RnD photography GmbH

20/07/2021

19/03/2021

Friendly Friday tip: Black and white photography - contrast

Since black and white photography is all about playing with only black, white, and shades in-between, always emphasize the contrast in the photos you take.

When taking a photo, think about how it will look like in black and white. A bright sky will look interesting when contrasted with a dark object.

Having a silhouette of a person or object in front of a light background will create some stunning contrast.

Contrasts are also used in black and white fashion photography; the options for creative experimentation are limitless. Take a few photos and look for the contrasting elements. This can help you figure out how you can take the perfect shot.

17/03/2021

Artist backtrack: P.H. Polk (1898 - 1984)

P. H. Polk was born in Bessemer, Alabama, on November 25, 1898. As a young man of eighteen, Mr. Polk enrolled at Tuskegee Institute with the intention of becoming a painter "like Van Gogh or Rembrandt." This influence remains clear throughout his career as seen by his use of shadows in portraits.

Polk developed a style in which sharp details and strong lighting showcased his subjects' individuality. His approach is evident in a comment he made about a 1932 photograph from the "Old Characters" series entitled The Boss:

"Portrayed in her own matter-of-factness: confident, hard working, adventuresome, assertive and stern. The pose, at an angle, and her expression, authoritative and firm, are not the result of my usual tactics to encourage a response. She wears her own clothes. She is not cloaked in victimization. She is not pitiful; therefore, she is not portrayed in pitiful surroundings. She is not helpless, and she is not cute."

12/03/2021

Making the most of your portrait session:

1. KNOW YOUR BRAND
2. KNOW YOUR CHARACTER
3. TELL YOUR STORY

We find that one of the best ways to prepare for a portrait session is to have a good understanding of what you want the photo to say. Knowing your personal brand and the story you want to tell gives you clear direction and the confidence that can make a portrait stand out.

QUICK TIP: Take some time to figure out what your brand is about and write down 3 values that define your brand. Next, identify a fictional character that embodies those values. Last, write down the type of story you want to tell.

For example, the RnD brand:
1. Values - Excellence, awareness, connection
2. Fictional character - Gandalf/Dumbledore
3. Story type - We help heroes on their journey

01/03/2021

Artist backtrack: Abdourahmane Sakaly (1926 - 1988)

Sakaly was Senegalese (of Moroccan heritage) and came to Bamako in 1946. Among the second generation of professionals, he began practicing photography in 1955 and opened Studio Sakaly the following year. T

hroughout the 1960s and '70s, his studio experienced great success. In addition to portraiture, Sakaly documented social events and private functions for military and police officers and other elites in the city, and created class pictures for school children, advertisement prints, and images that documented accidents for the police. According to many Bamakois today, Sakaly was the most famous photographer in the city during this period.

26/02/2021

Friday friendly photo tips: Focus on the eyes

We are always drawn towards the eyes in a photograph, since eyes are a natural focal point that we connect with.

When taking portrait photographs at any aperture, make sure you nail the focus on the eyes.

As long as the eyes are in focus, both you and your subject are more likely to consider the picture to be properly shot.

24/02/2021

Artist backtrack: Seydou Keita (1921 - 2001)

Seydou Keita was a Malian photographer known for his portraits of people and families he took in the 1950s. His photographs are widely acknowledged as an artistic record of Malian society.

Keita describes his process and says that he showed his clients examples of previous portraits he had done, allowed them to pick a pose that they would like, and then he says “I suggested a position that was better suited for them, and in effect, I determined the good position. I was never wrong”.

Another aspect of Keïta’s style that led to his popularity as a portrait photographer was the “innovative use of props and backdrops” in all his photos.

Keïta was highly sought after by his clients not only for his signature style, but the culture and elegance that a photo of themselves stamped with the words “SEYDOU KEÏTA” represented.

22/02/2021

A refreshing change and shameless plug!

Rebekka Wood our head photographer is a very talented and passionate artist working with Families and Kids via her personal brand REBEKKA WOOD.

We wanted to share a bit about her and that she is growing this brand in our community. Time goes by so fast and quality family and kids portraits are timeless. As Covid has forced many business to close and people to go inside we believe she can give some positive energy back to the community with a very spacious and accessible home studio.

Visit here site and see for yourself.

https://www.rebekkawood.com/

19/02/2021

Friday friendly tip: The importance of framing.

Framing refers to using elements of a scene to create a frame within your frame. Aside from directing attention, the use of framing gives a photo context.

To frame your photos, look for angles that give you a “window” to shoot through. For example:

- Natural frames, like foliage, are easy to find.
- Contrasting colors between the frame and subject are also helpful in attracting a viewer’s attention.
- Doorways are one of the simplest ways to incorporate a frame into your photo.
- Background elements, like a white door, can put a frame around your subject while also making use of drawing the eye to the brightest part of the photo.

17/02/2021

Artist backtrack: Richard Avedon (1923 - 2004)

Richard Avedon was an influential American fashion and fine art photographer. Perhaps his biggest stylistic impact was his decision to have his subjects emote. Working during a time when the trend had been to present portraits that were still and subdued, Avedon's photographs stood out with their intimate viewpoint.

Avedon also introduced movement to some of the most formal clothes in the world and to give them a spirit that made them exciting for young women — a first in formal couture.

He helped set the standard for sleek, urbane elegance in mid-twentieth century fashion photography, and his gift for highlighting the allure and drama of his subjects has made him one of the most iconic photographers of the late twentieth century.

“My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph,” he once observed.

03/02/2021

Artist backtrack: Helmut Newton (1920 - 2004)

Known for the dramatic lighting and the unconventional poses of his models in his photographs, Newton’s work has been characterized as obsessive and subversive.

Controversial scenarios, bold lighting, striking compositions and female empowerment came to form his signature look. Anna Wintour points out that strong women were the driving force in Newton's photography.

In fact, he is noted as saying: "My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain."

01/02/2021

Why do we love facial silhouettes?

When artists create portraits, they rarely depict a full frontal view of the face of the subject. Instead, they tend to portray people in some degree of profile, emphasizing one cheek and dimensionality of a face.

For portraits, profiles have advantage over full frontal face images, because profile depends strongly on the proportions and relationship of the bony structures of the face making the image is clear and simple.

Research indicates that humans are able to extract accurate information about gender and age from profile portrait or silhouette alone.

So, we like silhouettes because we are able to make pretty accurate assumptions about the subject without much information. Further, we are drawn to the aesthetically appealing sharp lines and simplicity.