http://www.michelcomte.org/
Michel Comte was born in Zurich in 1954.
In 1978 he received his 1st international photographic assignments, working for Ungaro and Chloe in Paris, before moving there in 1979.
In 1981working for American Vogue lead him to move there, and within years he became one of the most sought after Magazine/Advertising Photographers.
More work follows for Vogue and Vanity Fair, where he gets to photograph some of the most famous Celebs, from Jeremy Irons to Demi Moore and even Mike Tyson, I have chosen some of these images to look at.
So the 1st image I have chosen is a simple model (Actress/singer Amanda Seyfried) against a white background. After a bit of searching on the net, I found out this was a shoot for the cover of in style hair magazine.
Due to the nature of what the image was for dictates who the image looks and was shot, so it's a simple composition of model and background, maybe later on a few bits of hair decoration/hairbands may have been used.
The model is obviously the Focal point with there being nothing else in the image. Cropped close to make the models hair fill the frame.
A bright well lit image, with the background being lit as well to keep it pure white. A good contrast with the only shadow being under her chin and inside her hair line.
So this image is one of Demi Moore, and although it is a portrait shot, it has been shot or cropped in Landscape orientation.
It's a lot darker than the previous image, this might have something to do with what the message is trying to say, which to me looks like she has been crying, so a feeling of sadness comes from this image, with sadness is normally a dark place.
The depth of field is shallow, so that the small strip of background on the left hand side is blurred out, this helping to keep the viewers attention on the subject.
The contrast between her light face/hand and the darkness of her hair/the background have been controlled work well.
The tonal range in the image is fairly limited, the grey/green colour of the background and her pink/reddish lips being the only real colour. Her face is almost white, whilst her hair, although brown, appears close to black with the darkness of the image.
In this image we have Cindy Crawford, Cropped further out than the previous 2 images, this allows the viewer to see the details of the bra/top that she is wearing. This top not only adds colour to the image, but also shapes/patterns and another dimension to to composition. Had it been cropped tighter just on the face it would have been very similar to the 1st image.
So the shapes in the bra/top is circles, not only do the out line to top of the cups, they also hang from the bottom of the bra/top, each of the hanging circles is also capped with a half circle detail on the top.
I think the Cindy's face is the Focal point of the image, with her striking black eyebrows and red lips standing out, the viewer then notice the above mentioned top.
I think there is a Connotation/Denotation of "Glamour" and "Sexiness" to the image.
Another image of Cindy Crawford, this time in Black and White, she is wearing more casual clothes, her hair has been left messy and a bit wild, yet she still looks attractive.
Although the pose has changed from side on to straight on, the crop is about the same, tight round the shoulders, cut off just below the bust and with a bit of room just above the head.
Obviously with it being a studio shot Cindy is the focal point of the image, with the background possibly a bit out of focus.
The contrast has been set fairly dark, with the background coming out grey, (I suspect would of been white) to the deepness of her black top and again eyebrows.
This image features Eva Herzigova, it's potentially for an advert/advertising campaign, due to the matching jewellery that's on show. The reason I think this, is it's been tightly cropped around the model, it's very well lit and the model isn't looking directly at the camera.
The composition of the image is made up of a few different colours and textures, from the gold metal of the jewellery, to the black, purple and blue in the detailed top, also the skin and hair colours and different textures.
The model is stood tight against the background, so any depth of field has naturally been kept deep, causing the background to be kept in focus.
Overall the image has a light feel to it, with strong lighting the skin is almost white in places, this also causing deep shadows behind the model.
Another image featuring Eva Herzigova, this time the orientation is more Landscape than Portrait and has been achieved with the crop using the rule of two thirds.
It's slightly darker than the previous image, this is a combination of the softer light (which is probably further back) and the deep red and size of the chair back.
The little bit of background, that can be seen to the top left of the image, appears to be out of focus which would of been achieved by playing with aperture, this affecting the Depth of field.
I think this would of been shot for advertising, I think the Tattoo on her shoulder represents and holds the brands name, with her looking straight at the camera catches the viewers attention, which then allows you to see the tattoo. With that in mind, plus the fact she appears to be undressing, I would say the connotation/Denotation of the image is definitely of "Sex Sells"
This is the last image I have chosen to look at which features Eva Herzigova, it's very similar to the 1st one featuring her, the pose is almost the same, with the exception of the hand positions being swapped and her head pointing in the opposite direction.
It's light, with a lot of white and very little variants of colour to the image, the only bits of colour being her skin tone, the gold and pearls in the necklace and her blonde ish hair. The lighting is again bright, close and direct to the model, making sure it's a bright image, it's also causing deep shadows beneath her chin and under her left hand.
The crop is similar to others from Michel and tight to sides, a bit of room above the head and cut off under the bust. This I think is again to help keep the focus on the model and the Necklace, which could be being advertised.
With the image looking like she is in bed, wearing nothing but the necklace, I would say again the Connotation/Denotation of it is "sex sells"
This image is similar to the one I looked at featuring Demi Moore.
The overall feel and maybe even a Connotation/Denotation of the image is that of dark and sadness again, depicted in the fake tears on the models face.
The lighting is less harsh, with a deep dark red background, a black top and black patterned frame to the right of the model (as you look at the image).
The composition is a lot more complicated than the Demi Moore image, components making up the image are, the pattern of the wall paper in the background, the pattern on the frame, the leaf details in the headband, the fake tears and then the combination of colours, skin tone, black and gold frame, red not only in the background, but also a hint of it on the models cheeks, a hint of blue under the eyes, silver in the headband and lastly the blond hair of the model.
The background is further away this time, allowing the depth of field to be used, but not overly, this keeping the pattern in the background to still be made out.
The crop this time is slightly wider, allowing the viewer to see more of the background.
The main focal point is the models face, this has been achived buy using bright colours on the face, and with a use of curves to frame the face.
The colours are a nice bright blue round the eyes, bright red on the lips and the blonde hair, which all stand out well against the models pale skin and the grey background.
The use of curves appears all over the image, there isd the big long curve of the dress at the bottom of the image, the long almost stright curves of hair around the face, the tighter curves of the outside of the hair, the pose of the mouth is almost round in shape, then lastly the eye makeup accentuates the rugby ball shape of the eyes.
The model is away from the baclground, so the depth of field has been kept shallow and the background has been blurred out.
I think a possible Connotation/Denotation for the image would be something like "dare to be different and stand out form the crowd"
This is the final image of Michel's that i've chosen to look at, it features actor Jeremey Irons.
It's a darkly contrasted Black and White, with the only white in the image coming from thr cigerette in his mouth and the reflection of light on his Monocle. The rest of the image is either light Black (his top) or grey.
Like the previous image it's a head and shoulder shot, which also cuts off across the chest at the bottom and some of the models hair at the top of the image.
A simple composition, being the model, the Monocle, the cigerette and the background, the only thingthe protudes from the model is string attached to the Monocle.
I think there is a possible Connotation/Denotation of class and sophistication in this image, due to the simple nature of the image and the props used, which would of been related to people of class and sophistication in older times.
The lighting is close and fairly bright/harsh, this causing shadows under the cigerette and to the left side of Jeremy's face/shoulder. Also I think the background may of been a white back ground when shot, then when converted to balck and white has come out grey.
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