High-, Mid- & Low-Key Portraits

Our group approached this project with the following two aspects of the ‘brief’ in mind; the requirement that the images form a ‘series’ with some identifiable common element / theme across each image and the requirement to have each image reveal a feature or characteristic of the subject and/or perhaps present the subject being  ‘themselves’ in some way.  

In respect of the second element, we were interested in exploring ideas surrounding the concept of the portrait being a ‘true’ or accurate depiction of ‘the subject’ and the degree to which the photographer plays a role in the representation of each of her / his subject.  With this in mind, we queried how we might construct an image, which in someway represents the notion of the subject in a ‘raw’ or ‘natural’ state - one in which they are simply being themselves.

Our aim was to create a series of images that did not necessarily identify a feature or characteristic specific to each individual subject (i.e the hockey player holding a hockey stick / the chef wearing a chefs hat) but considered more broadly the idea of the state or circumstance in which a subject could come close to being “themselves” in front of the camera (or otherwise), in the completely artificial setting of the studio.  

It is arguable that individuals are ‘themselves’ when listening to music, particularly perhaps when alone and listening through headphones (which ideally block out all ‘outside’ noise and distraction). Potentially this is a state in which we are ‘being ourselves’ without distraction, influence or expectation.  With this in mind, we decided that our common identifier or ‘theme’ through the series would be for each subject to be wearing a set of headphones, to represent a time/space in which an individual may be close to being/revealing ‘themselves’.

We wanted the headphones to be the only identifier of each subject (other than physical features) and so elected to shoot bare shoulders and chest to give the illusion of the subjects being naked (so that all that was present before the camera was each subject and music). 

In addition, we asked for largely neutral / relaxed expression from each subject, taking the view that a contemplative expression helped the give the illusion that the subject was unaffected by the camera and photographer, and that he/she simply turned to the camera/looked up as the photographer entered the room.

We elected to process the images in black and white to again remove any further markers / identifiers presented by color, and to also have the images tie together as a series. The background of each image has been presented to represent / depict the technical execution of each image (i.e black/low, grey/mid, white/high).

Adam H, Cecille D, Kris D & Rasmus N.