Statements for Portrait assignment

Image 1: painting recreation
  The composition was pretty easy to set up for this photograph because I was trying to make it look the same as the actual painting. The only difference with mine is that I'm facing the opposite way, and that was simply because my light source was on the other side. The painting has a simple, one-color background, with the main focus sitting on the subject.
  I was following the prompt "portrait painting" and this was the first thing that popped in my mind. when I was researching the painting, there wasn't a lot known about the girl in the painting. So, it was sort of a mystery. However, from the clothes she is wearing, I would guess that she isn't someone from high class. What is interesting, though, is that she is wearing a pearl earring, which makes the viewer contemplate who she might be to have something that is probably very expensive. But, it is probably her gaze that is most powerful in this painting, and I'm still not sure the emotion that comes across to the viewer. 
  I only used natural lighting coming in from a window for this photograph.
  Besides it being based on a painting, I think a lot of photographers go this route in having a simple backdrop so that the focus is on the subject. I really think about pictures from middle school/high school, but a lot of professionals do these photographs as well.
  I think that this photo could represent status of women, especially during the time the painting was created, which I think was the late 1600s.

Image 2: Books
  I played around with the composition of this photo for a while. I took a lot of photos of my friend, then, I would crop it to see what I liked best. I think this was my favorite because it was different, and for some reason it just appealed to me, only seeing half of her. I also just wanted a simple lighting, so there is just light from a window shining on her. And I think the contrast of the bare wall with the books and the girl, worked out really well.
  I think my image could be taken many ways. I guess my first thought was of school. I'm taking a lot of classes, and so much of my life is consumed by studying and doing homework. So, this is the stress and everything else weighing down on people. I had found an image by Koto Bolofo that was a similar photo of Venus Williams wearing a bizarre hat and looking up at it. I think it was really affective having her look up because it created movement to the photograph. I loved the photo that Bolofo did, so I did a few things similar. Again, I had the subject looking up, and I had a simple background. I switched the cropping and the prop that was used.
  I think this photo could represent the affect of society and education. We learn things based on our environment, and based on the things we see and read. Then, we form our opinions and ideas based on what we see and read.

Image 3: Self portrait 1
  When we had researched portrait photography, my photographer was Sam Taylor-Wood. She did a composition of Crying Men, in which I really liked one of them with Daniel Craig. He was sitting in a chair and the background was out of focus. I decided to try it, but the result wasn't quite the same. I believe that my elbow is actually in focus, the rest of me is a little blurry. However, I decided I liked the result because it had a sort of soft and subtle appearance. Plus, it was only when you enlarged the photo, or got up close that you could see the imperfection, which I also liked. I experimented a lot with natural lighting for this project, so again, there is only natural lighting.
  This image was supposed to be an experiment with a self portrait. So, it I wanted just a gentle picture of me. I'm pretty easy going and not a very outgoing person, so I think this photo got that across.
  As I was experimenting, I was just trying different positions. There is a sofa chair in my apartment, so i decided to try that as a different position. That's really how I thought of this photo, plus I was trying to mimic Sam Taylor-Wood's photo.
 I think this photo could be looked at from a psychological stand point, because when I look back at this photograph, I almost look sad in the eyes. So, maybe the subject is hiding something and she doesn't want anyone to know (even though it's me :)  ).

Image 4: Self Portait 2
  This was my favorite self-portrait because I feel like it really does capture one of my characteristics. Again, I used a simple black background because I like the high contrast photos. It puts more of an emphasis on the subject. And again, I used natural lighting.
  Its not that I don't like people taking pictures of me, but that I don't like being in the spotlight. I had being put on the spot, and what makes it worse is that I'm a redhead, so I blush, which gives me away when I don't know an answer or I am embarrassed. I'm not a person who loves attention, I'm the exact opposite. So, I stuck out my hand to shield my face, but you can still see my eyes.
  I think this could relate to photographers who show emotion or action without showing a subject's face. I know there are photographers who do this, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
  I think this photo has a political aspect to it. When there are certain conflicts going on in the world, and the US just turns their head and doesn't get involved, and that could be the same for any country.