Of course, a modern person, even very superficially familiar with photo art, cannot be surprised with a classic “photo portrait in the interior.” But, as you know, any classic was once a modern, like the genre of “environmental portraiture”, which originated in the name of Arnold Newman.
In the middle of the twentieth century, during the period when A. Newman lived and worked, this genre was an innovation. A photographic portrait of the twentieth century is a rather faceless set of standard poses and angles that depict people regardless of their lifestyle and personal qualities.
The artistic vision of A. Newman caught this flaw by suggesting ways to solve the problem, which later formed the basis of his work. The photographer decided to shoot in a different way, to make portraits so that the image becomes a mini-biography, psychological portrait, describing both personal qualities and the atmosphere of a person’s life. This idea was introduced by a photographer from a painting, where the technique has been used for a long time. Continue reading →