Photographer Research 5: Bagrad Badalian

About This Photographer: 

Bagrad is a conceptual and portraiture photographer from Brussels. There isn't a lot of other information about Bagrad to be found. He created a photography book titled, "Matter Beyond" where he showcases his stunning work and exploration of the human body with intense colours, bright lighting and intriguing textures. What is most important about his work is that he mostly uses black models, which creates for a stunning contrast when he applies the vivd body paint. I also really like his exploration of editing, experimenting with various movements and blurs.

Why Have I Picked This Photographer:

I also see a nice contrast in the ideas of surrealism and reality in his work which I would love to learnt to replicate in my own work. I have also picked this photographer because of the obscurity of his editing techniques and I have personally never seen anything like this before, ever. I love how he has picked up on the use of strong lighting which is a technique I have seen in many different photographers I have researched recently, and I think it beautifully enhances the quality of the picture, which again is something I would love to learn to use in my work. 


Evaluation:

This image is of a black model painted with vibrant paints across his face and chest. I don't know how the affect has been achieved, but it looks like some Photoshop work has been done to make it look like the paint has been illuminated. I think a blurring or repetition/overlay technique has also been used to repeat the same image on top of each other  to give off that blurry texture, which contrasts really nicely with the smoothness of the model's skin. Because of the illumination within the paint - no matter how the technique has been achieved - I really like how it contrasts with the dark shadows cast across the model's skin, which makes it appear that the model isn't even there, and that it's just the paint.

I think that this is a really effective technique and it is something I could definitely apply in my own work as I believe it has only been done with use of an overlay technique, and then some of the colour layer has been erased to give off the impression that it is slowly developing up the model's back. The extreme contrast between colour and black and white looks really effective and helps the image to stand out dramatically. I love the textures within this image, and how the minimal lighting has given an almost wet-look to the model's skin, creating another contrast between the natural texture of the model's black skin and the dryness of what appears to be powder paint.

I like the main contrast of light and dark in this image, and how it creates a moody and serious tone. The image itself is very haunting because of the pose of the model, and especially because of the dark shadow cast across one half of her face, illuminating just the one eye. Then, with the glittery overlay effect, it gives a more uplifting spirit to the image which creates a really interesting contrast, and comes across as quite creative. Although the image is particularly different in comparison to the photographer's other work because of the use of the brighter lighting, it stands out really effectively and the overall composition creates quite a haunting effect.

This image stood out the most for me from the photographer's website purely because of the strong use just the single bronze colour. Even though it is just the one bronze colour throughout the entire image, various different textured effects are created from the one single element which creates a really eye-catching contrast. Along the skin, a beautiful smooth texture is created which almost resembles chocolate, whilst the scattered material creates a rough, yet sparkly and entrancing technique. I don't know how the technique has been done, but it looks like the photographer has experimented with the liquify tool on Photoshop as it has given him freedom to create a variety of different shapes at his own will. I also like how the same technique has allowed him to create a 'frame' around the edges, giving the image more of a fine art look about it, which makes the image stand out all the more.






Influence:
I am yet to be strongly influenced by this photographer, but I definitely feel I could apply some of his techniques in my own work to focus on the topic of contrasts. I particularly like the second image as it shows me how I could turn simple contrasts between colour and black and white imagery into something really creative with the use of the overlay technique I have already learnt.

Summary:
I conclusion, I see Bagrad as a really interesting photographer to research as his style of working is something completely different to anything I have ever seen before. His strong use of paint and glitter has definitely inspired me to think of some new ideas for my own work, and I find it all particularly entrancing which is why I like it so much, and I want to be able to be able to create the same effect for audiences with my own work.