Ghost

Shutter: 20

Aperture: f/10.3

Exposure: Shutter priority

My Brother Philip and My Father

My Brother Philip and My Father, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1988. Annie Leibovitz.

Photographer's intentions

The photographer aimed to show her family in an unconventional way. They are in a common setting, outside in front of a bush, but her brother and father are topless, which is unusual. I believe the image was taken for the other members of the family.

Analysing the image

This is a family portrait. It includes Annie Leibovitz's brother and father in front of a bush with their tops off. It shows that you can take traditional photos with a modern twist. The image has been staged, the two men are posing with their arms crossed and are smiling. The image has been taken in black and white.

Personal response

I like this photo because it is more fun and less formal than a normal family portrait, and it shows part of the men's personalities.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg, 1984. Annie Leibowitz.

Photographer's intentions

The photographers aims were to stress the importance of photographs as documents of popular culture. She used her imagination and was creative when posing her subject, she got her subject to use her entire body when she posed. Because it focuses on a Whoopi Goldberg, I assume it is aimed for her fans and for commercial uses. It was inspired by one of Goldberg's stage routines, in which she plays a little black girl who uses Clorox to wash her skin in an attempt to be white. The image captures the subject's playful personality with the pose and expression within the composition.

Analysing the image

This photo is a portrait. It shows Whoopi Goldberg emerging from a bathtub of milk.

Personal response

It makes me feel happy because it's a positive, fun photo.

Alphabet

3 Key Tips

1. Do close-ups, fill the frame.
2. Find natural frames.
3. Use 'the rule of thirds'.

Portraits

Marina in a dress by Tina Miyake - Jean Pascal Zahn

Depth of field

Glass in focus, bush out of focus:

Bush in focus, glass out of focus:

Tree in focus, background out of focus: