THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY-LONDON
Tuesday 31st January
Follow this link for the National Portrait Gallery website and more information:
This exhibition was in relation to my "Representation" project (on portraiture). It also contributes to my exhibition reviewing for visual exploration.
A very interesting and thought-provoking exhibition on contemporary portrait photography, and although there were works that didn't grab my attention, there were many that were stunning, and they were the ones that for me told a story at first glance. I have chosen one the winning image to sum up the exhibition as it stood out for me most.
Harriet and Gentleman Jack, by Jooney Woodward, has won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize for 2011. Photograph: Jooney Woodward/PA.
This piece is very striking and immediately shows character and depth. Her work is taken in film, which was seen as unusual at the exhibition, however I think it gives certain uniqueness to photographs that you can't get with digital. Her red hair and the juxtaposition of the Guinea Pig is dominating the image, against the white overalls, it really shows that the two characters are as important as each other.
"I prefer the quality and depth you get from using film; unfortunately it's a dying art."-Woodward.
The picture was taken with a Mamiya RZ medium format camera, which I am currently learning to master at University. Our portraiture project is based around medium format, so this image is a huge inspiration.
"I don't mess around with Photoshop so what you see is what you get. Enhanced images can portray a false sense of reality, whereas my work celebrates the people and places as they appear every day," she said.
Dolly Parton by Zed Nelson, 2011 © the artist
Andie
by David Knight © the artist
His portrait of 15-year-old Andiee Poetschka, was commissioned
by Loud for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance to raise awareness of the condition throughout Australia. He says:
‘I wanted the portraits to be positive and to convey the kids in an uplifting way
You don’t immediately notice Andiee is in a wheelchair; you just see a
beautiful young woman. The image doesn’t demand you look at it, but gently
draws you in.’
(Information taken by The NPG website)
Dolly Parton by Zed Nelson, 2011 © the artist
Andie
by David Knight © the artist
His portrait of 15-year-old Andiee Poetschka, was commissioned
by Loud for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance to raise awareness of the condition throughout Australia. He says:
‘I wanted the portraits to be positive and to convey the kids in an uplifting way
You don’t immediately notice Andiee is in a wheelchair; you just see a
beautiful young woman. The image doesn’t demand you look at it, but gently
draws you in.’
(Information taken by The NPG website)
