Perou

Perou (born as Ralph John Perou in May 1970) is a British fashion, portrait and music photographer who has also appeared as a judge on 'Make Me A Supermodel UK' and on season 2 of American 'Make Me A Supermodel'. He was part of the TV Show 'Dirt Sexy Things' which aired in 2011, in which he photographed models to put in his exhibition at the end of the series.

(Information source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perou)

Depth of Field

This first photo, of the blue butterfly, has a shallow depth of field, the butterfly is sharp and completely  in focus, and the background is blured and unfocused, drawing attention to the focus of the photo, the butterfly. The second image has a large depth of field, everything is clear and in focus, drawing the eye in towards the horizon.

This is a link to a website containing loads of information on how to edit the appeture settihngs on your camera to create a small or laqrge depth of feild, and tips on how to use it in photos, what looks best and why.

Lighting

This is a pixture of Lauren Bacall, and I have chosen this image because I think it is a great example of some interesting lighting. She is very harshly lit from above, creating an unusual effect, she looks beautiful but sinister, giving the photo an overall unusual atmosphere. I love the shadowing on her eye lids, giving the effect of winged eyeliner, and  beneath her nose and lips.

This is a link to a site with useful and easy to follow steps and facts about using lighting in photography.

Focal Point

This is a picture of an eye with the focal point as the iris and pupil. I chose this image because it has a very clear focal point, it is of a high quality, and the picture itself is beautiful. Around the edge of this photo, it is out of focus, which could've been set on the camera, but I think in this particular image it has been edited on afterwards, this helps draw your eye in towards the centre of the image. I presume the photographer was using a macro setting when taking this picture, by the sharpness and clarity, this was obviously taken on a very high quality camera.

This is a link to an article explaining use of focal points in photography, with tips and techniques. 

Composition

This is a picture taken from the 1954 film Rear Window, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, I have chosen this image, one because this is one of my favourite films, but also because I think it is an excellent example of composition. Firstly, the contrast an framing of the image is brilliant, and I love how what he is looking at has been edited so it is reflected on the lens of the camera, but also he has used the rule of third so that the reflection is a third of the way across. James Stewart's face and body is also off to one side, maybe not fully two thirds across, but it doesn't need to be, everything is framing and placed well, and the contrast between the light and dark really gives it an eerie feel. Overall, I feel this picture has a really interesting composition.

This is a link to a very useful help page explaining about what composition means, in photography, rules for a good composition and tips for beginners.

Sam Shaw- Photographs

Factual: All these photos were taken by Sam Shaw and are of Marilyn Monroe, they were taken within the time they new each other, from 1954 to 1962 (the year she died).

Context: He took lots of photos of Marilyn and they are probably his most famous pieces, though he isn't often recognized as the photographer. The examples here are some my favourite colour photos he's taken of her, but I found it really had to choose because I love almost all of his work.
Technical: As the photos were mainly taken during the 50's, they would've all been taken on a film camera,unfortunately I can't find out what camera(s) Sam Shaw used to take these beautiful images. In the first image I have here, (Marilyn looking down at the pink carnation) I love the way the natural light from the sun shines onto her blonde hair, creating almost a halo effect, and how he has effected the aperture settings so that she is in focus but the trees behind her are just a blur. 
Aesthetic: It's a really beautiful image, and I love the subtle look of sadness he's caught on her face, he always seems to be able to capture the Norma Jean Baker in her, in all the images in fact, they are all so relaxed and natural, none of them look posed, all her smiles seem genuine. Sam once said, (about Marilyn) "I just want to show this fascinating woman, with her guard down, at work, at ease off-stage, during joyous moments in her life and as she often was-alone."

Astrid Kirchherr- Photos of The Beatles

Factual: All these photos were taken in Germany by Astrid, on a Rolleicord camera, in 1960.
Context: She took these while The Beatles were in Hamburg, after seeing them perform in a local club and loving their music and their 'look' (their hair and fashion sense). This is when there were five Beatles: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best.
Technical: As I said in factual, all the photos were taken on her Rolleicord camera, they are all black&white film photographs. The first four were taken at a fairground in a municipal park called 'Hamburger Dom', and the last was taken in Astrid's apartment.
Aesthetic: I love all of Astrid's photos, but I like these because of the style, the focus on Paul and John's faces in the first two  with Stuart posed with is guitar in the background, showing the short depth of field, meaning she's using a large appeture setting. I love the placing of the people and objects in all the photos are so well thought out and effective, the high contrast levels in the last two pictures really add depth. They all have such a atmosphere to them.

Photographers- Astrid Kirchherr

Astrid Kirchherr (aged 74) is a German artist and photographer, and is most known for her association with The Beatles. She took many famous pictures of them while they were in Hamburg, and was engaged to Stuart Sutcliffe (original bassist to The Beatles). The posts following will be some of her photography.