The document analyzes a series of studio portrait photographs by photographer Jesca Cluff. All the images feature a solo female model against a brightly colored background. They emphasize contrasting hair and makeup colors to draw the eye. While colorful and attention-grabbing, the photos lack narrative or emotion beyond posing models. Their strength is vibrant hues, but they could be improved by incorporating more feeling or context.

1. Unit 57: Photography and
Photographic Practice
Research of other photographers
work (P1, M1, D1)
Photographer: Jesca Cluff – Studio Photographer
Image 1:

3. Image 2:

5. Image 3:

7. Image 4:
Theme or focus of images
We can see that all of these images are quite similar to each other, for example all of
these images only feature one model in the image. Also, all of these images have a
brightly coloured background that contrasts with the models hair and makeup. Each
model has one picture with their eyes open and looking either directly at the camera
or near the camera, and they also have an image with their eyes completely shut. All
of these images are taken at a studio, with only one person, the model, featured in
the images. I think these images are used to make the viewer completely focus on
the model alone, as there is nothing in any of the backgrounds.
These images are all quite loud and colourful, there isn’t any action going on apart
from with the actual models, as we can see in image 2. However image 2 is the only
image featured with some kind of action going on. In all of the images, there is a very
clear contrast in colour with each of the images. In images 1 and 2, the models hair is
a very bright blue, which is a complete contrast with the bright pink background
used. Again, in image 3 and 4 the model has light pastel purple hair, which contrasts
with the teal/green/blue background. The models hair colours are completely
opposite with the background colour on the colour wheel, which makes the hair
stand out from the images. I think this technique was used to immediately draw
attention to the images, because the contrasting colours catch the viewer’s eye
immediately. Even the makeup the models are wearing contrasts with the
background colour, which again makes the image stand out. For example with

8. images 1 and 2, her eye makeup is blue, which matches her hair but contrasts with
the background.
All of the images are quite busy and exciting due to the vibrant colours involved,
however there isn’t much action going on apart from in image 2 where her hair is
being wind swept. I think the reason for not having a lot of action involved is because
the photographer wants the focus of the image to be on the model alone. The
model is the main focus point of each of the images. In all of these images the model
is typically posing, for example in images 1 and 3 the models are clearly posing. The
focus in image 3 is the portrait of the models face, her face shape and hair. The focus
in image 1 is the model, her complete face, make up and hair, as the model looks to
the left of the camera. However with image 2, I think the pose of the model is more
natural as she has wind being blown to her making her hair wind swept, which I think
is why the model has her eyes closed. I think the focus of image 2 is the colour,
movement and shape of the hair rather than the emotions she is showing. In image 4
the main focus of the image is the models eye, its looking straight into the camera as
if the model is looking back at the viewer. This makes the viewer look at the colour of
her eye, her hair and the surrounding colours, rather than paying attention to the
emotions she could be portraying, as we cannot see her mouth.
I think the photographer uses this technique because the whole point of these
images is to catch peoples attention, which the photographer has done with colour. I
definitely do not think that the photographer is trying to portray any story or emotion, I
just think these images are used to catch peoples attention with colour.
Composition
In all of these images the model takes up almost the entire frame of the image, which
I think shows the photographer wants our focus and attention completely on the
model. There isn’t much background involved other than the bright colour, I think the
photographer chose to do this and probably either got closer to the model or
cropped the background out afterwards.
Techniques used
In images 1, 3 and 4 I think a regular shutter speed could have been used because
there isn’t any quick action going on that the photographer has to capture quickly.
However with image 2, I definitely think a quick shutter speed was used because of
the wind blowing her hair, the photographer would’ve had to capture where her hair
falls while being blown with wind perfectly.
I think the only image with depth of field is image 4, because her eyes and nose are
in complete focus where her ear is more blurred out. I think that depth of field was
only used in this image because in the others there isn’t anything in the background
that could be blurred out, there is only colour. Where as with image 4 the
photographer wanted the eye and nose to be the main focus of the image, hence
why the ear is blurred.
Strengths & Weaknesses
A strength of these images would be that I like how vibrant they are, they catch the
eye immediately and I love the use of colours in these images.
However a weakness would be that I think these images could involve some emotion
or story behind the images.