Honor partners with Paris photo legends

Global smartphone brand Honor has already established itself as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and now aims to achieve the same thing in portrait photography.

In an effort to redefine the category, it has partnered with Parisian photography house Studio Harcourt, which is legendary for its portrait photography.

Commonly defined as a style of photography that captures people and aims to convey a story or emotion through the image, it requires a keen eye, exceptional equipment, and the manipulation of light and contrast to capture the essence of the subject.

Some of the most famous people who mastered this style were Irving Penn, whose meticulously crafted compositions and use of light set new standards in the industry, and Steve McCurry, whose iconic “Afghan Girl” photograph became an emblem of modern photojournalism.

Few photography houses have truly understood the assignment of portrait photography, but Studio Harcourt has established a rich legacy in the field. It brings a wealth of expertise to the table, making it an ideal choice for Honor to select as a partner in defining its 200 Series as a pioneering device for studio-level portraiture photography.

A Glimpse into Studio Harcourt

Studio Harcourt is a Parisian photography studio founded in Paris in 1933 by Cosette Harcourt. She joined forces with Robert Ricci, the son of the late French fashion designer Nina Ricci, and the Lacroix brothers to establish the Harcourt studio. With over 90 years of history, it is renowned for its iconic black-and-white portraits, characterised by dramatic lighting and an air of mystery. The studio is currently located at 6, rue de Lota in the 16th arrondisment of Paris.

The studio has captured the most popular actors, athletes, and even members of royal families, solidifying its reputation as one of the world’s largest and most professional portrait studios. 

In 2000, the French government acquired 50 000 negatives from Harcourt Studio, including 1 500 celebrities. The French National Museum and Photography Library now archive these negatives as historical heritage.

Honor x Studio Harcourt

Honor provided the following overview of its partnership with the iconic studio:

Partnering with Studio Harcourt, Honor’s 200 Series team embarked on a journey to embed next-level AI technology in portrait photography. The collaboration began even before the previous generation of the Number Series, the Honor 90, was released. It involved an extensive exploration by more than 20 Studio Harcourt and Honor imaging experts over 400 days, and then the Honor AI Portrait Engine was born — a revolutionary tool that simplifies the portrait photography process while maintaining the studio-quality results Studio Harcourt is famous for.

The Honor AI Portrait Engine boasts three distinct layers — AI Light and Shadow Enhancement, AI Optical Effect Enhancement, and AI Artistic Style Enhancement — each designed to enhance the portrait photography experience. 

The AI Light and Shadow Enhancement optimises lighting by analysing angles, brightness, and colour tones, ensuring portraits are perfectly lit and balanced for a natural look. It also enables the subject’s facial details to stand out and ensures a seamless transition between light and shadow, restoring the realism of light and shadow information for the imaging processor.

The AI Optical Effect Enhancement overcomes traditional limitations and creates a natural background blur, similar to professional cameras with large sensors. It enhances facial details for life-like portraits by utilising generative AI capabilities on an AI-powered Portrait Engine. For example, the engine can detect individual strands of hair, prevent false blurring, and produce more realistic hair details. 

The Honor AI Portrait Engine also produces masterful optical portrait shots with a natural bokeh effect that rivals professional cameras. By leveraging two lenses simultaneously for each frame, the AI Stereo-based Bokeh Algorithm utilises the main and ultra-wide lenses for zoom ranges from 1x to 2x while using the primary and telephoto lens for 2.5x zoom, enabling precise depth calculation across various zoom ranges. Accurate background adjustments enhance the clarity and naturalness of details without excessive sharpness.

On the other hand, the AI Artistic Style Enhancement feature of the Honor AI Portrait Engine mirrors Studio Harcourt’s famous post-production effects. It fine-tunes skin tones based on their respective skin colours, enhances facial textures, and introduces artistic elements like vignettes for an elevated visual appeal. 

Three Harcourt Portrait Modes

But the collaboration doesn’t stop there. With the introduction of three new professional Harcourt portrait modes on the Honor 200 Series, users are empowered to explore their creativity and capture portraits that stand out. 

The Harcourt Vibrant mode is perfect for capturing the liveliness of gatherings or joyous celebrations, ensuring every moment is vividly preserved with its energetic flair. Harcourt Colour mode offers a touch of vintage glamour, perfect for those seeking portraits with a classic charm. Lastly, the Harcourt Classic mode reflects timeless elegance, bringing to mind the iconic sophistication found in the portraits crafted by Studio Harcourt. 

Fuelled by a commitment to innovation and accessibility, Honor and Studio Harcourt are reshaping the landscape of portrait photography. Through open collaboration with experts in portrait photography and not just the hardware behind it, Honor has managed to adapt centuries of photographic expertise to smart devices and increase accessibility for users to take the kind of images that previously only celebrities were fortunate to take.

Pricing and Availability

The Honor200 Pro and Honor 200 are now available at the nearest retailer or network provider for the recommended retail price of R19,999 and R15,999, respectively.

The purchase of these devices will include free gifts to the value of R6,999, including an Honor SuperCharge plus cable, a screen protector, free postal repair with pickup and delivery service, a 3-year battery health protection warranty, and a 180-day screen accident warranty, which excludes labour fees.

For more information, visit: https://www.honor.com/za/phones/honor-200/.