Arnold Newman

 Arnold Newman is a well-known environmental portrait from New York City. Newman has been credited for articulating the genre of environmental photography, which is photography capturing the setting and lighting that symbolizes the individual’s lifestyle or no personality. This form of portraiture is unique as it primarily focuses on the setting of the individual, very different from normal portraitures but something that Newman revolutionized throughout his work. Although he has passed away, he’ll be credited for his well-known work of environmental photography. 

 

 

Aaron Copland, Peekskill, New York, 1959 

    

Throughout his work, he focuses on integrating components that focus on the person’s lifestyle, if not an aspect of their personality. The photograph above, Aaron Copland, Peekskill, New York, 1959, is a great example of this by including music notes portraiture of one of the best music composers of its time. Newman is great at this; as shown above, he frames Copland’s head in the book of music notes showing his life connection to music. All of Newman’s photographs work the same way, capturing an individual in an area/environment of something they’re familiar with. 

Overall, Arnold Newman revolutionized environmental portraiture photography as a way to give light to not just the individual as the main subject but also provide an environment that connects with the individual. This form of portraiture is unique since it doesn't follow traditional portrait photography, working more with the setting than the subject. Through Newman’s work, he has demonstrated connections with individuals and the setting as a principal factor in portraiture, making his work incredibly special.