HONOR 200 Series and Studio Harcourt: A Game-Changing Collaboration in Portrait Photography

The all-new series gets AI portrait optimization & brings the iconic French studio’s photography legacy.

Dubai, UAE, 12 July 2024

Revolutionizing the way we capture portraits, HONOR and Studio Harcourt have come together to redefine the art of portrait photography. With its rich legacy, Studio Harcourt brings a wealth of expertise to the table, while HONOR’s innovative 200 Series introduces cutting-edge AI technology to the mix.

A Glimpse into Studio Harcourt History

For those unfamiliar, Studio Harcourt is a Parisian photography studio founded in Paris in 1934 by Cosette Harcourt, Robert Ricci, and the Lacroix brothers. With over 90 years of history, it is renowned for its iconic black and white portraits characterized by dramatic lighting and an air of mystery.

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 the year 2000, the French government acquired 50,000 negatives from Harcourt Studio, including 1,500 celebrities. These negatives are now archived as a historical heritage by the French National Museum and Photography Library.

HONOR X Studio Harcourt: A Fusion or Heritage and AI Technology

Partnering with Studio Harcourt, HONOR’s 200 Series team embarked on a journey to harness the power of AI in portrait photography. Through months of collaboration involved an extensive exploration by more than 20 Studio Harcourt and HONOR imaging experts over 400 days, 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 elevate the portrait photography experience.

The AI Light and Shadow Enhancement optimizes lighting by analyzing angles, brightness, and color tones, ensuring portraits are perfectly lit and balanced for a natural look. It also enables the facial details of the subject 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, while enhancing facial details for lifelike portraits by utilizing generative AI capabilities on AI-powered Portrait Engine.  For example, the engine can detect individual strands of hair, prevent false blurring, and produce more realistic hair details.

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 utilizes the main and ultra-wide lenses for zoom ranges from 1x to 2x, while using the main and telephoto lens for 2.5x zoom, enabling precise depth calculation across various zoom ranges. With accurate background adjustments, it enhances 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 colors, enhances facial textures, and introduces artistic elements like vignettes for an elevated visual appeal.

Three Stunning Harcourt Portrait Modes

But the collaboration doesn’t stop there. With the introduction of three new professional Harcourt portrait mods 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. On the other hand, Harcourt Color mode offers a touch of vintage glamour, perfect for those seeking portraits with a classic charm. Lastly, the Harcourt Classic mode reflects the timeless elegance, bringing to mind the iconic sophistication found in the portraits crafted by Studio Harcourt.

Driven by a commitment to innovation and accessibility, HONOR and Studio Harcourt are reshaping the landscape of portrait photography. Through open collaboration with experts in the act of portrait photography and not just the hardware behind it, HONOR can adapt centuries of photographic expertise to smart devices and increase accessibility for users to be able to take the kind of images that previously only celebrities could take.

Pricing and Availability

HONOR 200 Series including HONOR 200 Pro and HONOR 200 will be available soon in UAE market for pre-order with exciting prices and amazing offers.

Showcasing an elegant design inspired by nature, the HONOR 200 Pro will be available in three colorways: Ocean Cyan, Moonlight White, and Black, while the HONOR 200 is available in Moonlight White, Emerald Green, and Black.