High / Low Key Self Portraits
Problem Statement:
Your task is to take two self portraits to be displayed as a diptych. One will be in the low key style, one will be in the high key.
1st Photo - How the world sees you
2nd Photo - How you see yourself
Both photos are showcasing a part of your personality. You have creative freedom over which photo is high key and which photo is low key.
Sketchbook Requirements:
- Create a two page spread (can be see at the same time).
- Essential question for each one
- Incorporate 2 inspirational photos for each
- Include 3 thumbnail sketches for each
- include notes for lighting, concept and props
Shooting Requirements:
1. At least twelve photos for each one
2. Must incorporate a prop within one of the photos. Your prop must be symbolic of something.
3. Body language, facial expression, clothing and lights are the most important.
4. Nothing school related (example: people think I'm studious).
Editing / Finalizing:
1. In photoshop, edit your final images
2. Dodging and burning are a must
3. They need to be displayed as 1 artwork (1 file)
Website:
1.Create new page on your website.
2. Include a contact sheet (in an image gallery) for low key and an additional one for high key.
3. Your final artwork should be displayed at the top of the page. It needs to be able to be clicked on to view larger
4. An artist statement diplayed below your image
5. Your sketchbook should be at the bottom of your page.
Ellie B. Class of 2017
My first portrait photo, representing how others see me, relates to the perception that I am quiet. All my life, I have been looked at as shy or quiet because I choose not to speak when others might. But this is not because I have nothing to say or I don’t have an outgoing personality, as seen in my second photo. I have simply been gifted with a nonthreatening or overbearing demeanor, but when I am around the people I feel most comfortable with, I am one of the most outrageous and humorous of my friends. I used low-key lighting for this because it is the most serious of the two.
I used the tape over my mouth to symbolize speechlessness, which is related to being quiet because quiet people don’t make a lot of sound. By covering my mouth, my eyes became more important and were therefore tasked with symbolizing observance. This is similar to when people lose one of their five major senses like hearing or seeing, and the other senses become more alert and capable, so without speech, the ability to see and listen, etc. is improved. In the final photo, my hair creates ivy-like shadows across my neck, which also aided my idea of being quiet because after I made the shadows a bit darker, it seemed like the shadows are strangling me and prohibiting me to speak. This aspect of the photo was not intended and came from experimentation of where the single light source was placed during the photo shoot. Specifically for this photo, the light was pointed from on e side, causing my curly hair shadow to be elongated across my neck.
My second photo, representing how I see myself, relates to my personal perception that I am witty and brazen. I have friends with varied personalities, but my best friends are the ones that laugh with me and support my sometimes crazy and unusual ideas. I am not so open to sharing my true feelings with anyone and everyone I meet, but only with those I have developed a close bond with and whom I trust in. I used high key lighting for this photo because it is the least serious of the two, and in a metaphorical way, sheds more light on my true self.
In this second photo, I made a silly face, one that I would only make on a special occasion. I tied my hair in two ponytails to relate to youth and the carelessness that comes along with it. The whole photo is a little off center in proportion, also contributing to the less serious mood. The end product of the diptych contrasts the two photos, similarly contrasting the two polar opposite ideas of peace and outrage. This is the first time I actually took note of the differences of how I am perceived, and I have accomplished a new perspective on lighting and portraits.
