I intend to study Michalina Woźniak, a self-taught photographer based in Lublin. This photographer focuses their images on the theme of Identity, in particular someone’s alter ego (an alternative personality). Many of the photographs taken consist of a sentimental yet haunting mood which is formed by the photographer’s use of a mirror with a design that is delicate in contrast to the use of a muted colour scheme containing black, white and grey undertones which help to convey a more vintage appearance.
In addition to this, the photographer has formed images that use a model as well as props such as a mirror and a mask, which may’ve been used to show the comparison between the model’s true emotions and persona versus the persona they show as an imaginary ‘mask’ towards people in different settings. Due to the tones being used within the photography being unsaturated yet bold show that the emotions felt via the character or model are trying to be hidden, possibly to seem a certain way towards others. These muted colours have inspired my future photographs based around an alternative personality that is muted or unknown to other people who already have a different perception of you, whether it’s your digital-self or real-world self.
Furthermore, this photographer has enhanced the underexposed and haunting appearance captured in the image on the left by using a vignette effect, a black almost smoke-like emission surrounding the photograph to create a gradual blend between the black and grey undertones of the image. They may’ve created this by either using an app to edit the vignette as an overlay, or they may have also used an aperture of around f/8 so less light entered the frame whilst the image was taken.
In addition to this, the photographer has formed images that use a model as well as props such as a mirror and a mask, which may’ve been used to show the comparison between the model’s true emotions and persona versus the persona they show as an imaginary ‘mask’ towards people in different settings. Due to the tones being used within the photography being unsaturated yet bold show that the emotions felt via the character or model are trying to be hidden, possibly to seem a certain way towards others. These muted colours have inspired my future photographs based around an alternative personality that is muted or unknown to other people who already have a different perception of you, whether it’s your digital-self or real-world self.
Furthermore, this photographer has enhanced the underexposed and haunting appearance captured in the image on the left by using a vignette effect, a black almost smoke-like emission surrounding the photograph to create a gradual blend between the black and grey undertones of the image. They may’ve created this by either using an app to edit the vignette as an overlay, or they may have also used an aperture of around f/8 so less light entered the frame whilst the image was taken.
Artist Comparison - Michalina Wozniak & Edward Honaker
Michalina Wozniak and Edward Honaker's photographs are similar in terms of their aesthetics, both achieving a monotone colour scheme in which have a bold contrast between dark and light tones; they both focus their photography on the theme of Identity, focusing on a more hidden aspect of identity or a distorted identity that has been manipulated due to who they're around or other environmental impacts within their surrounding.
However, Edward Honaker tends to use more digital manipulation to edit his photographs in comparison to Michalina Wozniak's work, helping him to portray the idea behind each photograph further such as the emotions of the model. Honaker often uses the Liquefy tool to distort the appearance of the model's face to represent anxiety and other emotions related to it where as Wozniak tends to use more props such as masks or mirrors to use, creating a sense of absence of the model since their face is covered by the mask, or because the mirror shows no reflection.
Both Michalina Wozniak and Edward Honaker use harsh lighting during their photoshoots which helps to create a bold definition between the light and dark tones as well as the outline the subject of each photograph such as the model. They also direct the lighting in a way that creates shadows on either side of the model, helping to create depth within their photography. Furthermore, within some of these artists' photography, they use artificial lighting to create a vignette effect to help direct light towards the centre of each image, drawing attention towards the model or which object is centred as well as creating a sense of perspective in their photographs.