Mario Testino

Why I chose Mario:
Mario Testino is one of Britain's most elaborate photographers who has taken many photographs in a range of different styles. Unlike other photographers, Testino's work touches on many different formal elements and his work is fun and contemporary. However, one of the things that strikes Testino for me is how his work also grasps a formal aspect. He has taken work for the Royal Family which show class while also magazine shoots that are different and the different compositions are outstanding. His style of work is portraits of some of the worlds most famous faces. I also chose Mario as one of my main photographers as he highlights beauty and other topics for his shoots. They all express meaning and context. Below are 4 photographs that display the work of Testino. 

Bio:

Nationality: Peru
One of fashion's most sought-after snappers, Mario Testino was born in 1954 in Lima, Peru. He came to London in 1976, took a flat in an abandoned hospital near Trafalgar Square, and began selling portfolios (for £25, including hair and make-up) to wannabe models. Today he is best known for his highly polished, exotically bright ad campaigns and his exquisitely styled photographs of the couture scene all of which carry a deceptive air of nonchalance. Now at the top of his profession, Testino has shot Madonna for Versace as well as photographing the late Diana, Princess of Wales for her famous Vanity Fair cover in 1997. His popularity with designers and fashion editors stems as much from his professionalism and good nature as his unerring ability to take beautiful pictures which sell clothes. 

In this photograph, Testino highlights the formal elements of pattern via the use of the feathers covering the female models face. The pattern comes from the same feather repeated several times. The use of form is shown through the shadow from the different facial features. This shows Testino' portrait work although they do not have a direct relation with the audience, beauty is enhanced through the model and the contrast from the background. 

Colour is the main formal element shown in this photograph as the model uses very bright colours to enhance the beauty. They are all very bright tones where the only dark is present in the background. Form is another element shown where the different facial features are exaggerated to bring the viewers eyes to them. I like how bold and powerful this image is and the positioning of the deep orange to the right of the shot takes any wasted space that could've been previously present.  

The next photograph is a different style of work by Testino as it is a direct portrait shown in black and white. The use of form is shown through the different shadows in the face and on other parts of the body. I love the shadows and how where the shadow is coming from is shown in the image. The use of lines is also a main formal element in the shoot as there are lines all over. From the lines on the brick wall behind the model, the lines from the mesh and also the lines from the tie. I love the style of work Testino focused on in this shoot and how he enhanced his image through black and white. 

The use of the portrait shot in this photograph is shown great in this final example of his stunning work. Similarly to the famous Princess Diana shoot, the contemporary style is shown in the nature of this image. The use of form is one of Testino's strongest work and in this final image, it is excelled. With half of the face being emphasised with light and the other with shadows and highlights. The photo is clear and sharp and the use of tone contrasts the light skin tone to the dark shadowed hair. 

Influence and Summaries

Mario Testino is known for taking some of the most iconic portrait photographs around. One thing that differs him from other photographers is how he can differ the style of photography to the environment and create context in a stunning way. He was once described as being "the world's most prolific magazine and fashion trade photographer", which for me highlights his style of photography in a great way. I would also focus on Mario should I go back and take more portraiture shots especially in the studio and would look at him for inspiration.

The style of photography that Mario Testino takes is extremely influential to me through his approach to taking different types of portrait images. His work creates context in an intriguing way through close up shots to show emotion and all he focuses on is the subject of the image. He also uses a range of different formal elements in his images through portraits. While he takes simple black and white images to show emotion and his use of tones in the image highlight personal points in the image. He also contrasts his work by taking colour images where they burst and illuminate the screen. He has influenced me when I was taking work in the portraiture section, through his use of different compositions and the angle in which he positions his models. In the image above, I edited this image of form to the style of Testino after I saw his work. He inspired me to highlight the smoothness of skin, while also using shadows to an advantage. 

Overall, Mario Testino's work is still one of my favourites from the research log. As I have looked into them into them, the more I see of his work, aspires me to use the portraiture topic and adapt it to include a range of different formal elements. Like colour, form and tone which he did in the images above. Although all of his images are portraits, they are all different and interest me in different ways.