‘A Very Brief History of Photographic Portraiture.’
Click to access History-of-studio-photography.pdf
“From prehistoric times, humankind has used pictures to describe. communicate, remember and celebrate. The portrait was a natural extension of these uses. As society developed, important individuals soon became the subject of pictures.”
This is when portraits using the light coming from the window/a source became popular. Majority of portraits were the wealthy and important people with signs of their wealth surrounding them in forms of clothes and furniture.
Carlos Radia, oil on canvas by Joost Sustermans (1597-1681)
The artists used lights to create dimension, presenting an understanding of shadows and highlights. This later was adopted by photographers when cameras were introduced; observing the significance of lighting in portraiture paintings and adapting it to their image to create the same effects.
Rembrandt’s studio
The rows of windows of Rembrandt’s studio were on the north side of the room to provide consistent diffuse light. The use of a white cloth hanging above the easternmost window helped reflect light, creating soft overhead light.
These techniques are seen used in the photography studio today, the same concept and methods of those times prove useful in photography till this day.
f.gul ucbc photo 