Thomas Ruff
So, studio photography. I think this photographer is brilliant to first research because of his very simplistic style, in terms of simple poses and expressions by the people in the images and very simple studio lighting, with a simple white backdrop. Thomas Ruff is a German photographer, who hasn't always just worked around portraiture photography, however it was this series of photographs which really made his name.
The aim behind these were to capture unglamorous portraits of people, avoiding any expression. As the website for the Tate modern museum says "The Portraits suggest that it is impossible to photographically represent a subject's inner life, positing instead a more democratic, socially based mode of representation." Which is something i completely agree with. This concept is something I find really interesting and something I would love to try in my own work. Its so interesting to look at a number of the portraits together and be able to admire how unique peoples looks really are, each present the same emotionless expression yet all look so different.
Just from the hair, makeup and clothes any of these people are wearing/have leads the viewer to straight away start assuming things about the person, despite not necessarily meaning to.
What adds to the interest of this series of images is the vast amount of detail you can see on the peoples faces. It almost feels like you're face to face with the person in the image. The immense detail captured in these portraits actually remind me slightly of the work of Photorealism artists just as Chuck Close.
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