For my assignment, I chose a portrait photograph by Suzanne Stein. Suzanne Stein is a social documentary/street photographer currently in New York City. Through her photography, Suzanne captures the intensity and emotions of those living and suffering with addiction on the streets. The portrait I was drawn to the most was from her âKensingtonâ project, where Suzanne captured the raw life of Philadelphiaâs drug ridden side of the city. The portrait instantly reminded me of a time I lived near the same area of Philadelphia and how I would avoid the âzombie-landâ. The photograph I chose, by Suzanne, was one of a subjectâs portrait, where I believe their intention is to show a side of beauty even through disasterous circumstances.
Suzanne encapsulates the subjectâs beauty with a close-up portrait, in the highlight of a sunny day in Kensington, Philadelphia. This method of portraying the subject creates a tremendous contrast between the subject and their environment. What is key in this photograph is the ability to see these contrasts and understand the difference between a subjective- and objective-view. My biased opinion is that the subject is attractive, whereas some others would see the subject and look at them in distaste for being from the drug infested environment, or even in pity for partaking in such drastic activities.
The photograph depicts a young brunette with European facial features and freckles over the ridge of their nose. The subject holds a sultry gaze over you, with parts of their hair billowing over their face. The photographer chose this subject as part of their âKensingtonâ photo project, so I am to assume the subject is also one of the unfortunate citizens of the âzombie-landâ. In the portrait, the photograph uses a few compositional aspects as once, such as âCenter the Dominant Eyeââcentering the subjectâs eye along an intersectionââFill the Frameâ, where the subject is taking up the entire portrait, and âFigure to Groundââusing the darkness of the subjectâs hair to contrast with their skin tone and face.
Linked below is the photograph, by Suzanne Stein, and their project on âKensingtonâ.
Well stated. Stein does bring out the subject’s beauty as well as her basic humanity. Stein wants us to acknowledge this woman as a person like ourselves instead of as you say rushing by the individuals suffering with addiction or in “zombieland.”
And yes Stein centers the dominant eye and fills the frame. She also and I would say this is characteristic of her work has the subject emerge from the dark.