Behind the Mask

Annie Leibovitz, Demi Moore (1991)

Andy Gotts, Thandie Newton (2006) 

In a recent visit to London's Somerset House, I, as a photography student, was pleased to come across a portrait exhibition from photographer, Andy Gotts, within the sequence Behind the Mask. 

This exhibition contained black and white images of over one hundred actors and actresses of whom have been previously nominated or have won a BAFTA since 1954. It seems strange that out of so many black and white portraits, that not one of them was similar. Within each and every image, Gotts managed to capture the essence and personality of each individual, showing his commitment and consideration when shooting. This reminded me a lot of the work of Annie Leibovitz. During the early stages of her work for magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, time and consideration were vital factors to the success of her work. 

One of my favourite images of Gotts' was that of Thandie Newton. Soft lighting and light pink flowers were used within this image to portray an innocent, feminine feel, showing how small touches can make such a difference on an image and express a personality so vividly.

Andys Gotts' work was spread over six rooms throughout Somerset House and is highly recommendable to those interested in Photography or not. 

References

Annie Leibovitz, (1991), Demi Moore, Available at: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/09/annie-leibovitz-photography-exhibition-wexner_slideshow_item1_2 [Accessed 12 February 2014]

Andy Gotts, (2006), Thandie Newton, Available at: http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1358306/thandie-newton.jpg [Accessed 12 February 2014]