Robert Mapplethorpe (Portraits)

 


Robert Mapplethorpe's use of black and white photography is astounding. His studio portraits are simple, but the unique angles and use of lighting gives a very unique experience to the viewer. His environmental portraits are very dynamic. I personally love the look of the chaotic backgrounds and the mystery of the subjects staring into the camera. I really enjoy the image above. To me, the subject feels like a vampire standing in front of a full moon. I really like the way his hair blends into the circle of light behind him, and the black turtle neck makes him blend into the darkness below. This connects him to the background, rather than giving him a separate identity and really allows just his facial features to pop out at the viewer.


The photo above really stood out to me and has stuck with me since I have seen it. I really wish I knew two bald men so I could recreate this. I think the artistic choice to have the lighter skinned man positioned in the darkness and the darker skinned man to be positioned in a value more closer to his skin can be very symbolic in a lot of different ways. Maybe the man on the left is not afraid to stand out and go against what is expected of him, while the man on the right feels the need to blend in more. Tee fact that the backs of their heads are positioned almost perfectly on the line of the light and dark sides, but the body of the man on the left starts to creep into the other side connects the two and shows that they really are living in the same worlds, even if it feels different in their heads. 


Both of these environmental portraits have a very raw and real feel to them. Like I said before, I really like the uncomfortableness and the rawness achieved by having the subjects look into the camera. the way the two people are positioned in the second photo so that the person in the back is slightly out of focus is very interesting to me. These photos are composed very well and balance the subjects with their surroundings nicely. And of course I love the use of black and white. 




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