoes are all brightly coloured and the floor is a dull grey colour. 

These photographs are both connected as they are contrasting the colours of objects whilst creating a shape, one a circle and the other a cross.These photographs are both similar in the way that they are both showing a direct contrast as none of the colours are exactly the same so the contrast is more noticeable, in Otis' photograph none of the coloured pencils are exactly the same as she wanted to create a transission between colours, this is showing contrast as there will be a difference between every single pencil and there is contrast in my photograph as all the trainers are of different colours so they can be contrasted easily. 

Defintion - Contrast

Dictionary Defintion - 'The state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close asssociation.



Words that describe contrast - dramatic, subtle, strong, weak

This photograph of apples shows a contrast in colours. The contrast comes from the bright greens to the singular red apple which is surrounded by green apples.

This photograph is showing two types of conotrast as it is showing and old, aged hand with a young fresh hand upon the top. It is also showing a contrast with small and large.













This photograph is showing a conceptual contrast as there is no contrast in colour, pattern or objects. It is showing one full glass and one empty glass.












This photograph of a sand bank in a desserts showing contrast between smooth and waved. There sands have different textures probably due to the wind and the people who walk on it. I like this photograph because it captures the two different types of sand on one hill. 




My Definiton - I think that contrast means a difference between two things, it can be optical or conceptual. For example a contrast  in colours is optical and a conceputal contrast could be open and closed.

Work Diary - Contrast Location 1

In this session we were sent out to find contrast in and around the college. We needed to capture visual and conceptual contrast. I found the visual contrast easier to capture as i just needed to look for it whereas the conceptual contrast i needed to put the contrast in the picture, i.e Gracie & Nathan as she is short and he is tall.





This photograph of Nathan & Gracie is showing a contrast between height however the background was not the well planned as it was just a spontaneous photograph hence why there are people in the background and there is the side of a building. If the background was different, like a single colour or pattern then i think that this photograph would be much better as there is too much happening in the background which takes the focus off of Nathan and Gracie. 

I like this photograph of hula hoops in the vending machine because not only is the lighting focusing on the packet which shows a contrast between the packet and background colours it also shows a contrast of colours of the crisp packet, the yellow and red. I think that this photograph would be good if there were no other packaging in the photograph. Another way i could improve this photograph is to show it in contrast with another packet of crisps in the vending machine. 

Progression -

If i was to redo this session i would take into consideration the backgrounds of my photographs before taking them as this brings the overall quality of the photograph to a lower standard as it just looks sloppy. i would also try and get some more conceptual photographs like a half full cup and a full cup. I would like to add some more contrasts with people in, like their height and their expressions. This is one of the photographs i found online when making my contrast definition post  

Straight Images - Contrast Location

Work Diary - Walk 1

In this session, as a group we went on a walk within a short distance of the college, we visited fields, a pond and along the roads. We were aiming to capture several things such as; autumn colour and a sense of journey. I enjoyed this topic because we could explore other surroundings and capture photographs which we would not of been able to get within the college. I also enjoyed it because we could capture the changes around us as the seasons change. 

Progression - If i was to redo this walk i would capture back of the head location portraits as there were a wide variety of back grounds which would've created great backgrounds. I feel my back of head portraiture photographs would be greatly improved if i had captured some from this walk. This is a photograph i found online when researching back of head portraiture. I feel it captures enough background around the head so that you can still see that it is not in the studio but not too much to cause a bad composition. 

Contrast Mindmap