Leigh Wiener

"In many ways, innovation is a photographer's lifeblood. He has an idea and wants to obtain a certain look. Just because there is no ready-made equipment available doesn't mean you can't develop the idea. Make it yourself. Sometimes innovation doesn't require special hardware or equipment; it might just involve a different method of lighting or a new technique. Try it. The worst that can happen is that you fail. On the other hand, there can be the excitement of success. It is no accident that great photographers are also great innovators."

Leigh Wiener pioneered the use of "accidental lighting." He believed that anything could be used as lighting equipment. You just have to be clever enough to invent it. Wiener's brand of thinking reverberates through many of his famous studio portraits. One of his most famous portraits is of the young Johnny Cash.  Cash, the stark country singer of the south, is photographed from the chest up directly centered in the photograph. Behind him stands what seems to be modeling light set to Full. This light sends almost a halo of light cascading around Cash. Wiener also seems to be using another light, which may be a soft box. This light/soft box is casting a highlights onto Cash's forehead and shadows onto his left eye ridge. This lighting set up helps render the subject matter as being dark and mysterious. This is exactly what Johnny Cash was. 

Annie Lebovitz

                                                                 Annie Leibovitz

         Annie Leibovitz perfects the portrait shot with her photo of Heath Ledger and Christopher Nolan. Lebovitz is known for her extreme stark portraits.Everything about this photo screams with eerie undertones and an intriguing composition. To start with, Lebovitz chose great subject matter. Who cant say that Heath Ledger is captivating. Add in the fact that he is partnered with one of the most powerful Directors in the world and BAM! An amazing studio photograph is captured. 

      Setting up an extremely haunting photo is quite difficult. Annie nails it by using soft light and a dark gray seamless. She chooses to not take the typical straight on portrait by shooting more of Heath's body from the side, cutting off the photo by his knees. He is also half lit using what seems to be a soft box. Not only is he lit but Nolan who is standing a few feet behind and to the left of Ledger is also lit. 

    This photo is beautiful on so many levels. Firstly, I love the composition. The close up of Ledger and the Nolan in the background is very visually appealing. Secondly would be the complete mood of the photo. Ledger is sittings straight faced, coat buttoned up with arms crossed. He resembles a pouting child that just got yelled at by a parent. Nolan; on the other hand, is standing quite professional with his hands in his pocket. He breaks up the darkness of the photo by showing a bit of a smirk on his face. Both faces are dimly lit, just enough to make the details glow.

    Leibovitz does an amazing job when it comes to working in a lighting studio. My only question is why didn't she center them more on the seamless? Nolan is clearly off of it as if he is waiting in line to get his portrait taken. Other than that everything is lovely. Kudos to Annie for taken an amazing photo of this power partnership.