Connecting Essay

The is a photograph I found of a soldier taken by Marco Grob. The subject is placed in the centre of the composition whilst looking to the left. There seems to be a light source directly in front of the model as well as a black background being used which allows the model to stand out. The model's facial expression looks rather scared and fearful which is further enhanced through the use of the black and white effect. This exaggerates the tone, form and emotion,  perhaps to show the influence of war and how they effect soldiers mentally. There is a camouflage pattern on the outfit of the subject which is stereotypically associated with war and the badge at the bottom right hand corner provides a sense of identity. The brightness of the face is much higher which allows it stand out more and therefore make the facial expression more visible and prominent. 

In this portrait photograph I used low key lighting in order to create harsh shadows towards the left side of the subject's face which contribute to the mood greatly. The light source is coming from the right side of the composition which causes shadows, which are very effective in showing the form of the face and neck. I like how the lighting has caused a reflection in the subjects eyes, allowing them to stand out. Here I also applied makeup to the subject's which in attempt to make him look gritty and dirty and seem as if he has been in action, providing stereotypes associated with soldiers and the army. In photoshop I used the burn tool in order to contribute to the dirtiness of the neck and some areas on the face. I also sharpened some areas more than others in order to imply a sense of texture. I ensured that the colours of the photograph remained very dark with shadows and browns which contribute to the overall earthy mood. Also the black background furthers the darkness in the image which works well with the dark tones and shadows. The fact that the figure is looking away from the camera and is deep in thought provides the sense that he reflecting on his time in the war.

Several comparisons can be made between these two image. For example, the composition of these photographs are very similar. They both are close up head shots with the subject looking away from the camera. The identity of the subjects are also the same through the use of costume to be identified as soldiers. Also there are a lot of darkness and shadows in both outcomes which create very emotional pieces and relate very effectively to war. However, the way in which they relate to war is slightly different. The found image shows the effects of war has on the mental and psychological state of a soldier which is enhanced through the blakc and white effect. This opposes my image being in colour and showing a slight sense of strength as it seems that he has lasted through war, which is recognisable through the makeup applied. He now seems to be in a reflective state on his time in war. The colours in this piece are very earthy and warm which contrast with the black and white scheme in the first image.