Photographer: Ben Heine

Ben Heine is a Belgian Illustrator and Photographer and has done many different projects. The project that i am interested in is 'Pencil vs Camera.' in 2010. In this, he mixes drawing and photography by using reality and imagination. The aim was to integrate a hand drawn illustration onto a realistic background using photography. The drawing is either in black and white on white paper or colour on black paper, while the photograph is often very colourful, this amplifies the contrast between the two mediums. Heine likes to focus on people's lives, portrait,nature, animals,architecture. The main themes in this specific project are: Love, freedom, afterlife, friendship and nature.
                                                 

This Photograph is part of a series of Heine's collection 'Pencil vs Camera.' The composition of this photograph is central with the subject and the illustration in the middle of the frame, the dog is more situated to the left which makes room for the illustration and the hand which is holding the illustration over the dog. It is also shot just above eye level as if slightly looking down upon the dog. This makes the Photograph balanced as the size of the illustration and the hand do not overpower the dog, it presents different features within the composition and the eye is drawn firstly to the dog and the hand, then leads on to the illustration. The lighting of the Photograph is natural as it has been taken in daylight. This gives the Photograph an imaginative feel to compliment the illustration. There is texture within the foreground of the image due to the pebbles which then fade out nearer the top of the Photograph as there is a slight shallow depth of field towards the background of the photograph, yet the majority of the image is in focus. Also the ripped effect of the illustration on the paper gives the image more texture as it gives the impression it was drawn on the spot. The illustration has a range of different tones and shows precise detail with how Heine has used sketching techniques. Also the tones do not seem overpowered or contrasting to the natural background. The illustration is drawn and placed in the same viewpoint as the Photograph so that once it is placed over the top, it fits into the background. Without the illustration the dog would seem very isolated and it has a for lorn look about it, therefore the Photograph would be very plain. Also, the illustration has a cartoon feel as the cats tail is positioned into a love heart shape which makes the Photograph come to life and then makes the dog not seem as isolated, this then shows a meaning of companionship. Could it represent the dogs love for cats and that no harm can be done? Or it could represent settling the debate that 'all dogs hate cats.' Also, because of the chosen animals, this creates a simple contrast, almost as if Heine wants to create something that doesn't normally happen or that you wouldn't normally see. As the cartoon effect is present this also links in with the unrealistic meaning. For example in Tom and Jerry, the cat, Tom, is always afraid of the dog that appears regularly, this is what a couple of generations have been brought up on believing the fact dogs only get along with other dogs and never cats because they are a completely different mammal. Therefore, when I see this photograph, it shows harmony between the cat and the dog, which you are instantly drawn to because it is not something in which you see publicised regularly which is a intruiging path to go down for the photographs to be thought provoking.
What I want to take from this is the technique in which Heine uses. I personally like the 'spur of the moment' feel the illustration gives off in the photograph due to the ripped paper and the cartoon effect. 

In this Photograph from his collection it shows a woman as the subject focusing on her face. Again the composition is central with the subject towards the left of the photograph and the illustration and hand holding the illustration over the face of the woman which fills the gap in the middle of the composition. The photograph is shot quite close to the subjects face at eye level. The background of the photograph is more busier than the previous image which creates more texture to the photograph. A shallow depth of field is used so that he focuses on the subject and the blurred background just adds texture and does not overpower what is happening in the foreground. At first glance the illustration is the first thing the eye comes across, it then wanders to the hand and the subject and lastly the background. The lighting, again is natural light which adds the realistic feel to the photograph as a whole. The illustration is of the majority of the subjects face which branches off into a thought bubble of a baby in a womb, also using the ripped paper effect. This illustration is simple and less tonal compared to the other photograph, however it is detailed enough to grasp the story behind the illustration. The simplicity of the illustration is enhanced by the shallow depth of field used as the eye does not focus on the background. The illustration is placed over the majority of the subjects face and is branched out. It is also quite a realistic illustration compared to the other image making the story of this illustration more realistic and less fantasy like. The illustration is of a baby is a womb like position with roots branching out underneath it. This suggests a personal story to the subject and that there are possibilities of different meanings behind this. On it's own the photograph seems to be a general holiday snap as the subject has her sunglasses on her head, however the addition of the illustration showing her thoughts make this more unique and creative. There could be many different meanings behind this Photograph. At a first glance this could represent the woman always wanting a baby of her own due to the illustration of her face, she seems content with this thought. Looking deeper, her expression of the face drawn could be almost a cover up for the fact she can't give birth and have children of her own, yet because the baby is branching out of her mind, it seems to be representing that the thought is always in the back of her mind. Along with this, the roots underneath the baby could also represent a number of things. It may be that her unborn child has stemmed from herself? She is using motherhood to bring back roots from her childhood? These are all things to consider when I look at this Photograph. The simplicity on the topic of the illustration gives you an idea of what this could represent yet leaves you guessing a little to the deeper meaning.