National Photographic Portrait Prize Questionnaire

 

 

What mood or feeling does this portrait express? How? 

(Found under POSE, EXPRESSION, MEDIUM)

The war hero photo expresses a very sorrowful and depressing mood, this is supported by his prosthetic legs, illustrating that he was shot or in a bomb blast. The black and white colour deepens the tone of the photograph and makes the overall feeling more sad and downcast.

 

Describe the body language. How does this influence your opinion about the characters?

The man is looking down towards his prosthetic feet with his elbows and hands resting on his knees. This body language suggests that he is disappointed and disgusted in war, as well as sorrowful that he had experienced such horrific events.

 

What is the subject’s relationship to the other elements of the photograph? Consider who the other people might be, the environment we find them in, or the objects within the scene? 

(Found under background, gesture and vantage point)

The photograph 'Crowned Madonna with kids' predominantly focuses on the mother as the subject with her baby and child with her. The subject's relationship to the other elements of the image is a strong family connection as she has her arm around the child and is breast feeding her baby. The other objects within the scene are drying clothes which increases the 'family' relationship and theme.

 

How are portraits made in the studio different from those made in the natural world? 

(Found under Clothing, Time and Frame)

Portraits made in the studio are different from those made in the natural world because developments in modern photography (artificial lighting, backdrops, green screens etc) have enabled photographers to take photographs with filters and frames that suggest a different time and place. Therefore it can be difficult for a viewer to accurately assess the time represented or captured in the portrait. In contrast, portraits made in the natural world is marked by the time in which the subject was alive and the photograph was created. The clothing an individual wears can imply their status, wealth, occupation, and personality and can also communicate a cultural message. Clothing may also indicate the season, place and time of day in which the photograph has been taken or staged. Time may refer to the moment captured by the photographer, the implied period of the photograph, the time of day, season or a special date on which the photograph

was taken or is designed to represent.

From the image itself, what can you deduce about the cultural or historical context in which this work was made?

From the photograph 'Saltwater Cowboys' I can deduce that the cultural/historical context in which this work was made would be in the 'Wild West' time period, from 1865 - 1895. The two men in the shot are definitely Cowboys in a period of famous for cowboys, native Indians, lawmen, gunslingers, pioneers,  prospectors,  gamblers, scouts, outlaws, gangs and gunfighters.

 

Study the photograph "War Hero by Peter Brew-Bevan" how would you rate the quality of portrait? do you like the photograph?

4/5 and yes I do like the photograph as it portrays a pivotal period in history through one shot. 

 

Study the picture of Julia Gillard pg 2.2, Do you think the Lighting used makes her portrait feel:

Warm and approachable

 

What type of portrait photographs do you prefer?

Candid portraits

 

Name the portrait you think should win the National Photographic Portrait prize?

'Marilyn Darling' by Anne Zahalka