1. Connecting Essay
My Photo Pauline Darley
This is the first photo shoot from my unit four project. The idea and concept of this piece looked at
portraying the human figure through the human skeleton, here painted on the body. I like the
lighting in the photo and how it really highlights the white parts on the skeleton. This is accentuated
again with the black background, which also blends in nicely with the subject’s hair and the clothing
that is being worn. I like how everything is very sterile and simple as this has allowed the more
intricate makeup design really become the focal point. With everything present in the photo being
black and white there is a nice contrast and this has helped to highlight shapes and differentiate
between different areas on the body more. The eyes are very strong in the photo and this has
compensated for the expression that is lost in subject’s face due to the heavy makeup. The cropping
and composition of the photo is off-centre, something that I particularly like in photography.
Darley’s photo has also looked at photographing the body with the skull/ skeleton on it. Her photo
has been taken in black and white – this has added more emotional depth and also accentuated the
contrast between the black and white colours more. I like the side profile angle she has
photographed the model at as it has highlight the angles of her face more, making it harsher and
stronger. This has also been added too with the intensity of the model’s eyes. The photo holds a
strong intensity and this draws the viewer in to look at it. The background has been kept clean and
sterile – this has ensured that the model is full focus. I like the different textures that are present in
the shot such as the glossy hair against the matte ‘skin’; this has added another dimension and
quality to the photo. I like the approach that has been taken with this photo, as although a skeleton
has been painted on the model (something that is not typically considered ‘pretty’) the photo also
has a softer quality that ensured it still stays ‘pretty’ and is nice to look at.
There are lots of similarities in the two photos, the concept and idea being the main one. Both shots
included a model that was made up to look like a skeleton. The backgrounds in both of the shots
have been kept clean and sterile and this has ensured that the models remain the focus and that

2. they are not lost in the heavy makeup design. The expression and intensity in the eyes have
provided a strong emotion that makes it more visually interesting for the viewer. Although my
photo wasn’t shot in black and white like Darley’s, because of the lighting used, like Darley’s they are
the only colours present in the shot and this has given a nice contrast and also ensured that shapes
are visible.