Analysis P1 (a-d) professional photographers and their photographic work

Section A - Photographic Category

Name: Robert Capa

Nationality: Austro-Hungarian

Born: Endre Friedmann

October 22, 1913

Budapest, Austria-Hungary

Died: May 25, 1954 (aged 40) Thai Binh, State of Vietnam

Type of Photographer: War Photographer

Influences: As a young boy, Capa was drawn to the Munkakör (Employment Circle), a group of socialist and avant-garde artists, photographers, and intellectuals centered around Budapest who inspired him to become a photographer.

Capa is known for redefining wartime photojournalism. His work came from the battlefields during the fight instead of reporting the aftermath. He was famed for saying, "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

After the war Capa went on to photograph Russia and Israel and the First Indochina war where he died from stepping on a land mine.

Robert Capa was a Hungarian war photographer and photojournalist who covered five wars: the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II across Europe, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the First Indochina War. He documented the course of World War II in London, North Africa, Italy, the Battle of Normandy on Omaha Beach and the liberation of Paris.

Name: Dmitri Baltermants 

Nationality: Russian

DOB: May 13, 1912

Type of Photography: War Photojournalist

Influences: Dmitri Baltermants was born in Warsaw, Poland. His father served in the Imperial Russian Army and was killed in the First World War. Originally Dmitri was a math teacher in a Military Academy however soon became fascinated by photography which lead him on to becoming the official kremlin photographer during WW2.

Although much of his work was censored by soviet officials during the war more was revealed during the 60s.

Name: Yousuf Karsh

Nationality: Armenian/Canadian

DOB: December 23, 1908

Type of Photography: Portrait

Influences: At 16, Yousuf went to live with his uncle George Nakash, a photographer in, Canada. Karsh briefly attended school there and assisted in his uncle’s studio. Nakash saw great potential in his nephew and in 1928 arranged for Karsh to apprentice with portrait photographer John Garo in Boston

Name: Don McCullin

Nationality: English

DOB: 9 October 1935

Type of Photography: War

Influences: McCullin's period of National Service in the RAF saw him posted to the Canal Zone during the 1956 Suez Crisis, where he worked as a photographer's assistant. He failed to pass the written theory paper necessary to become a photographer in the RAF. During this period McCullin bought his first camera, a Rolleicord.

Name: Ansel Adams

Nationality: American

DOB: February 20, 1902 

Type of Photography: American Landscapes

Influences: Originally Adams wanted to become a musician however as he grew older a visit to Yosemite national park inspired him to become a photographer.

Section B - Purpose

The Magnificent Eleven by Robert Capa

Capa was with the second wave of troops landing on the American invasion beach, Omaha Beach, who faced heavy resistance from German troops in their bunkers within the Atlantic Wall. While under constant fire Capa took 106 pictures, all but eleven of which were destroyed in a processing accident. 

The surviving photos have since been called the Magnificent Eleven as they're such iconic images that show the events that lead to the end of Nazi tyranny in Europe. Steven Spielberg is said to have been inspired by these images when filming Saving Private Ryan.

Life magazine printed some of the pictures in its June 19, 1944 issue, "BEACHHEADS OF NORMANDY: The Fateful Battle for Europe is Joined by Sea and Air.

Section C - Image Analysis

As many of Capa's Photos were taken in the heat of battle he had very little time to consider composing his images meaning some results could be seen as accidental however they're still significant as they can provide a glimpse of history.

Composition: This photo has been composited with the rule of thirds in mind as Capa has attempted to used the sides of the Landing Craft to split the image giving the effect of a 'tunnel' or 'tube' to represent the soldier being pushed out of the tunnel into the light as the water is very bright contrasting the sides of the Landing Craft the image also shows is the soldiers moving forwards and up the beach away from the camera representing the allied effort to push into Europe.
Naturally your eyes are drawn to the edges of the craft as they're very straight leading lines since they're so prominent in the frame, consequently this creates a very unbalanced image as the foreground becomes much 'heavier' than the mid and background become smaller. This has effects on the viewpoint, although Robert Capa is very near the combat and shooting at eye level giving a POV perspective expressing a first person experience, he's been left on the craft, this express's a message of a detachment from the soldiers. This image has high key lighting as the subjects are evenly lit.

The Image is very clearly split horizontally into 3 sections these being the foreground where a large square object (part of the ship) dominates the frame due to it's size. The middle of the frame is also very noticeable as the water splits with the beach due to the contrast. Finally in the background a line of smoke runs across the beach separating it from the cliffs that loom over the US soldiers implying the soldiers are entering darkness. However this use of subject in each section of the image has a magnificent effect on the depth of the photo as each section has a defining feature e.g in the midground the soldiers heading up the long beach gives a feeling of how far the men have to travel.

Fitness for Purpose: This image is fit for purpose as it's reporting the true horrors of what the troops had to face on the beaches of Normandy, with regards to terrain and weather conditions, reflecting on how Capa was great at documenting war which was the whole purpose of him taking these images This image was featured in LIFE magazine on the 19th June, roughly a week after the landings. The image is suitable for it use-age in a magazine during WW2 as propaganda. This image would give hope to the public that the war would be coming to an end. 

Section D - Meaning

Denotation: An Image of US soldiers from the 16th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division moving up Omaha Beach during D-Day

Connotation:

Are

Zeitgeist: The War was turning in the Allies favour and this iconic image showed directly the bravery of the soldiers involved on the front lines.

Analysing Images in Class:

Lyndon Wade: Nike Portugal

Composition:

Rule of Thirds:
This image uses the rule of thirds to create a focus on the top half of the footballers, as all their heads are in the top section of the image which draw the most focus as opposed to their feet. It also creates a focus on the centre of the image where most of the players are standing,  most importantly Ronaldo.

Framing:
This photo has been framed to emphasise the large shadow in the bottom left corner which is cast over the feet of the players this is to show how the Portuguese team are ready to face up against Brazil in the world cup, Brazil then being considered a good team therefore portraying the players as 'heroic' to face up against Brazil in their own country.

Balance:
The image is balanced because although the players create a lot of weight around the centre of the image it's balanced by the fact that they are wearing red clothing so similar to the colour of the background of the photo blending them in. The shadow in the bottom left corner has been counteracted by the darkening of the top right creating a balance.

Symmetry:
Symmetry is also very prevalent in this image as the background is a colour gradient but the players also look very similar in that they're all wearing the same kit, one thing that breaks the symmetry is one player holding the yellow ball that contrasts from the background.

Depth:
Depth plays a key role in the composition of this image. Depth is created by having the footballers in rows giving us a focus on a fore, mid and background this is also reinforced by the shadows giving us an idea of perspective and light.

Lighting:
In this image high key lighting has been used as the subjects are evenly lit giving the scene a realistic look creating an upbeat and colourful mood encouraged by the painterly light and the soft quality of the light that diffuses with the background and subjects.

Fitness for Purpose:

The Wade Brothers shot a selection of famous Portugese footballers in Lisbon for Nike Portugal’s latest campaign – featuring William Carvalho, Raul Meireles, Miguel Veloso, Christiano Ronaldo and Pepe. This image is appropriate as it's advertising Nike football products, so it involves popular football role models wearing Nike kit encouraging consumers to buy Nike kit. To show it's all Nike kit the nike logo is on all items of clothing and even the football.