Artist research 2

Irving Penn

Penn is a photographer known mostly for his fashion photography and iconic portraits. Some of these  portraits are ones of himself, like the ones below. 

Irving Penn: In A Cracked Mirror (Self-Portrait) (A), New York

This photo intrigued me because of how distorted it was. Penn seems to take a bit of a different approach to self-portraiture than traditional styles. This image was either taken through a cracked mirror, or with a technique to create that effect. This makes the photograph much more visually interesting and different from many self-portraits which often end up feeling very static. 

IP, Photograph of Self (A), New York

This self-portrait also has a feeling of being distorted. This is due to experimentation with light, which moves during a long exposure time. The light on his face also adds a sense of depth, and movement. This self-portrait is casual yet still serious, which I think is the expression Penn wants to capture in these self-portraits.