I will produce portraiture photography exploring themes of discovery. Subjects will pose with various expressions to depict discovering new aspects of themselves, ranging from depression to creativity. The photos could show viewers discovering peoples' lives and feelings. I will photograph my classmate Shania posing to represent being happy but sad inside and that not everyone is what they seem. I will also photograph my friend Alix posing for several images representing themes like being a child at heart and keeping things locked up. In post-production, I will dodge and burn photos, adjust levels and exposure, blur backgrounds, and modify contrasts and colors. When shooting, I will use a central vantage point, consistent camera settings depending on lighting, low key lighting with

1. Proposal
What type of photography are you going to produce?
I have chosen to produce some Portraiture photography – as the theme for the images is
discovery, I will be taking photographs of subjects in certain poses, clothes and wearing a range of
expressions to create the desired effect that: the subjects are discovering something new about
themselves: It ranges from a dark, serious undertone such as depression to a happy, colourful one
such as: creativity.
A viewer might also interpret the image as: seeing someone but not discovering who they are –
they could look serious, stern or angry when they’re really a happy, playful character – he viewer is
discovering other peoples lives and feelings as well as being able to relate to them – or that is what
I hope to achieve.
What contexts could this type of photography be used in?
The end result of my photographs could be used in various contexts such as:
• Galleries – To display completed work to the public
•
Web pages – Could be used on a personal website? On a blog? Online gallery? Social
networking sites? Advertisements?
•
Possibly magazines? – Possibly a photography magazine?
Who are your influences for this project?
Annie Leibovitz is a huge influence on my picking portraiture – the techniques and style that she
uses when taking her photographs really captures imagination and is considerably unique in
comparison to other portraiture photographers. Some photographs that inspired me the most are
her recent ones involving celebrities dressed up as Disney characters.
Another photographer that has influenced me greatly is Erik Almas – every one of his photographs
is extremely unique in their own way – all of Almas’ images all seem to be colour co-ordinated and
have a seemingly artificial background image – I’d like to incorporate a little bit of his creativity in
to my own images and hopefully end up with an almost similar or equally as impressive end result.
Although she isn’t an artist – my friend, Alix, has influenced most of the ideas I have generated as
they are almost personal matters between Alix and I – she is equally as creative as an artist.
What will you subjects be for this project?
The subjects that I have chosen to photograph for my final images will be:
•
My fellow classmate, Shania – I’m going to be taking around 2/4 portraiture photographs
of her in the poses that I need her to be in, I’d like her to pose for images: 1 (can be happy
on the outside but sad on the inside) and 6 (not everyone is what they seem).
•
I am going to be casting my outside friend, Alix, to pose for the rest of the photos, I will be
taking 6/12 images of her: 2 (everyone is a child at heart), 3 (not everyone is what they
seem to be), 4 (the people who laugh/smile the most are the ones in pain), 5 (How society
challenges differences), 7 (Discovering loneliness/sadness) and 8 (Keeps things locked up).
I will be taking photographs of Alix in my free time.

2. What techniques will you use?
During the post production period I will be dodging and burning m images to highlight certain
areas and darken others for my final pieces/images. I will also be playing around with levels to get
the correct exposure, darkness and light in my images, I will blur the background so that the model
stands out against the background – is sharper and more in focus than the rest of the image. I shall
highlight some areas by changing contrasts and colours to get a final perfect end piece.
As for techniques when capturing the photographs – I will use a similar technique throughout all.
•
The vantage point will remain in the centre of the lens.
•
Depending on weather, sunlight and movement, the camera setting I have explained
briefly on the mind map will remain the same.
•
The photographs will be low key with ambient lighting and deep shadows.
•
I will take two images per photo shoot to get the images that I need for my final end
product – the model will have to remain in the same pose in the same area – I may have to
somehow mark where I need the models face to be – using markers, paper etc.