1. Unit 57: Photography and
Photographic Practice
Research of other
photographers work

2. Charlie Waite
Charlie Waite is an English
landscape photographer
born in 1949. Charlie Waite
is particularly noted for his
painterly approach in
using and shade. Before
Charlie Waite was a
photographer he worked
in television and theatre
for 10 years.

3. Examples of photographs

4. About Waite’s Photographs
These images are both very typical of Charlie Waite because they both
have a point in the photograph that attracts the viewers attention. Most
of the time this being a path or highly contrasted part of the image.
Charlie Waite seems to use the brightness and contrast of the
photograph to determine the time of year in the image.
The image on the right is taken in France and is the Ardennes Canal.
The image on the left is taken in England and is Cranbourne House.

5. Composition
Charlie Waite photographed landscapes so
therefore he used a large variety of positions and
angles in his images to achieve different
perspectives. Waite used the colours in his
photographs to help the viewer understand his
thinking behind the image.
“Quote by Charlie Waite”
“I often think of that rare fulfilling joy when you are
in the presence of some wonderful alignment of
events. Where the light, the colour, the shapes, and
the balance all interlock so perfectly that I feel truly
overwhelmed by the wonder of it”

6. Techniques used
When Waite photographs a
landscape he was most likely to
use a very fast shutter speed to
ensure he didn’t have any blur in
the shot he was taking and also
to capture subjects such as birds
clearly in his images. Waite
positions his photographs so that
there is a main focal point for the The style of Charlie Waite is solely
landscape photographs, he is most
viewers attention to be caught
well known for his landscapes in
by. Many of Waite’s photographs England however he did take
are very complex and have a lot numerous photographs in France
happening in each of them, this is and Italy. Waite’s photographs seem
why I think he always seemed to to be very brightly coloured or very
make a point in the picture stand dark, some of his pictures such as the
one above on the left show both
out.
bright and darks colours and
contrasts.

7. Strengths & Weaknesses
I think Charlie Waite’s photographs are very
interesting. This is the type of photography that I
enjoy doing. The part of Charlie Waite’s
photographs I would be most likely to interpret in
to my own work is the way he uses focal points to
make his photographs unique and interesting. I
also like how he uses different brightness and
contrasts to again make one part of a
photograph more prominent than the other less
important parts of the image. I like Charlie Waite’s
type of photography and I would happily use any
of his techniques in my work. In my opinion I don’t
think Charlie Waite has any weaknesses.

8. Nick Brandt
Nick Brandt is a photographer that
exclusively photographs Africa, this
mainly being all different animals. His
goal is to create a last testament of
the animals he photographs before
they are destroyed by the hand of
man. Brandt directed music videos. He
first came to realization that he
wanted to photograph Africa and its
animals whilst directing ‘Earth Song’
sung by Michael Jackson. His
frustration that he couldn’t capture his
love for Africa and the animals within
on film lead to him trying to achieve
this through photography. Brandt’s
photographs are always black and
white with highly contrasted elements.

9. Examples of photographs

10. Lions Head to Head
This image as ‘Vicki Goldberg’
(an American photography
critic) said about all of his
pictures conveys a rare sense of
intimacy, as if the animals have
been invited to sit for his
camera. The fact that Brandt
never used telephoto lenses
and that he got up close and
personal with these animals
shows a lot of detail which you
otherwise wouldn’t see, this
adds to the emotion shown by
the male Lion in this image.
Quote – Nick Brandt
“You wouldn’t take a portrait of
a human being from 100 yards
away and expect to capture
their spirit; you’d move in close”

11. Composition
The composition that Brandt tends to use is similar to a studio
composition as if he has took the animals and put them in a
studio. Not only does he use studio composition he also uses
panoramas of animals with dramatic landscapes.
Studio
Panorama

12. Techniques used
The main technique that
Nick Brandt uses is that all of
his pictures are shot using
black and white film as
opposed to the colour
documentary-style wildlife
photography that is the
norm. He also doesn’t use
telephoto or zoom lenses
therefore he gets up close
to the animals allowing
every detail to be visible in
his photographs. Brandt
uses a Pentax 6711 with only
two fixed lenses.

13. Strengths & Weaknesses
In my opinion there is a distinct similarity between
Yousuf Karsh and Nick Brandt. This being that both
of their images are black and white and also use
that studio like composition where the subject fills
most of the screen. I think the fact that he doesn’t
use telephoto or zoom lenses has a massive
effect on his photographs as every detail is visible,
this helps to convey emotion and story telling in
his photos.

14. Yousuf Karsh
Yousuf Karsh born on 23rd
December 1908 was one of the
most famous and accomplished
photographers of all time.
Yousuf Khan died on the 13th
July 2002 at 93 years old. The
Canadian photographer was
best known for his unique
portrait photographs. Karsh was
well known for being a master of
lighting his subjects, being as
precise as lighting their hands
separately.

15. Examples of photographs

16. The Roaring Lion.
This images captures Churchill and
the Britain of the time perfectly,
defiant and unconquerable. Karsh
entitled this photograph the
roaring lion because Churchill said
to Karsh “you could even make a
roaring lion stand still and be
photographed”,
The photograph was taken in the
Canadian Parliament building
during the early years of World War
II. It shows Churchill looking at the
camera as he might look at a
German enemy. He has a deep
scowl, his head is thrust forward
belligerently and his hand is placed
on his hip in an attitude of anger.

17. Composition
The photographer decided to photograph Winston
Churchill. He lit what looks like a old style wooden
door in the background, this gives the viewer an
idea of the era this photo was taken. Karsh lit the
hands and face highly contrasted to the rest of the
image this resembles how Churchill was as a
person. Karsh positioned Churchill close to the
camera showing limited background. This gives
impact and expresses to the viewer the importance
of Winston Churchill.
“Quote by Yousuf Karsh”
“I try to photograph people’s spirits and thoughts.
As to the soul-taking by the photographer, I don’t
feel I take away, but rather that the sitter and I give
to each other. It becomes an act of mutual
participation.”

18. Techniques used
When Karsh photographs his
subjects he was most likely to use
a very fast shutter speed to
ensure he didn’t have any blur in
his shots. Karsh seems to position
his subjects so that they cover
most of the frame, this ensures
they are the pinnacle of the
picture. In some of Karsh’s
pictures he uses two or more The style of Yousuf Karsh is solely
subjects to create depth of field portrait photographs and very often
blurring the subjects furthest of famous people from his era.
away, this also added attraction Yousef Karsh stuck mainly to black
and white images although he did
to a specific part of the picture. produce the odd coloured
photograph. He was very much into
using artificial light and in fact he was
a master of lighting subjects.

19. Strengths & Weaknesses
Yousuf Karsh’s photographs are very one
dimensional and he only sticks to portraits.
Portraits are not the type of photography I favor.
However I would use the way Karsh takes so
much time and effort to light the shot in
interesting ways. I like this because the viewer
can tell a lot from a picture just from the lighting.
Another aspect of why I like Karsh’s way of
lighting is because it enables him to adjust the
contrast of his shots without having to edit. These
different contrasts tell a lot about a picture and
can be manipulated to tell different stories.