Definition

Dictionary Definition: Representation is the use of signs that stand for and take place of something else. Linking this idea to humans, representation can be limitless, having the signs arranged in some order to form semantic constructions and express relations.

Describing words (for both representation and human): normal, abnormal, ugly, beautiful, distorted, skinny, fat, social, being, individual, person, imitate, sign, perform, copy, body

Annotated Photos

Here is a photo that has used the human body in a natural state to portray the image of a skull. I like how this photo has really looked at the pose and angle of the body, and how the lighting has complimented this. The photo has been taken in black and white – I always think photos in black and white contain more emotion and this has been important here as there are multiple subjects in the shot but only one is making eye contact with the camera (helping to provide a focal point). I think the cropping of the photo is really nice, making the image central with a sterile background has allowed for the shape of the bodies to really stand out. The lighting has been used in such a way to compliment the angles and curves of the subjects; this makes it nicer to look at.

This second photo really caught my attention as it is something very different to any piece of photography I have seen before. The human body here has been used to represent a landscape of some sort. All different parts of the body have been used for this and then placed together in the final overall composition. I think it’s interesting how the photographer here saw the lines, curves and angles of the body in such a different way to its natural state. This photo is very visually interesting and makes me think about how I could possible take the human body and turn it in to something else entirely. I like how all the colours in the shot are similar and work harmoniously together, I think it makes the photo blend more evenly. There is a lot of subtle shadowing and highlighting throughout the photo that allows the viewer to see the bodies more clearly due to the lighting that has been used. I think the soft clouds in the background compliments the photo without it being over powering.

This next photo that I found put me in mind of a statue. I love the expression of the model and how calm and serene she looks. The blood like effect looks like cracks against her skin. This adds a nice contrast in colour and highlights the perfect skin/complexion against the blood/cracks that marks it. The pose has really accentuated the angles of her face and the lighting has helped to highlight the more delicate features such as the eyelashes. There is a sudden contrast in texture where the clothing is the photo, but all the colours used are white – this makes it more subtle. I like the idea of this piece as to me it does resemble a statue.

This final photo is really weird – the hand has come up across the face and gives the illusion that you can see the subject’s skull on their hand. I think this is a really contemporary and visually interesting photo to look at. I like the blur that has been used in the photo to make the hand stand out against the face. Typically when looking at a photo the eye is drawn to the eyes of the subject, but the blur used here has softened that slightly and brought the attention to the hand in the foreground of the image. I like the fine detailing that is visible, as well as the composition of the photo itself. You can see the eye through the fingers and the mouth is showing too, this way the photo doesn’t look too distorted or out of place. I also like how the subject is slightly of center (this is something I like to do with my own work).

Real Examples

Own Definition: ‘Representation of Human Figure’ – representation is something subjective that can be opinion based. Here is thing that is be represented in the form of another is the human body; in terms of photography, as long as it’s justified I think this can have a personal outlook and/or be open to interpretation.