Unit 57: Photography and Photographic Practice

Research of other photographers work

Photographer: David Bailey

David Bailey CBEDavid Bailey was born in London in 1938 to his father Herbert and mother Gladys. From the age of three he lived in East Ham. He became a photographic assistant at the John French studio, then photographer for John Cole's Studio Five before being contracted as a fashion photographer for British Vogue magazine in 1960. In his career he has photographed musicians such as Paul Weller, Razorlight, Ian Brown, Dizzee Rascal, Kaiser Chiefs and Super Furry Animals.

Examples of photographs

Choose an image…. Describe it

The photograph is a picture of two members of the Beatles in a portrait photograph, one just above the other resting his head his head. Both of them have very bland expressions on their face which has probably been done to give a bit more to the photo rather than just having them both smiling, it gives you something to think about. The photograph is also in black and white to give an old fashioned effect, it was obviously took quite a long time ago as well because the Beatles are very young.

Composition

The photo has obviously been set up so we can see the two members of the Beatles are in the shot but one above the other rather than both stood together, this has been done to make the photo look different to just two people stood together. It has been set up to take up as much room in the photo as possible and leave very little blank space.

Techniques usedI don’t think David Bailey has used any techniques specifically, the photo is in black and white but that may have just been because it’s an old camera. The black and white gives it an old fashioned effect which makes the photo look better than just a normal colour photo.

Strengths & WeaknessesI think a major strength is the way he has set the photo up, he has made it to look different to a normal photo of two people and it shows the bond between the Beatles and how close they were. It shows a different way to take photo’s and how to establish a relationship between two people in a photo.