Jane Bown Pictures

On the day that I saw the Penn exhibition at the NPG I had a sandwich downstairs and came across a gallery display of fourteen photographs by Jane Bown. the display coincided with the release of her new book Exposures. Some were previously unpublished and shown alongside her well known classics such as the Samuel Beckett from 1976.

The striking portrait was taken in difficult circumstances with an unwilling subject and only natural light. She took 5 images with a range of exposures. The texture of his skin is particularly apparent as is the contrasting black background. The sheen and lines in his combed hair add directional contrast.

.........and talking about hair. This picture avoids the obvious shot of Sinead's eyes, but the composition and lighting combined with the cigarette make for a different shot, eyes on the lower third.

The shape of the outline below gives a goblet like profile