John Coplans

Photographer Analysis
Basic Information
John Coplans was a British photographer who worked on taking photos
of the body without any identity. He was born in 1920 and lived until
2003. Coplans was a soldier during the Second World War. The series I
am interested in is his work on interlocking fingers.
The image I am interested in is one of John Coplans photos on close up interlocking
fingers. The main focus of the image is the centre line as the grayscale has created a
ripple line going down the middle of the image which creates a form of symmetry in
the photo. I like the way his images are very close up to the subject which leaves no
other focus in the image. The lighting in the image looks like Coplans has used a
straight on studio light to the subject as there are no shadows. This is something I
would like to change when doing my own shoot as I like to add some slight shadows as
I feel it gives the image more contrast once grey-scaled. The tone in the image is very
bright for a grey-scaled image as there is very few patches of black but multiple areas
of light grey. I will relate to tis mage in my own work by using the same concept of
close up shots of interlocking fingers and then by using Photoshop, I will make the
image ‘Black and White’ by using the greyscale tool.