Fake Emotion Photography

Fake Emotion Photography is a series of photographs entitled "Fake Emotions" done by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin which features exposed, naked models who are covering their faces with their hands. This effectively hides any feelings, emotion or facial expressions that the models may have shown. This emotion has been replaced by having artificial faces drawn on the back of their hands, effectively giving the photographers creative control over the emotions in the image.

Fake Emotion Photography

SHADOW FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY

These images (published in Numero Magazine 2008) by fashion photographer Solve Sundsbo (Norweign photographer in London) caught my attention immediately. He is famous for his experiementation with photography though the lens. I love these images because the shadows give another dimension creating mystery. The shadows on the model appear to form part of the model's clothing, like a tight cat suit or stocking with patterns. I'm not sure if he is trying to replicate animal prints through the shadows as the model with the pocker dots above seems to be in an animal pose, maybe a dalmation? The added orange lipstick on the bottom image leads me to think about tiger stripes and her position is very cat like. See what you think.

View http://www.flickr.com/photos/wickedhalo/sets/72157608253578915/ for more of his work and http://www.artandcommerce.com/AAC/C.aspx?SVP=VBI&R=2U1XC5C7U9IU&RP=T&CT=Album&SP=Album

Dark Tone Photography

Dark Tonality (Low Key)
It is characteristic for the image in Low Key style that most part of the image is formed by dark, sometimes black elements, but most details are well discernible, and light areas are always bright and clear. The intermediary tones are expressed weakly, by dark sections of the tonal scale. Presence of separate bright spots is the necessary requirement. All the elements, included to the picture, with the exception of those, creating a key (tonal) accent, must not greatly differ from each other in brightness. Counter, counter- side and side light is most often used for the illumination. Evening landscapes are often executed in low key, including light sources to the picture.

http://www.art-photography-schools.com/key-tone.htm

The use of dark tones in photography has become increasingly popular in recent years. It creates a specific mood and emotion in an image that wouldn't exist without it, and is more commonly found in fine art, landscape and low key portrait photography. Personally, I love this trend and use it a lot in my own work. Here are some examples of this style:

http://www.seedesk.net/Desktop/Scen/2008/00152411082.html

http://www.seedesk.net/Desktop/Scen/2008/00152411082.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/03/filmnoir_portfolio200703

Still Life or Portraiture?

DeviantArt categorises them under Still Life, personally I'm torn between that or portraiture. A seemingly growing portraiture and/or still life trend is the art of photographing miniature dolls. While some styles are still to capture the dolls just sitting around not doing much aside from looking like the lifeless doll that it is; a new, more creative style is emerging where the dolls are not only made up to look more human (clothes/makeup) but the actual photography style has changed to capture a more human side to them, close up beauty shots and very contemporary fashion-esque portraits.





I don't particularly know where this trend would fit in the commercial world.. certainly as an arty, anonymous portrait to hang on your wall it could work, or I think stock images for publishers etc would find a great use for it. Even in the fashion world, miniature mockups of outfits could be made and photographed - at a much cheaper cost then hiring an actual model too.





So I want people to comment on not only where they feel this miniature doll portraiture should be categorised (still life/portraiture) and possible uses/viability it could have in a commercial world.

For more images on this subject go to DeviantArt





Frannie.

Drowning as Art - clearly disturbing!

We can’t live without water and yet it can easily kill us; it’s both essential for survival, but with too much, it has the potential to be deadly. Whatever your thoughts on water, you cannot help but be taken aback by this series of underwater photos by James Cooper who plays on this very ideal.
Underwater is a mysterious realm into which we cannot venture unaided. Add spitting out mouthfuls of fake blood and toys, and you have some AMAZING photography. Viscous and prismatic, we are visually enthralled by its sights and sounds and within its heights and depths we can have an experience as close to flight as anything an unaided human will ever know. Though never far from our minds we know that this buoyancy can shift to prison without warning. Water is false freedom, and we are inevitably ether moored within it forever or expelled out.

Water as nature has beautiful qualities, movement and interest yet this photographer has plainly disregarded its potential and resorted to a disgusting perspective in my opinion. The opportunity to use the human form could have been adequately achieved through responsible photography. Appreciation can be given to the beautiful lighting and movement but this photographer's subject matter is appalling. Surprising, thought-provoking and creative yet disturbing and irresponsible at the same time. Would you display these images on your wall....I think not!
KylieB
If you cant help but keep looking click on the following:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drowning-as-art-eirie-underwater-photography

INFUSED HUES IN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY

A new trend in fashion photography that has developed over the last year, is the use of various hues in the image. Some images include added hues in the background only and others include the model and background as pictured right by photographer Matt Sundin (Based in New York). It looks like Matt Sundin aims to achieve this in-camera (i'm assuming using gels over flash lights or is there another way?) giving a more richer moodier feeling where as other photographers like duo photographers Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello (From Argentina based in Paris), add the hues in post production using layers and filters.

Check out http://www.emsfilm.com/ (for Matt Sundin) and http://sofiamauro.com/ to compare and let us know which style you prefer and why.

Other photographers to review are http://www.paoloroversi.com/ and http://www.marissakaiser.com/ (view girl musicians in her fashion folio which was recently featured in Oyster Magazine). Marissa Kaiser added hues look softer than Sofia and Mauro's but I'm not sure if they have been added in-camera. Let me know if anyone can tell. Mel Watt

FACELESS PORTRAIT OR JUST ART!

Bill Durgin’s incredible ‘Figure Studies’ series transcends traditional photography into sculpting a piece of art with one’s camera. The images are the result of complex arrangements of the body parts which require extreme flexibility and contortion by the model to achieve an “austere effect contortion.”
The images showcase the beauty of the human body, and as with some of the famous Greek statues, Durgin’s creations are headless. The focus is on the body, not the face.
The New York based Durgin will have a solo exhibition at the Merge Gallery entitled “Figurations.” The exhibit will be open between September 4, 2008 and October 11, 2008.
Upon first glance, Durgin’s photographs possess a certain ominous and disturbing quality, the figures appear slightly grotesque as in Lucien Freud’s figure studies. This quality is also enhanced through the figure’s relationship to the specific architectural space – the studio. The composition is carefully considered, the colors range from light and airy to slightly moodier and grim. What remains is the beauty of the figure and the mystery behind it. The effect can be haunting but is also captivating and stunning.

Well certainly fascinating if not inspiring imagery. Not sure though about the concept of the family portrait in the living room framed so eloquently... Could be perceived as slightly disturbing but the human body comes in many forms with or without particularly important body parts such as, let me think, your face! Personally, I find these images interesting and thought-provoking with just a hint of confusion as to how it is possible to wrap oneself up so perfectly! Or did I hear the word 'photo editing'. I will let you decide. KylieB

Check out http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/figure-studies-by-bill-durgin and let us know your perspective