Andy Willsher Photographer Case Study

Andy Willsher Photography Case Study

For a better understanding of the music photography for the rock genre, I have decided to look at a few star models who work at leading successful rock magazines such as Kerrang! Q, MNE, Uncut, Metal Hammer and Mojo. The main photographers I will be analyzing will be Andy Willsher.

Andy Willsher is a rock genre photographer who has worked for NME and is on of the magazines top photographers. He has covered almost every rock band that has successful and will cover any up coming successful rock bands within the music industry. The main bands he works with are Oasis, White Stripes and is shooting official press shots for the U2 on their new tour.

I will now begin an analysis of his work to see if his photography is suitable for the target magazines that he has been working for.

The first theorist that will apply to these images will be Blumer and Katz (1974) because in short they state that “People consume a media text is for a series of possible reasons, Personal identity, Diversion (escaping from reality) ….Surveillance.” The main two points that will apply to this image will be personal identity and Diversion because people viewing this image may be fans of the star vehicle and look up to them as a role model.

The second theorist that may be applied to these images is Stanley Hall, who in short states that “Criminal activity would increase at the ages of 12 and 24, common mood in teenagers was depressed.”

The primary target audience for long shot photography image is straight, white, middle class males who are aged preferably 14-24 years and are in the social grade of E-C. The star vehicle within this image is Pete Doherty, who is well known within the rock music industry by being the main singer within a band called The Libertines and is important for this image because he will attract a wide target audience who fall under many theorists.

In terms of mise-en-sense there is writing upon the bedroom wall with the star vehicles name and the band he is lead singer of. This could connote depression by the way there is a big cross over the black writing, therefore this could be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Stanley Hall (1901) theory who in short states that “Criminal activity would increase at the ages of 12 and 24 and the common mood in teenagers was depressed.”

Also within the connotation of this image there is a shadow of bars from the window beside the star vehicle Peter Doherty, this could connote that he is trapped and he is suffering with depression. Therefore this affect is suitable for the target audience who fall under the theorist Stanley Hall (1901) theory who in short states that “Criminal activity would increase at the ages of 12 and 24 and the common mood in teenagers was depressed.”

Judging by how the star vehicle is presented within this photograph, he is representing the target audience who are within the lower classes because of the state of the room and the current state of his face, unhappy. Therefore this could connote depression and would be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Stanley Hall (1901) theorist; who in short states “Criminal activity would increase at the ages of 12 and 24 and the common mood in teenagers was depressed.”

In terms of mise-en-sense tattoos on the star vehicles body (Pete Doherty), the skull and cross bones upon his arm could connote that he is rebellious and depressed often. Therefore this image is suitable for the target audience who could fall under the theorist such as Blumer and Katz (1974), who state “People consume a media text is for a series of possible reasons, Personal identity, Diversion (escaping from reality) ….Surveillance.” The two reasons from Blumer and Katz that are appropriate for this image is Diversion and Personal identity.

My personal opinion of this image is that I don’t like it due to the fact of how much depression it contains.

The primary target audience for long shot photography image is white females who are aged preferably 14-24 years and are in the social grade of A-C. The star vehicle within this image is Marina And The Diamonds is important for this image because the band will attract a wide target audience who fall under many theorists.

In terms of connotation the main female within the long shot photograph is wearing very Americanized revealing clothing showing all her leg flesh and she is also wearing make up, along with her hair all done up. This could connote that this female star vehicle is trying to attract a male audience and would agree with the theorist Laura Mulvey (1975) who states woman are portrayed “As erotic objects of desire for characters.”

Also in terms of connotation you also see that the female characters in the background are either sitting on a males lap wearing quite higher class clothing or wearing a cheer leading outfit that also has been Americanized. This could connote that this image is trying to attract a male audience and would be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Laura Mulvey (1975) theory who states woman are portrayed “As erotic objects of desire for characters.”

In terms of mise-en-sense there is a lot of the colour red used within this photography image, it is used upon the females lips, the clothing and the mens clothing. This could connote lust and would be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Laura Mulvey (1975) theory as she states woman are portrayed “As erotic objects of desire for characters.”

My personal opinion of this image is that its I like it because of how eye catching it is with the Americanized theme running through it. It has the colour red running through the image which helps it stand out and the females in the image look happy yet so pretty.

Annaleigh Benn