This is my portfolio for the BA Photography Course submission

1. Photography Portfolio
Abi Crooke

2. Sølve Sundsbø is a Norwegian fashion photographer based in
London. Sundsbø was born in Norway in 1970 and came to London
in 1995 to study photography at the London College of Printing. He
left college to work as first assistant to British photographer Nick
Knight.
He regularly works with publications such as Italian, Vogue, Love,
Visionaire, V, Interview, I-D, The New York Times, and Vogue
Nippon.
Sundsbø's work has been celebrated in numerous exhibitions.
“Beyond the Still Image” was exhibited at the Palazzo Reale in Milan
as part of the 2018 Photo Vogue Festival in collaboration with Vogue.
Sundsbo’s work is heavily inspired by Nick Knight as he worked
closely with him. This is primarily where Solve got his inspiration and
flow for photography. In both the photographers work, you can
actually see similarities in the way that the photos consist of unique,
almost mythical-looking models creating a sense of fantasy and
imagination.
His work is incredibly unique, as he incorporates fashion into his
work through portraiture. Each image is easily distinguished as Solve
has made his work modern, extremely complex and busy. The
attention to detail in his work is heavily focused due to his thorough
planning. His work is very fashion-based as all the models are
presented in interesting, unique ways making the images appear
unnatural yet fascinating.
Solve
Sundsbo

3. Why has the artists work inspired
me?
I have chosen the photographer, Sølve
Sundsbø to link heavily to my shoot as I
feel he has captivating shots which are
breathless and full of energy and/or
excitement! I am therefore particularly
excited to use his way of framing the
models and positioning them to appear
almost as mannequins and not real
people. This effect I am going to develop
into my images. Furthermore, I wish to
take the smoothness, seamless skin of the
models in which Sundsbø has used and
present them in a similar way, life-like
dolls. Sundsbø also heavily focuses on the
figures form and body, this I would also
like to emphasisie in my images such as:
how the human body bends and spears to
the eye.

4. Sølve Sundbø has also captured this image with the obvious
occurring theme incorporated: Shadows and reflections. This
photo obeys the rules of thirds incredibly well as the model is in
the center of the frame with the following leading horizontal lines
giving a geometric and sense of structure to the photo. There is
also a large concept of fashion acting as an addition to this
photo; through the models positioning and the use of make up
presented in her face.
The model is in the center of the frame, with both her arms in
front of her chest as she is leaning forward. The model appears
to have tilted her head slightly in the direction of the
ground, creating a shadowed effect to hide her eyes and part of
her face. This simple, yet successful idea gives a sense
of mystery and fascination as you cannot distinguish the entire
of the models face. The focal point in this shot, is the models
lips and nose as the unsaturated orange lip stands out
immediately as there is no colour similar in the photo.
Colours incorporated within this image are minimal; brown,
black, white, orange and beige/skin colours are all presented.
The simplicity of the colours have been intended to emphasise
the lines across the models body. The tones are also mainly
cool toned, leaving a captivating, creative image.
The background is almost non-existent as it is just completely
black, allowing the foreground to be emphasized as well as
being the main focus. The texture is created mainly on
the models skin and the shadowed lines covering her body. I
love this shoot as I feel the lines create contours over the body,
enhancing the relief aspect of the figures form. The models are
also smooth, and appear almost as mannequins and not real
people. I feel they are emant to be that way, like an inanimate
Image
Analysis

5. Action plan: Shadowed shoot
Main Idea
• The main aim of this shoot is to be able to use shadows
through circles/dots and lines, like Sundbo's. The background
must be black as the gobo flash-head will be giving the shapes
through the light.
• The shots that I will take will be related heavily to the
photographer, Solve Sundbo.
• I will use two models as I feel they both have very different
styles such as hair colour, facial features and dress style. I feel
this will create a sense of variety and will make the images
Sølve
Sundsbø
•Location:
•​I will be shooting in my college studio, as I need to use the studio lights and the gobo
flash-head to imitate the lines and dots over the models' bodies.
•The studio background will be black as I want the model to stand out in the
foreground.
•Lighting:
• I will be using a white studio light facing the model directing in front as I want the
greatest contrast possible, from lights to dark. This will be the gobo light, the main
light. I also used the honeycomb which will illuminate the grey background allowing
the graphic form of my model to stand out in the frame.
• How?– What practical measures?
• I will need to ensure that the clothes the model wears are minimal and simplistic as
well as being fairly light in colour as the primal focus is the contrasted shapes being
presented on the skin and I don’t want the clothing and accessories to prevent the
main focus.
• The light must not be too bright as I don’t want the models
features to be completely washed out.
• The settings on the camera must be correct so that there are
no images over or under exposed.
•When? Day and Time of day?
•I will shoot it during the day, midday as I will want good lighting
to allow the images to be focused and as crisp as possible.
In both these previous images I
have incorporated the elastic
bands to create the use of line in
a similar way to what I am aiming
to do in this shoot, however, I am
just simply using light and
shadow instead of an actual
physical object/material.
Also, the main focus in these
photos are shapes which are
portrayed through the force of the
cling film and elastics pushing
against the models skin.
Previous Work

6. SHOOT SET UP
The lighting diagram on the right shows what my shoot will appear like in
order to create the desired Sølve Sundbø shot.
I used a plain/simple background in order to allow the
image to not become too cramped or bus – the main
focus is the model.
A gobo light was used with a fine honeycomb on the
background. This will allow the model to stand out as the
background was initially just plain black, meaning that the
foreground was merging with the background.
Model
Camera
This curved line represents the gobo-head light which
was used to create the shadowed patterns and shapes
across both the models skin and faces. I changed the
different styles and patterns so that I had differentiation
into my work.
A normal studio light was incorporated which created
the contrast of the shadows from light to dark sections
in the frame.

7. Lighting/props used:
These were the props used in order to achieve
the pattered shadows across the models faces, in
a similar way to Solve Sundsbo.
This is the GOBO light which was
used to create the shapes and
patterns.
Firstly, the metal filters (on the left)
were inserted in the GOBO so that
when the light went off, when taking
an image, the holes would allow light
to be shown onto the models face.
GOBO
These were the different filters
containing the patterns and
designs. As you can see, there is
stripes/lines, different sized
bubbles and dots in a line. I
found some designs didn’t work
as they did not let enough light in
to see the models body and
features. These three designs
were the most successful.
Metal filters, with a variety of
patterns and designs.

8. END RESULT:
MY WORK
Inspired by
photographer, Solve
Sundsbo

9. Further examples of my work:
1) Fashion Photography………………….10 – 12
2) Street Photography…………………….13 – 16
3) Long Exposure………………………17
4) Portraiture…………………………...18
5) Still Life – Sticky flowers………………19

20. Art pieces - paintings