Self image: basic materials and techniques (4)

... previous	see also: Transitions / Connections
Photographic self-portraits	life through a lens
Since photography became available to artists in the mid 19th century it has played a large part underpinning the development of work created in other media as well as establishing itself as an art form in its own right. Painters and sculptors can work from photographs instead of from life. Photographs can be copied, projected or traced. The invention of the photographic portrait meant that a painted or sculpted portrait no longer needed to confirm a definitive likeness and as a result artists were more able to use these media to explore other ways of making portraits.	Madame Yevonde by Madame Yevonde 1967 NPG x17998
Self-portraits can be made with a camera using a shutter release on a cable, allowing the artist to set up the camera, pose and take the photograph from some distance away. Some artists like to disguise the shutter release button by concealing it behind folded arms or behind their back to confuse the viewer into wondering how they managed to take the photograph. Others have it blatantly in full view leaving no doubt that they are the creator of the work.	Madame Yevonde by Madame Yevonde 1967 NPG x17998
Cameras often have a timer switch setting, allowing the artist to set it, move into position and pose before it clicks. This method can sometimes be difficult to control and the element of spontaneity can add something unexpected.	Lewis Morley by Lewis Morley 1954 NPG x38902
It is also possible to photograph yourself by holding the camera at arms length. By relying on guesswork there is uncertainty about what is in focus and the type of composition that will result.	These artists are holding negatives:
Yousuf Karsh by Yousuf Karsh 1970s? NPG P247	Madame Yevonde by Madame Yevonde 1940 NPG P620
Some artists ask someone else to take the photograph to their instructions and still consider this to be a self-portrait. This borders on a more 'conceptual' approach to what a self-portrait actually is and follows the theory that even though the artist may not have created the work with their own hand this is not as important as the ideas contained within the work.
David Octavius Hill by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson circa 1843 NPG P6(1)	Robert Adamson by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson 1843-1848 NPG P6(181)
Early nineteenth century photography embraced many new forms of printing in sepia tone, black and white and colour.
Olive Edis by (Mary) Olive Edis (Mrs Galsworthy), or Katharine Legat (née Edis) 1900s NPG x45535	Lewis Carroll by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) circa 1857 NPG P7(26)
David Wilkie Wynfield by David Wilkie Wynfield 1860s NPG P87	Oliver François Xavier Sarony by Oliver François Xavier Sarony late 1850s NPG P613
In 1960, the Whitechapel Art Gallery was the first major art gallery in London to host a photographic exhibition. This solo show was by Ida Kar.
Ida Kar by Ida Kar early 1950s NPG x88604	Ida Kar by Ida Kar 1955 NPG x88605
Ida Kar by Brian Robins 1955 NPG x88606	Ida Kar by Brian Robins 1955 NPG x88607
Self-portraits by Bob Collins, show us his camera, a Rolleiflex. Interestingly we can also view the whole of the contact sheet and study which view that he has taken of himself that we consider tells us most about him. If you look closely, you'll see him smile, indoors, with and without props.
Bob Collins by Bob Collins 1963 NPG x126183	Bob Collins by Bob Collins 1963 NPG x126181
Bob Collins by Bob Collins 1963 NPG x126182
Other artists had fun manipulating the printing of their photographs in the darkroom
Cecil Beaton by Cecil Beaton 1927 NPG P219	Chris Garnham by Chris Garnham 1983 NPG x38123

Self image: basic materials and techniques (4)

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