I gravitated towards Penn’s work of Sophia Loren because of the glamour he is able to show through the photo. I love the harsh shadows and cropping of the image where we absolutely know this is a direct portrait. The elegance is also conveyed through her outfit and costuming, so much so this is not surprising it was for Condé Nast. Additionally, I like that Penn’s shots are all in black and white as I think the drama is really enhanced.
Penn’s dramatic lighting is a hallmark in many of his portraits. Even with the sharp shadows, there are tiny textural details too, like the netting in the hat and the fur collar.