MARTIN SCHOELLER: NEW YORK CLOSE UP
New York-based Portrait photographer Martin Schoeller’s iconic Close Up series, on which he has worked ceaselessly for over twenty years, features well-known politicians, actors, musicians and sports personalities.
The series contains visuals of both famous and lesser-known subjects, all taken in extreme close-up. Using the same lens, lighting and angle, the result is a series of portraits unbound by their contexts. Schoeller’s subjects include international icons such as George Clooney, Lady Gaga, Angela Merkel, Jack Nicholson, Barack Obama and Lady Gaga.
In this much-lauded series, Schoeller’s full-frontal, hyper-detailed close-ups of faces are, perhaps unnervingly for the subjects, printed in large format.
Martin Schoeller is a renowned photographer known for his intense, close-up portraits that capture the essence of his subjects’ faces. With his unique style, Schoeller has become a master at revealing the individuality and humanity of each person he photographs.
Schoeller’s work is often featured in major publications, including Time, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair. His photographs have also been exhibited in galleries and museums all around the world.
In his ‘Close Up’ series, Schoeller takes his distinctive approach to portraiture to the extreme. He captures his subjects’ faces in extreme close-up, often with a neutral expression, allowing the viewer to closely examine every detail of the face. This gives the viewer an intimate look into the subject’s personality, revealing features that might go unnoticed in a traditional portrait.
The series is also notable for the diversity of his subjects. From celebrities to everyday people, Schoeller treats each subject with the same care and attention to detail. He has photographed people from all walks of life, revealing the unique beauty and complexity of each individual.
What sets the series apart is his use of lighting and composition. Each photograph is carefully composed to emphasize the subject’s features and create a powerful visual impact. His use of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the images, creating a sense of three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional photograph.
His photographs capture the essence of each subject’s personality, revealing the humanity and individuality that lies behind every face.
It’s a strange but fine insight in to the world of celebrity.
