3 photo's one idea - environment tutorial notes

Robert Doisneau

A photographer’s life

Author – PETER HAMILTON

(p322 Pre’vert au Gueridon (Jacques Pre’vert and dog), 

at a quai St. Bernard bistro, Paris, Fith Arrondissment, 1955.)

When studying this photograph the first thing I noticed was how comfortable and relaxed the old man looks. The composition of the photograph as been timed perfectly with his dog by his side you get that sense of ‘a mans best friend’ slip into the photo. The one wine glass makes it clear he is on his own, smoking also gives the man character.

It looks as if he is in some sort of park watching passers by, the light is natural while the camera angle is very slightly looking down at the man, I think the distance away from the man lets the viewer have a better understanding of the man himself.

This photo is actually a series of photos, all with this man looking away from the camera smoking. Doisneau was known to bring a poetic feel to his photos, especially this series of ‘Pre’vert’ the man in the photograph. After meeting him he ended up traveling a lot in Paris which later influenced his photos.

Robert Doisneau

A photographer’s life

Author – PETER HAMILTON 

(221. Passerelle et fume’e ) Foot bridge and Smoke

Villeneuve-St.Georges,m 1946

This is another very isolated photo, one with the smoke and person has been accurately caught on camera causing it to have an almost threatening feel towards it.

The camera angle seems slightly higher than the person, capturing a little of the train station around her. The smoke that is intruding the photo is from the steam trains that are passing under the bridge.

It seems to be natural lighting, it’s quite dark and the sky looks as if it was a cloudy rainy day. Even the person on the bridge looks as if they are wearing some sort of jacket/coat. This is a very dark image, however the texture and focus on the bridge is clear, I do like the bolts either side of the rails and the gaps in between each wooden plank. At this point in time Doisneau decided to focus on pother things rather than the fashion side of photography which was known to be popular at this time.

Robert Doisneau

A photographer’s life

Author – PETER HAMILTON

(204. Au bon coin, St.Denis, 1947)

This image is similar to the other images of Doisneau’s work I have chosen to look at. I love the isolation and the detail that can be seen in the cobbled street. The way the camera angle is, he has managed to capture the entire building in the frame as well as its surroundings. By Doisneau being further away from the building it has also helped included the entire building and a lone person.

This dark image was taken with natural light and it seems as if the weather was bad as the reflection of water can be seen on the street floor.

I really love the lone person included in the photo, the distance away also makes that person seem smaller than if close.

My Idea

 I have stumbled across this artist after searching through ‘the photo book’ I found a couple of images I liked. After researching his work I have chosen four images I think best influence my idea.

Firstly, I want my images to have a sense of Isolation, the buildings but also the people. With all the photos I have chosen each one have a similar deserted like street with one or two people walking along it. Also a cobbled street aspect which I think will be important to include in my shoot. 

The photo’s I have chosen all seem to have a sense of loneliness, a hectic city/town with an interesting lone person, making the surrounding street and building become more distant and vague like the people in them. To capture this idea at the right time of day will be a challenge for me as there is always a continuous rush to get to work, school etc… The light in the day doesn’t last as long anymore so I think it will prove difficult to capture such a deserted place.