Continuity Project

Continuity Project: Finals Week from Emilia Pesantes on Vimeo.

Museum of Moving Image

One of the mediums that stunned me the most when I visited the Museum of Moving Image was the exhibit on portrait photography. Something I found particularly interesting was how portrait photography was described as “the best way to maintain the mythology of stardom.” The very use of the word “myth” suggests that the atmosphere of any given portrait taken was not at all accidental but rather carefully selected. The portraits exhibited on the wall in the museum only really vary in subject. With that being said, the use of hard light v. soft light was generally the same and the lack of color was homogenous. Although seemingly simple, plain, portraits every single one must have been taken with the perfect lighting in order to deliberately enhance a subject’s facial features. Weather it be Chaplin’s clean face or James Dean’s jawline every portrait was similar in its mission to direct the viewers attention to specific aspects of the photograph. I did not know that these portraits went so far as to acquire their own Fan magazines in the early 1900’s. This further proves the great effect photos have on their respective viewers — especially when they are ones of familiar faces. 

It is interesting to note the evolution of such a form of photography. Portraits continue to be popular amongst celebrities, especially when shooting for magazine covers. However there are much more vibrant colors included, meant to enhance our senses in order for viewers to have a better experience with the photos. Lighting remains important but with the latest technology certain features can appear however you want them to using a tool like photoshop. Tech like photoshop is tremendously helpful but also endlessly deceiving. An immense change in the experience audiences have with portraits is the fact that they have to spend half the time deciding how real those curves and clean skin actually are.