Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Who's Behind The Lens? Exploring Artistic Voice And Identity In Portrait Photography, Emily Menk

Summer Research

What methods do photographers use to insert their creative voice into photography, and how do these methods affect aesthetic qualities and viewer’s interpretation of the final product? This was a prominent question I sought to answer in hopes of utilizing the results within my own art. Intrigued by the cultural concept of photography’s ability to “capture a moment” versus the methodical, perhaps even mechanical nature of commercial photography, my research led me to explore how “captured moments” could be artificially manufactured, and in turn to explore how commercial photos can be captured from a serendipitous moment.

My focus on portraiture …