When this blog first started it was supposed to augment the website http://www.reviewplays.com/, adding little asides about the reviews that for whatever reason did not fit well in the review. It didn't work. As time passed, (you can read for yourself) it became more of a complain and gripe column, and being that nobody cares anyway, it will probably continue griping about things. This time it's head shots.
I hate today's headshots. For the record, I ran a photo studio for years, photographed hundreds of persons and umpteen actors for their headshots. But that was another time. Having attended photography school here in Los Angeles and in Santa Barbara California, when we shot pictures for assignments the only way to get a passing grade was to make sure the photo was focused, framed and finished. Especially faces.
I know a thing or two about photographing faces, and at the risk of sounding self-serving (what the heck - I'll do it anyway) I have won a few ribbons and gold medals with my portraits from the competitive days when I submitted work to the LA County Fair and other exhibits.
In those days, lighting and expression were two important factors in portraits. We had our heroes that we emulated; Josuf Karsh - Richard Avedon - Bernard of Hollywood - Bunny Yeager. Those were photographers! Today's so called photographers are not even good enough to walk 20 steps behind them, let alone in their shadows.
When I get headshots from actors to put on the website, I see pictures where the top of the head is cut off - or the face is way to the left or to the right, and the expressions are expressionless. The lighting is flat - obviously no shadows or dimensionality and no attempt at creativity. I recently saw a proof set from one photographer that had about 15o shots. Except for the different color shirts and sweaters, the faces were identical on all. It was as if they took one photo and copied it 150 times coloring only the clothing. And for this they get a lot of money!
The bad thing is that the agents have bought into this style of blandness, and unless an actor has pictures that fit this mold, they will reject them. What passes for good headshots today would have lined the trash barrels at Brooks Institute where I went to school.
So what should good face pictures look like? Well - here's one link to get you started: http://www.fingerlakesphoto.com/bw1.htm
From there check out this one: http://www.popphoto.com/americanphotofeatures/5132/immortal-images-a-tribute-to-photography-and-the-movies-glamours-golden-age-page2.html
When you have finished seeing the way the actors were photographed in the previous link look at your most recent head shot and compare the difference.
Sure, it was another time and another mind set - but you don't hear anyone refererring to the present as the "Golden Age", do you? Ever wonder why?
Till next time . . .
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