Irving Penn

Being one of my favourite photographers and a famous portrait photographer, Irving Penn is top of the list when it comes to gaining ideas for black and white portraits. For me and I’m sure for others, it’s the super clear/sharp and contrasty images he creates with his lighting and the format he shoots with.

So from this research I’m taking forward his lighting style which appears to be mainly Rembrandt from an intense source which is probably from lights which I will use, and secondly the use of the square frame. As I indicated in my initial basic research I like the close up style and I’ve shown some at the top of the page. The ones I’ve chosen are my favourites because of the positioning of the subject in the frame which you wouldn’t consider ‘normal’ and the use of the cropped head which I’m a fan of.