Unit 57: Photography and Photographic

Practice Research of other

photographers work

Charlie Waite

Charlie Waite is an English landscape photographer born in 1949. Charlie Waite is particularly noted for his painterly approach in using and shade. Before Charlie Waite was a photographer he worked in television and theatre for 10 years.

Examples of photographs

These images are both very typical of Charlie Waite because they both have a point in the photograph that attracts the viewers attention. Most of the time this being a path or highly contrasted part of the image. Charlie Waite seems to use the brightness and contrast of the photograph to determine the time of year in the image.

The image on the right is taken in France and is the Ardennes Canal. The image on the left is taken in England and is Cranbourne House.

About Waite’s Photographs

CompositionCharlie Waite photographed landscapes so therefore he used a large variety of positions and angles in his images to achieve different perspectives. Waite used the colours in his photographs to help the viewer understand his thinking behind the image.

“Quote by Charlie Waite”

“I often think of that rare fulfilling joy when you are in the presence of some wonderful alignment of events. Where the light, the colour, the shapes, and the balance all interlock so perfectly that I feel truly overwhelmed by the wonder of it”

Techniques usedWhen Waite photographs a landscape he was most likely to use a very fast shutter speed to ensure he didn’t have any blur in the shot he was taking and also to capture subjects such as birds clearly in his images. Waite positions his photographs so that there is a main focal point for the viewers attention to be caught by. Many of Waite’s photographs are very complex and have a lot happening in each of them, this is why I think he always seemed to make a point in the picture stand out.

The style of Charlie Waite is solely landscape photographs, he is most well known for his landscapes in England however he did take numerous photographs in France and Italy. Waite’s photographs seem to be very brightly coloured or very dark, some of his pictures such as the one above on the left show both bright and darks colours and contrasts.

Strengths & WeaknessesI think Charlie Waite’s photographs are very interesting. This is the type of photography that I enjoy doing. The part of Charlie Waite’s photographs I would be most likely to interpret in to my own work is the way he uses focal points to make his photographs unique and interesting. I also like how he uses different brightness and contrasts to again make one part of a photograph more prominent than the other less important parts of the image. I like Charlie Waite’s type of photography and I would happily use any of his techniques in my work. In my opinion I don’t think Charlie Waite has any weaknesses.

Nick BrandtNick Brandt is a photographer that exclusively photographs Africa, this mainly being all different animals. His goal is to create a last testament of the animals he photographs before they are destroyed by the hand of man. Brandt directed music videos. He first came to realization that he wanted to photograph Africa and its animals whilst directing ‘Earth Song’ sung by Michael Jackson. His frustration that he couldn’t capture his love for Africa and the animals within on film lead to him trying to achieve this through photography. Brandt’s photographs are always black and white with highly contrasted elements.

Examples of photographs

This image as ‘Vicki Goldberg’ (an American photography critic) said about all of his pictures conveys a rare sense of intimacy, as if the animals have been invited to sit for his camera. The fact that Brandt never used telephoto lenses and that he got up close and personal with these animals shows a lot of detail which you otherwise wouldn’t see, this adds to the emotion shown by the male Lion in this image.

Quote – Nick Brandt

“You wouldn’t take a portrait of a human being from 100 yards away and expect to capture their spirit; you’d move in close”

Lions Head to Head

CompositionThe composition that Brandt tends to use is similar to a studio composition as if he has took the animals and put them in a studio. Not only does he use studio composition he also uses panoramas of animals with dramatic landscapes.

Studio

Panorama

Techniques usedThe main technique that Nick Brandt uses is that all of his pictures are shot using black and white film as opposed to the colour documentary-style wildlife photography that is the norm. He also doesn’t use telephoto or zoom lenses therefore he gets up close to the animals allowing every detail to be visible in his photographs. Brandt uses a Pentax 6711 with only two fixed lenses.

Strengths & WeaknessesIn my opinion there is a distinct similarity between Yousuf Karsh and Nick Brandt. This being that both of their images are black and white and also use that studio like composition where the subject fills most of the screen. I think the fact that he doesn’t use telephoto or zoom lenses has a massive effect on his photographs as every detail is visible, this helps to convey emotion and story telling in his photos.

Yousuf KarshYousuf Karsh born on 23rd December 1908 was one of the most famous and accomplished photographers of all time. Yousuf Khan died on the 13th July 2002 at 93 years old. The Canadian photographer was best known for his unique portrait photographs. Karsh was well known for being a master of lighting his subjects, being as precise as lighting their hands separately.

Examples of photographs

This images captures Churchill and the Britain of the time perfectly, defiant and unconquerable. Karsh entitled this photograph the roaring lion because Churchill said to Karsh “you could even make a roaring lion stand still and be photographed”,

The photograph was taken in the Canadian Parliament building during the early years of World War II. It shows Churchill looking at the camera as he might look at a German enemy. He has a deep scowl, his head is thrust forward belligerently and his hand is placed on his hip in an attitude of anger.

The Roaring Lion.

CompositionThe photographer decided to photograph Winston Churchill. He lit what looks like a old style wooden door in the background, this gives the viewer an idea of the era this photo was taken. Karsh lit the hands and face highly contrasted to the rest of the image this resembles how Churchill was as a person. Karsh positioned Churchill close to the camera showing limited background. This gives impact and expresses to the viewer the importance of Winston Churchill.

“Quote by Yousuf Karsh”

“I try to photograph people’s spirits and thoughts. As to the soul-taking by the photographer, I don’t feel I take away, but rather that the sitter and I give to each other. It becomes an act of mutual participation.”

Techniques usedWhen Karsh photographs his subjects he was most likely to use a very fast shutter speed to ensure he didn’t have any blur in his shots. Karsh seems to position his subjects so that they cover most of the frame, this ensures they are the pinnacle of the picture. In some of Karsh’s pictures he uses two or more subjects to create depth of field blurring the subjects furthest away, this also added attraction to a specific part of the picture.

The style of Yousuf Karsh is solely portrait photographs and very often of famous people from his era. Yousef Karsh stuck mainly to black and white images although he did produce the odd coloured photograph. He was very much into using artificial light and in fact he was a master of lighting subjects.

Strengths & WeaknessesYousuf Karsh’s photographs are very one dimensional and he only sticks to portraits. Portraits are not the type of photography I favor. However I would use the way Karsh takes so much time and effort to light the shot in interesting ways. I like this because the viewer can tell a lot from a picture just from the lighting. Another aspect of why I like Karsh’s way of lighting is because it enables him to adjust the contrast of his shots without having to edit. These different contrasts tell a lot about a picture and can be manipulated to tell different stories.