Behind the Shot: The process and Inspiration Behind My Final Image.

The final image for my graduate show draws inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting Lady With An Ermine. Through symbolism and styling, I aimed to produce a portrait that conveyed the subject’s unique individuality while also echoing the rich lighting and visual depth of classic paintings.

the process began with several test shoots to perfect the lighting. My objective was to imitate the dimensionality of classical portraiture rather than adopt a flat photographic style. Once the lighting achieved the desired sense of depth, I worked closely with my subject to style the shoot in a way that felt authentic to her. She is dressed in an Abaya, a robe-like garment traditionally worn by women in many parts of the Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, where she is from. In order to convey both cultural history and individualism, this choice of clothing was essential.

A significant symbolic element in the image is the fox the subject is holding. The fox, which is considered as her spirit animal, stands for transformation, intuition and guidance. In many cultures, the fox is seen as a link between the physical and spiritual realms, embodying themes of personal growth and deeper wisdom - qualities reflected in my subject’s journey.

Over the course of five different shoots, the image was refined in terms of both technical aspects and narrative clarity. Post-production was minimal, limited to minor touch-ups such as removing stray hairs or smoothing fabric creases. After giving it some thought, I decided to print on matte paper in order to maintain detail and lessen glare in display lighting.

Now that the final image is finished, i’m excited to display it in the graduate show - bringing together historical reference and personal storytelling in one frame.