FREE ESSAY ON PORTRIAT PHOTOGRAPHY

PORTRIAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Many photographers in the past have had dynamic careers that have influenced many up and
coming photographers and will for years to come. Because their work at the time has been
preserved in inspirational and innovative images of their eras rock legends and cultural
icons, similarities yet progressions can been seen through a comparison of photographers
such as David Bailey, Anne Liebovitz and Rankin one of today's most talked about
photographers.
David Baileys career was at a high between the years of 1957 and 1969 and was most famous
for his striking black and white images of icons including John lennon and Paul
McCartney, Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton and the Kray Twins. At this time Bailey was making
a revolutionary progression to 35mm cameras at the beginning of the 60's. The SLR camera
Bailey purchased in '61 allowed him the flexibility to loosen up the fashion genre. For
example on of his early fashion shoots for Vogue 'Young idea goes west' featured Jean
Shrimpton in the chaotic urban environment of New York. These photographs epitomized a
new street realism and marked a drastic departure from the Static formally posed fashion
and portrait photography of the previous decade. 
Bailey's mapping of the '60s was marked by two collections of portraits; David Bailey's
Box of Pin-ups in 1965, Goodbye Baby, and Amen in 1969. Powerful portraits of musicians
including Mick Jagger, Lennon, and McCartney reflect the stature of these 60s media
heroes in these volumes, and actors such as Michael Caine and Marianne Faithful. Along
with models Jean Shrimpton and Sue Murray. Close cropping, strong lighting and often
stark, bare backgrounds; which have given them a dramatic and enduring intensity
characterize Baileys portraits. With most of his models Bailey had a very close rapport
that brought a certain level of intimacy to his photographs, which was unique amongst his
contemporaries. Bailey's photographs seem to be quite contrasting and he uses quite harsh
side lighting that makes the character appear to be very strong and threatening which may
have been Baileys intention. 
Bailey remains still as active as ever and has continuing importance as a portrait
photographer evident in his contemporary photographs of Naomi Campbell, Amber Valetta,
Johnny Depp and Ralph Fiennes. 
Anne Liebovitz whose career has been renowned for her work for Rolling Stones magazine
was spread throughout the years of 1970 to 1990, and alike Bailey she had a very close
rapport with many of her models and often caught them in natural off-guard moments. Her
portraits were very different from her contemporaries, she very rarely used studio
set-ups and even when she did they were unlike any ordinary portraits. Anne tried to
capture a side of the celebrities and icons that had never been seen before and often
created a surreal looking moment. Her style was very different from Baileys, instead of
close cropping and stark backgrounds, which was a very well used technique in Bailey's
studios, she would give every model a different personality and look to what the public
eye was familiar with. Many of her photographs use the body as well as the face as a
means of expression, which is unusual for a portraitist. 
One of her portraits, which represent the era very well, is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger
taken in 1979. It is an excellent representation of the all out obsession with
self-maintenance and gym mania that took place in the eighties. In contrast, it's
different compared to the portraits in which all you see in a body armour that most
individuals seem to need. Anne's pictures represent people relating to each other in a
non-defensive way; this is only possible because of the close relationships she has with
her models. One of the best examples of her work is the last portrait of John Lennon and
Yoko Ono. This represents the close relationship she was able to build with her models
and also uses the fetal position to show her use of the human body as a means of
expression. This portrait is very strong graphically and yet emotionally it creates a
powerful image by itself. In many of her portraits some of her equipment can be seen, for
example: lighting, stands, backdrops she makes the shoots seem casual and 'make do'. Many
photographers have tried to import this style into their work. Anne uses the surroundings
in her portraits to represent a side of her models career or personality that has never
been seen before. Her subjects range from being on tour with the Rolling Stones to
portraits of Bette Midler, Liberace, actress Amanda Plummer, Clint Eastwood and Bruce
Springsteen. And recently was the photographer requested to tour with mega group Oasis.
A modern day equivalent to these well-known celebrity snappers has to be Rankin, known as
a 'Demi-god' amongst the fashion, music and movie world; Rankin is the man to take your
picture. Rankin who was responsible for setting up award winning student magazine 'Dazed
and Confused' in 1991, a poster format street magazine dedicated to new talent and new
ideas. Rankin has found time to shoot almost every cover within his increasingly busy
schedule for example: adverts for Givenchy, British Airways Concord, Vodafone, Diesel and
Pret a Terre. Also many editorials for magazines such as Q, Allure, Interview, and The
Big Issue; and his most famous portraits of international icons include Robbie Williams,
David Bowie Bjork Kate Moss Bono and Damien Hirst. 
There has been a progression to scandal over the past 10 years; images that are meant to
shock, outrage and disturb. Rankin has been responsible for creating these shockingly
different portraits which he hopes will inform the fashion industries creative agenda by
commissioning shoots featuring models crying, on fire, gorging on chocolate, disabled
models, plus-size women, models licking bloody knives, and shots with assistants hands
being revealed. One of his most dark and sinister is a collection of photographs named
Dead Fashionable in which he has placed models lying in horrid positions acting to be
dead and creating very disturbing images.
A lot of his photographs are again like Liebovitz caught in off guard moments, creating a
natural pose in which the model has never been seen. He is also a fan of close cropping
head and shoulder shots like Bailey for most of his portraits. Although Rankin is a
revolutionary when it comes to shocking the fashion world with his bingeing models and
dead fashionable images. His portraiture can be traced back to influences from current
photographers such as David Bailey and Anne Liebovitz; everyone had to have an
inspiration. Many of Rankin's images are dark and very contrasting in color and texture,
creating such realism when relating to the model, yet surrealism in the surroundings to
the model.
Many photographers do not agree with Rankin's shock tactics but his reply to them is:
Well go out and do something for yourself. If you're really dedicated to this then you
should be able to create yourself!
That's exactly what Rankin has done, a revolutionary in his field, he has not only
created himself, he can create a whole image and personality from just one photograph.
A likeness can be seen in all of the talked about photographers' work mainly because they
were and are very much in the rock and roll scene! Especially Anne Liebovitz and David
Bailey, although they worked very differently. David Bailey alike Rankin uses very simple
sets and lighting techniques where as on the other hand, Liebovitz may seem to use simple
lighting and studio set-ups. Everything is strategically placed and lit. She is known for
her complicated lighting techniques, some may say she is a perfectionist or maybe even an
obsessive.
Each of these photographers I have talked about are strong and independent characters,
each of which does not look for approval or praise from their work. They are on personal
missions and journeys to see how far their minds will stretch into the new and 'never
done before'.