READING FOCUS

Cross-text multiple IJ Read the reviews again. For questions

1-4, choose from the reviewers (A-D). The
matching (Part 6) reviewers may be chosen more than once.
lill> EXAM FOCUS p.180 Which reviewer

D Work in pairs and discuss the questions. shares Reviewer C's view of Penn's
influence as a photographer7 ~1 __.__,
What do you think the portraits reveal about the
2 has a different view to reviewer A about
people in the photos7
Penn's consistency over the years7 ~2__.__,
2 What skills do you think you need to be a professional
3 has a similar view to Reviewer B about the
photographer7
effect of the background against which
3 How do you usually feel about having your the portraits were taken7 ~3~~
photograph taken 7
4 has a different opinion to the other
4 Why do you th ink posting photos of yourself has reviewers regarding how well the portraits
become so popular7 on display have been selected7 I -4--~
~

II Read the reviews of a photography exhibition EXAM TIP

quickly and decide if they are mainly positive
or negative. Would they encourage you to visit One question may ask which writer has a different
the exhibition? What would it be like to be the opinion t o the rest on a particular issue . You need to
subject of one of Penn's portraits? underline the relevant parts in each text to identify this.

IJ Look at question 1 in Activity 4 and answer II Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
the questions. How far do you agree that
1 What is Reviewer C's opinion of Penn's influence as 1 a person's face can reveal their character7
a photographer7 Underline the section of the review 2 people are judged too often on their appearance?
which refers to this.
3 celebrities are too conscious of their image?
2 Look at the other reviews and underline what they
4 fashion photography is of little relevance to
have to say about Penn 's influence Which reviewer
most people7
has a very simila r opinion to reviewer 0
3 Do any of the reviewers have a different opinion to
reviewer C about Penn's influence7

116 Unit 11 Face value

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 READING FOCUS

A What is most apparent from this exhibition of Irving C Irving Penn Portraits at t he N ational Portrait Gallery
Penn 's portraits , which covers the photographer's entire follows the progress of the American photographer's studio
career, is his commitment to quality and style. From the portraits from 1947-2007, emphasising the cont inuity of
1940s until his last work in 2007 , he remained constant his vision, sensit ivity t o his subject and technical skill. It
in his approach, never failing to deliver anything less celebrates his interest in the power of photography (and
than utter perfection. As his career progressed, Penn
its limitations) as a means of depicting the inner life of
moved from classic fashion shots to focus more on
sitters and to discover, as Penn states, 'what lies behind t he
portraits, investigating how far a person 's character can
fac;ade'. Penn's success lies in the importance of precision,
be revealed by their face. He managed to shine a light
on the inner qualities of his subjects by exaggerating an attention to detail and meticulously planned composition.
expression or gesture. The simplicity of the sets he used Penn is and will continue to be a giant in the wor ld of
in all his portraits cleverly leaves his subjects nowhere to photographic portraiture. But while he transformed the
hide, exposing the individual behind the icon. For some style of studio portraiture, his relevance also endures as a
the result is awkward but for others it is liberating and fashion photographer and the omission from t his exhibition
only serves to magnify their status. This thoughtfully of some of his most iconic images for Vogue results in an
assembled collection offers a fascinating insight into incomplete portrayal of his achievements.
the true nature of some of the most significant cultural
figures of the twentieth century.

B Irving Penn once wrote that 'very often what lies D As Penn's reputation inevitably begins to fade, those
behind the fa9ade is rare and more wonderful than unfamiliar with his work might at first see only a collection
the subject knows or dares to believe' . The exhibition of slightly out-of-date, black and white portraits. But a
displays portraits of some of the most celebrated figures closer inspection will reveal how Penn turns the face into
of the last century, including John F. Kennedy, Pablo a landscape to be explored and discovered. Every feature
Picasso and Truman Capote. The less obvious points of is highlighted in a manner that most photographers appear
his subjects' personalities are unashamedly portrayed by incapable of capturing today The portraits on display,
spanning some fifty years, give a comprehensive summary
the photographer in characterless, bare surroundings.
of his work and provide a clear insight into the development
In showing the sitters without any of the trappings of
in his confidence and style. The majority of these portraits
celebrity, Penn successfull y reveals qualities not seen in
were taken in his studio using a plain background and very
other portraits of these superstars. The development
few props. This helps to create a mood which, together
in style that takes place over Penn's fifty-year career is
with his expert use of light and shadow, make his images
clearly shown, from his full -body images of the forties, never less than exhilarating. Only in the last decade of his
to more intimate close-up portraits of later years. life does his vvork lose some of its magic: he experiments
These all demonstrate that Penn's technical mastery is more with modern trends in lighting and appears to have
without equal. He undoubtedly created a style that later been persuaded by celebrity publicists and fashion stylists
generations of photographers have found impossible not to flatter his famous sub1ects.
to imitate.

m Choose the correct alternative in each

sentence.
IJ What is the noun form of the correct verbs
in Activity 6?

2
The film portrays/displays the lives of two artists.
At the end of the story the family's secrets are exposed! m Work in pairs and discuss the questions.

depicted 1 Can you describe anything which has been revealed or

exposed recently in the news?
3 The paintings are displayed/highlighted in
chronological order. 2 How do you feel about people who display a lot
of emotion?
4 The portrait highlights/exposes the man's delight
3 What do you think your clothes reveal about you7
5 In his autobiography, th e writer reveals/portrays the
inspiration for his main character. 4 Which actor do you think would portray you in a film
about your life 7
6 The paintings depict/display life in the early part of the
ninet eenth century.

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