With in my Waste series, I want to make a portrait of a worker, someone who has a love for restoration of classic cars, iv'e been looking into inspiration on how to place the person who I will be photographing, forms of lighting, and positions, how to make them look like there comfortable within there work environment, Iv'e made a few photos already which I need to work
on in terms of lighting, Im losing the subject in a few area's, so i'm hoping to use what I learnt in the Metz flash workshop to improve my previous attempts if I get another chance to make a photograph. my subject as a Gentlemen called andy, he owns a classic & retro car garage called Ml motor sport, the garage makes for a very personal workspace with history of all his old cars on the walls, old carports & bonnets decorating the place including his very messy style of working ( which I try to keep tidy ) I work part time with andy when I can, but he is a very busy man & I don't like to get in the way of work, so Im really hoping I get another attempt at the portrait,
Iv'e been taking references from Irvin Penn, who made a beautiful series of workers, shot against a very interesting textured backdrop, and the subjects would portray there work through the objects they where holding, I find it interesting how he's taken from out of the workplace & environment they would usually be in & how the posture plays part in the job with proudness & some almost awkward. few examples
The image on the left, penn seems to of caught quiet a venerable facial expression plus a quiet slouched look, the fact he is positioned to one side casting a large dark shadow down his right side could portray another side, yet the man on the right seems to show proudness in his work within his posture, very straight & stiff.
I also like this image by Andre Kertesz : really caught in the moment of his work, looks as if he's been quickly asked to put down his knifes for 5 mins & to pose for a quick photograph, but its very strong & shows real workmen ship in those times.
so my plan is to make a colour portrait, including the surroundings of the subjects work to place them in there own habitat of which they have added too & collected along there lifes to make it personal.
Im hoping to carry on my portrait research with some of charles freger worker portraits which where showed in the metz workshop but unfortunately im having troubles tracing the work, hopefully im able to get the book out from the library.
