This new focus on Classical themes involved artists creating works that featured historically accurate depictions of various scenes from history. It was quite common during this time for most aspiring artists from Europe to travel to Italy and Greece in their efforts to study some of the more prominent art movements from history that were founded there.Ī renewed interest in Classical art, history and lifestyle was sparked by the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the middle of the 18th century.Īrtists sought to once again explore the concepts that had been popular in the Classical time period. Turning your back to the camera is just one way to achieve this without looking too contrived, while also creating a natural looking break in a sea of selfies, where it’s not all about you (but it is really).The Neoclassical era began in the latter part of the 18th century after a focus on Greek and Roman Classical themes became popular with fledgling artists and students. Emotion is the route to engagement and the sheer volume of images that are required to maintain that engagement means mixing it up a little, both in terms of how the images look and the emotions they convey. Each image is designed to prime the viewer and stimulate feeling, even at a subconscious level, whether that’s intrigue, envy or empathy. However, despite being the great option for lazy days, you’ll notice that all these techniques have something else in common: emotion. If it’s all in the guesswork, then the photo is doing its job – intrigue can equal engagement.Ĭlearly, these kinds of ‘back to camera’ shots can hide a multitude of sins and are an easy way to create a post without needing to look or even feel your best. Perhaps it’s filter-free for some warts and all honesty. A colder, greyer filter might suggest some unhappiness, a warm orange glow for nostalgia. Happy? Sad? Indifferent? With no way of seeing the photographer’s face, the viewer has to take their cues from clues, or the post written below. Take a look and see if you recognise these three popular ‘faceless selfies’ from your feed. At the same time, they encourage us to think a little, dwell and maybe drop a comment – it all adds up to engagement. It’s part of the process, designed often to show aspects of their world and present their person in the most enviable light. For let us not be naïve, that is precisely why these images exist. Indeed, the stats are clear that when creating a connection, faces matter.īut consider for a moment what a self-captured image from ‘the wrong side’ tells us about the moment, the photographer and their personal brand. It’s still a selfie, but one with a new logic that flies in the face (if you’ll excuse the pun) of the acknowledged psychological link between faces and the ability to interpret non-verbal cues. It changes the perspective from what an artist wants you to see, to what the subject wants to present. Photographers and visual artists have used this technique for hundreds of years – from Michelangelo to Man Ray – but the ability to create your own image with just a tripod and a remote shutter app gives the concept a whole new complexion. It’s not a new composition by any stretch of the imagination. The Instagram fans among you will be all too familiar with the trend for photos where the subject turns their back to the camera – it’s the new ‘I just woke up like this’, and there’s barely a beach on the planet that hasn’t been immortalised to include a blogger or influencer facing its horizon.
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