Photojournalistic Environmental Portraits

This week in class we are focusing on environmental portraits.  An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject's usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject's life and surroundings. The term is most frequently used as a genre of photography. By photographing a person in their natural surroundings, it is thought that a photographer would be able to better illuminate their character, and therefore portray the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features. It is also thought that by photographing a person in their natural surroundings, the person will be more at ease, and so be more conducive to expressing themselves, as opposed to in a studio, which can be a rather intimidating and artificial experience.  Here are a few examples below that I have found in my study of these types or portraits:

 

© William Bragg 

When creating an environmental portrait of an artist, the obvious choice is to photograph them in their studio.   Robert Hess (the subject) is shown here in his studio surrounded by finished and unfinished work.  I chose this image because it speaks to me about the subject and the type of work that they do.

© Chris Hamilton 

 In this example of an environmental portrait we have a picture of an Industrial worker.  The subject is shown in their work environment and tells a different story than the one above.  I chose this image because of the leading lines which I found very interesting.  

 

©Brett Benham

In this example of an environmental portrait we have a very interesting subject who fills the frame in a very nice way.  We can see the age and apparent life experiences in his face.  The color choices are very nice and what appears to be a chain-link fence in the background makes for a very nice contrast in this portrait. This type of portrait  gives the viewer some insight into the person who is being photographed and their life experiences.  I chose this image because of the eyes of the subject.  The eyes seem to pull you into the image. 

Sources:
http://pluphotoj.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/environmental-portrait-of-robert-hess/
http://www.hamphoto.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=20&p=1&a=0&at=0
http://ferenc.biz/photography/brett-benham

Carolina BalloonFest 2012

 This week we were given the assignment of finding and photographing a feature story.  I chose the Carolina Balloon Festival which has taken place in Statesville,  North Carolina,  for the past 39years.  The festival attracts thousands of people from across the country.   

  "The Flying Purple People Eater" was one of many featured balloons at this year's 39th annual Carolina Balloon Festival in Statesville, NC.    ©Matthew Cummings

Kids of all ages came out to see the beautiful balloons and to enjoy the rides.  ©Matthew Cummings

 The balloons ascending into the Carolina blue sky above Statesville Saturday evening.
  ©Matthew Cummings

                                                                  

The Unseen Beauty of AI Charlotte

This week in class we were  asked to photograph the campus in a way that had not been done before.
I chose to focus on the natural beauty of the surrounding area. How could one miss the beauty of this boulder with fall leaves and a beautiful blue sky overhead? ©Matthew Cummings

Feature Photography

"Untitled" by Todd Heisler for The Rocky Mountain News 2006

This week in class we are learning about Feature Photography and what that looks like.   Feature Photography records the commonplace, an everyday happening, or a slice of life.  This photograph is from a series by Todd Heisler.  This is a caption that appeared with the story; "The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of "Cat," and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."  This photograph evokes  a reaction in the viewer and that to me is what feature photography is all about.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/04/books/20080605_SALUTE_SLIDESHOW_16.html 

A Photojournalist from our history...

by James Nachtwey for TIME

 In 1994 TIME photographer James Nachtwey witnessed the devastating effects of the Rwandan genocide. James Nachtwey is one of the many photojournalists who's work I admire.  Mr. Nachtwey has the ability to capture the human condition through the viewfinder of his camera.  The photograph above speaks volumes to me about the genocide that took place in Rwanda.  This image makes we wonder what type of person could chop another across the face with a machete; not once but several times?  What amount of hatred must this person have had in their heart? This image just makes me FEEL.  James Nachtwey is the type of photojournalist who runs towards the action as other people are running away and that makes for a great story!

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/06/when-the-world-turned-its-back-james-nachtweys-reflections-on-the-rwandan-genocide/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn#1