Image Bank - Mapplethorpe Portraits

Internet Images

I like this portrait because the model is looking directly into the camera lens, which makes it look as though she is looking at you personally. This gives the image a lot more emotion than if she was looking away. Also, most of Mapplethorpe's work is in black and white and I especially like that about this photograph because it makes the model stand out amongst the black background. 

This portrait is slightly similar to the first image. However, the model's eyes are closed which would normally mean that the photo wouldn't show any or very little emotion, but since the model's head is slightly tilted, as if she is looking at the ground, we can still feel the emotion that she does. Again, this photo is black and white (like the majority of Mapplethorpe's work). 

This portrait is much more serious than the first two because the model is sat up straight, looking directly at the camera with a stern facial expression. There is more dark tones within this image than light tones, which makes it feel quite mysterious and sinister, which is what I like about this photo. I also like that we can see more of the model in this image, such as the clothes that she is wearing and her hands. The more of the model that the viewers see, the more they feel like they know and can relate to her. 

This is a portrait of Andy Warhol that Mapplethorpe captured. I like how this image can be seen as serious - as though he is looking shocked or scared, but also humorous because Warhol looks quite silly with his mouth open and staring in to space. As we are able to see the photo in two different ways, it enables the viewers to interpret the image individually. 

The other portrait that I have chosen have been taken at a slight distance. However, this one is extremely close-up and zoomed into the model's face. This means that we can see far less of this model than we can of the other model's in the other photos. Nevertheless, we can still see his chequered shirt and tie. I like how close-up this image is because it makes the viewers feel uncomfortable and awkward, particularly as it looks as though the model is angry and staring at them. I like that the image creates an affect on the viewer.

This portrait is a lot different to the others. In this photograph we can see a white background, and then a man leaning into the image from the right with his arm stretched out. We can also see that he is smiling. I like this image because it isn't as dark as the others that I have chosen, and instead of the model being emphasised, he almost blends in with the background. Obviously out attention is still solely concentrated on him as there isn't anything else in the image.