Introduction

Pete Coco is a New York based photographer that I recently discovered through the podcast and YouTube channel Camera Shake. The work that Pete creates is in a similar vein as Ivan Weiss and, to a lesser extent, Phil Sharp (two of my biggest creative inspirations). The key similarity among these photographers, and what I hope to embrace more and more, is their ability to connect with their clients and to capture that connection on camera.

In this week’s photo analysis, I’ll be reviewing a photo of Pete’s. I’ll discuss what I like about the image, and while I’m doing so, I’ll consider what I would do if I were to try to recreate it. I’ll talk about the same topics as in previous discussions.

The Image

When I look at this photo, what immediately strikes me is the composition. It’s common for Pete to include quite a bit of the studio environment in his portraiture bringing the viewer into the space. I almost feel like I’ve been in Pete’s studio before when I look at photos like this one (I haven’t been in Pete’s studio before). The part of the composition that I would include in my own photography is the light in the top left corner, and the layered backdrops - I love the subtlety. Layered backdrops are another hallmark of Pete’s work that I’ll enjoy including in my own work more in the future.

Discussion

Lighting

The shadows cast on the model’s face and neck by the main light (the one in the upper left corner) have great density, and I love the soft falloff of the highlights. The main light is positioned and angled in a way such that it also creates an interesting gradient on the backdrop above the model. It overlaps the warm light from the right side creating complexity in the lighting. The light on the right side of the frame is pointed primarily at the background. The prominent orange streak contributes to multiple roles in the image including composition and color. I know from Pete’s instagram post that the lighting modifiers used in the image are a beauty dish on the left and a fresnel lens on the right.

Color

The colors that Pete uses are reminiscent of those in the work of Ivan Weiss. After all, he did study under Ivan for some time. Check out Pete’s interview on the Camera Shake Podcast to find out more about this.

The colors here are warm and rich. Some are more vibrant like the oranges and blues, while the greens are less vibrant. The strip of blue on the left and the studio on the right create a frame within the photo and the olive green canvas creates another frame within that.

Composition

The model is placed directly on the thirds line in the photo and the frame created by the green backdrop. This complexity in composition balances that of the lighting. Each component plays a role in directing my view to the model and doesn’t seem to overstay it’s welcome. As I mentioned before, including the studio in the composition invites me into the space allowing me to build a greater connection with the photo.

Another interesting component of this image is that the model is looking into the studio rather than at the camera. This could emphasize the invitation extended by the the inclusion of the studio because it’s an approachable pose and builds a sense of trust. I’d like to know what the image would feel like if the model were looking at the camera…

…Instead of wondering, I’ve just decided, while writing this, to make this my first attempt at recreating an existing image by another photographer. How exciting!

I’ll exclude the studio portion on the right of the image because of limitations to my available space and lighting equipment. I’ll also have the model look at the camera to get a sense of what that feels like. I’ll review the recreation in next week’s post and assess how well I stay true to Pete’s original.

Conclusion

I’m writing this conclusion after my attempt to recreate the image of today’s discussion. I’ll say that I’m pleased, and that there is a lot of room for improvement. The next post will go a bit deeper into the analysis of the original image than we did today because I have a deeper understanding of the image itself. Thank you for taking a look at this image with me and a big thank you to Pete for allowing me to review his image.

Portrait Analysis - A Recreation - Part One