The Art of photography

The

Principles

at

Work:InPursuitofExcellence

DENNISSTOCKJamesDeaninLightandShadow. 1955

AportraitoftheactorJames

Dean,madein

theyearofhisdeath,isbrilliantlycomposedto

suggestapersonalitylullofcontradictions

—

boyishand

manly,politeandwild,sensitiveand

tough.AlthoughDeanisdressedinroughclothes

andthesettingseemstobeagloomyalleyway.

the

organizationisformalandalmostsymmetrical.

withthesub/ecfplaced

inthecenterofa

diamond-shapedframeoflightandshadowTwo

otherdualities:Hisfaceishalvedintolight

anddarkness,andhis

headisshownbothstraight

onandinprofile

—

theshadowcaston

thewall.