ISO 200
Shutter Speed 1/25 sec.
F-stop f/4.5
This photo feels too warm to be a Hedgecoe as you feel connected to Ailbhe and it feels more personal, whereas his feel more disconnected and isolated.
ISO 1600
Shutter Speed 1/25 sec.
F-stop f/3.1
I used a larger aperture in this photo because there is no background to keep in focus, as there is nothing but the hair to display.
For both of these images I used a short shutter time to capture the singular strands of Ailbhe's hair and to ensure the plants in the background, as well as Ailbhe's mane, were not blurred and unclear, as in both photos the hair is the main feature.
also for both of the photos I used the FinePix S6500fd as it allows more control over the image whereas my basic digital camera doesn't offer control over aperture or shutter speed.
On this photo I edited the saturation and colour slightly to give the photo a warmer effect, as well as sharpening it to give the background and dress' texture more apparent.
ISO 200
On this photo I brought down the brightness a bit and made the colours slightly more pale so to remove the bright glare that blurred the castle, and again sharpening the image.
ISO 200
I am very pleased with the outcome of this photo but there are a few criticisms I have towards them, beginning with the lighting. The right side of the photo is significantly darker than the left, but this was due to the size of the lighting apparatus and the room, but it could also be that due to the right hand of the backdrop being darker colours emphasising it, compared to the bright colours of the castle and top left corner. Also, if possible, I would have the backdrop taller and wider, but I don't have enough cardboard to fulfil that desire.
Analysis
Compared to Perou's photos, Leibovitz's works are more mature and less bright, but both are very bold in their own rights. Where Perou has bright, saturated colours, Leibovitz includes rich, intricate backgrounds and very grand costumes whereas Perou has a more youthful sense to his photos, and his choice of models very much embody the youth and colourfulness Perou tries and succeeds to communicate.
These two photos show the differences between Perou and Leibovitz's styles. For a start, there are clear differences between key features. For a start, the lighting has clear differences. Leibovitz uses a soft, natural light for a lot of her photos including this one to avoid dark, contrasting shadows that draw away from the subject, as this lighting gives a smooth, elegant shadow that doesn't dominate the photo. But Perou who appears to favour bold, black shadows that often are one of the main parts of his photos.
Such strong lighting, if used correctly, really brings out the subject and determines them from the background as the colours jump out when a bright light is used near. As well as lighting, traits like the backgrounds determine the photographer's style, such as Leibovitz who is well known for her complicatedly luxurious backgrounds - especially her Disney series which also include elaborate props. Yet unlike Leibovitz, Perou is clearly a minimalist who often uses a plain white studio background to really show off the model/subject.
The aesthetics of each style are very much parallel to each other, as although both are fashion photographers (as well as portrait, music etc.) they show two very different sides of the profession. Leibovitz often uses more muted, tonal colours that give her photos a very sumptuous, ostentatious feel and her ornate backgrounds give her photos depth.
- This photo is (as clearly stated by the logo in the top left corner) an advertisement for Vivienne Westwood, one of Perou's many fashion clients. It has a very soft feel, due to the natural lighting and neutral colours used in both background and clothing, which contrasts with the cartoon drawing to the right - but not overwhelmingly so. Compared to many of Perou's other works which as a general rule are very bright and graphic like the photos below. This is due to the fact that it is one of Perou's commercial works, so it is what the client wants instead of Perou's own unlimited freedom to choose brightness and colour in every aspect. If you look at the rest of the series you will see all of the other photos are very dim and lack the boldness and strength of Perou's own works.
- This photo's aim is very much to draw attention to the subject which is achieved by having the contrasting, saturated hues both on the background and the model's trousers and eyeliner. Focus is also drawn to the model due to his pale skin and muted tattoos which have a very strong contrast against the bold yellow background. Strong front lighting is also used to bring out the full brightness in the colours and to minimise shadow, which would take attention away from the model and the trousers (the main focus as this is also a fashion advertisement.)
- This photo is more tame than other photos, but still craves attention as the others do. The background is less of a demanding colour but still has a loud contrast with the hair, clothing and chicken wire. The audacious contrasts are a common theme in Perou's fashion portfolio as they demand the eye to gaze and stare at the clothes, one of the main elements of fashion photography. Once again, strong lighting is used to minimise dark spots on the face as the chicken wire provides an interesting structure instead of the bone structure of the model's face, but this time the shadow is visible which is a very uncommon feature to photography where the silhouette isn't the core of the photo.
- This photo screams at you, begging for the limelight. It uses the most blazing red there is and puts it against the whitest white and the blackest black, giving one of Perou's strongest, most powerful contrasts yet. The point of this photo is to catch the eye and to shock, hence the model being topless and wearing a gas mask, as it wants a reaction. This photo, compared with the other three, shows that Perou can produce a variety of photos for a number of clients whilst still withholding his own personal, recognisable style.
Slideshare 1
This slideshare I made myself to give an overview of Perou's professional life as well as analysis 2 of his works.
Slideshare 2
This is a good slideshare but could be improved in aspects. It gives a brief overview of Perou's work and his bio without complications, but I feel is too brief and could go into more detail about the photos and his life. It is mainly opinionated and the only real facts are the bio, but that aside it makes good points and offers a fresh eye on the chosen photos.
