Connecting Essay 3

 This is a picture from Robert Mapplethorpe's portraiture shoots, it is a self portrait which again captures the great composition which he seems to be able to get in every portrait. This photograph is showing Robert himself stretching out into the picture, like every portrait picture Robert has captured the composition in this picture is excellent, there is very little background in the picture which makes the eye focus more on the person actually in it. This is something Robert perfected in every photograph. His photograph is in black and white which makes the facial features bolder and adds the formal element of tone to the photograph as it is capturing his arm and face yet shows that it is not a flat image.

This is my photograph, it is showing my model holding her arm out also, her expression is plain and simple, this is capturing the form of her face as there is natural shadowing on her face. I have also tried to capture a good composition in this picture and i feel that it is almost perfect. I like the way this photograph captures a natural expression and makes the models face look motionless and captures a slightly serious mood in the photograph. 

These photographs are connected in the way that they are very similar as my photograph was influenced by the Mapplethorpe portrait. They are also connected as they both show the form of the models in the pictures extremely well due to the shadowing on the faces and body of Robert. In Mapplethorpe's photograph there is a shadow behind his arm and along his shoulder blades and in my photograph it is showing the form in my models face around the eyes, neck and nose. In order to make these shadows more prominent both the photographs are in black and white. I was inspired by Mapplethorpe's photograph as i thought it was different and unique to styles of portraiture which i have seen previously. This made me want to try and re-create Mapplethorpe's photograph. However the composition is much better in Mapplethorpe's portrait.