Hello Graeme. This video, together with all the images used so well to illustrate your theme, works wonderfully. Reading, looking at images, studying images, and so forth rarely manage to bring together the "model" as subject and the "photographer" as agent in portraying the "human condition" as well as you have in this excellent video. I am, of course, referring to your particular skill in helping us understand more fully the process. You helped me make a break-through. Thank you.
Very insightful and helpful. I often find portraits from the 19th century more intimately expressive and revealing, such as the portraits of Southworth & Hawes. Perhaps the subjects were more relaxed and less guarded since daguerreotypes took longer to record. I’d love to hear your comparison between these earlier portraits and those of today!
Graeme, I'm a photographer, and my favorite genre to work in is portraiture. Your video is a beautiful elucidation and explanation of what portrait photography actually is... thank you for making it.
Thank you, Graeme, I'm thoroughly enjoying your views and insights. Especially this one, as portraiture is what I want to gravitate to and relationship with the sitter is all important.
That moment, the crack in the facade, is so hard to find but you inspire me to keep looking for it. In theology it is a "thin space" only barely separating the human from the the Divine. In psychology it is the "liminal space" separating the internal workings of the psyche from the external persona, revealing new possibilities and opportunities. In photography it seems part luck, skill and serendipity. I am still looking for it!
Annie Leibowitz used to be and sometimes still is a great photographer but now she's a Pop Star. Also, at least for me, the strongest subjects are not the people who are trying too hard to be beautiful or picturesque but the people who are comfortable in their own skin, like the people in 'In The American West'.
I'm not anti-Annie Leibovitz. I really like her early work and she did seem to have a genuine connection with the sitter, even if they were celebrities. However, since the late 80's I don't think you can really say that she takes portraits. She almost exclusively shoots Tableau. They are beautiful photo's, they are expertly crafted, but I guess photographers, like any professional, go down the route of producing what they're paid to produce. I'm not a big Avedon fan but I think his portrait of Marilyn Monroe is possibly the greatest shot of Monroe ever taken; even though Eve Arnold took many more, in my opinion, that are nearly on par.
I am autistic. As is common with autistics, I am always misunderstood, and I have no idea of what others think about anything. I am well able to offend others, even family who should know me well. I see a woman staring into the camera, but nothing more. A bloke standing crookedly. My back is like that, even without particular posing, an equivalent portrait of me would show a crooked spine. I prefer to photograph people, if I do, doing something. Chessplayers are good, they don't move much and their faces are often full of distress, puzzlement, sometimes triumph. People talking. I couple close in the other's personal space, reinforce with striking street furniture. If you find a story in my photos, it's not what Intended. If you think a portrait tells something about a person's character, you have some explaining to do to convince me.
Hi John I found your response really interesting and have given it some thought.I realise that you are probably thinking that I was entering 'woo-woo' territory - as they say - during this video. I am no expert on autism, but I understand that within the spectrum, people experience different degrees of separation from emotion. I can only talk from my viewpoint and that is - when I see certain portraits I feel a deep sense of connection. What may be interesting to consider, is that you produce a set of portraits exploring at which point you perceive something beyond the 'face value' . It is so difficult to put myself in your shoes, so I hope that I am not out of line. All the best.
@@PhotoConversations it's not possible for you to put yourself in my shoes. The best we autistics can hope for is for you to understand that we are different, and that often our brains are physically different. It's not an illness, it's not curable and we're autistic from birth. We're often gifted, often have ADHD and other disorders, and often bullied. If you want to learn more, books by Temple Grandin and videos featuring her, YT channels Autism from the Inside, Chloe Hayden.
Thanks for an interesting video but it was too advanced a course for me as I am not a portrait photographer only a woodland amatour photographer. Do the portraits also tell a story about the photographers personallity due to the desitions they have to make?
Even given your focus on formal portraiture, I substantially disagree. I have no interest in seeing the photographer reflected in the subject. I want an insight into the subject, and the deeper the insight the better. I've rarely done formal portraiture as I find that nearly impossible to do. Candid portraiture affords me the opportunity for what I really want --- the true character of the subject. I best do this by trying for what I call the ephemeral moment --- that portion of a second when you are between thoughts/emotions and all that is left is YOU, not your reaction to something or anything, least of all me the photographer. As movie director John Cassavetes said: "The greatest location in the world is the human face."
An excellent, thought provoking video. Thank You.
Thanks Paul!
Excellent as usual!
Thankyou for your thought-provoking videos
Hello Graeme. This video, together with all the images used so well to illustrate your theme, works wonderfully. Reading, looking at images, studying images, and so forth rarely manage to bring together the "model" as subject and the "photographer" as agent in portraying the "human condition" as well as you have in this excellent video. I am, of course, referring to your particular skill in helping us understand more fully the process. You helped me make a break-through. Thank you.
Brilliant Daniel. I must have got things right.
A lot to think about here. Thank you.
Great job, brilliant theme and thought provoking. JT
Thank you.
Interesting. Thoughtful. Helpful. Thanks
I love how you go right to the heart of things. So much better than any other photography channel on UA-cam
Thanks so much!
Life, truth and the soul. These are the elements I am always searching for in a portrait, whether it is one of mine or somebody else’s
What is truth? What is the soul?
Very useful that you included some that missed the mark and explained why
Amazing.. thanks for sharing 🙏🏽
Very insightful and helpful. I often find portraits from the 19th century more intimately expressive and revealing, such as the portraits of Southworth & Hawes. Perhaps the subjects were more relaxed and less guarded since daguerreotypes took longer to record. I’d love to hear your comparison between these earlier portraits and those of today!
Thank you 🙏
Graeme, I'm a photographer, and my favorite genre to work in is portraiture. Your video is a beautiful elucidation and explanation of what portrait photography actually is... thank you for making it.
Many thanks Marco
Thank you, Graeme, I'm thoroughly enjoying your views and insights. Especially this one, as portraiture is what I want to gravitate to and relationship with the sitter is all important.
Good to hear.
That moment, the crack in the facade, is so hard to find but you inspire me to keep looking for it. In theology it is a "thin space" only barely separating the human from the the Divine. In psychology it is the "liminal space" separating the internal workings of the psyche from the external persona, revealing new possibilities and opportunities. In photography it seems part luck, skill and serendipity. I am still looking for it!
It is probably part spiritual, part psychological and part luck!
Annie Leibowitz used to be and sometimes still is a great photographer but now she's a Pop Star. Also, at least for me, the strongest subjects are not the people who are trying too hard to be beautiful or picturesque but the people who are comfortable in their own skin, like the people in 'In The American West'.
It is difficult not to become a brand when you get so famous.
I'm not anti-Annie Leibovitz. I really like her early work and she did seem to have a genuine connection with the sitter, even if they were celebrities. However, since the late 80's I don't think you can really say that she takes portraits. She almost exclusively shoots Tableau. They are beautiful photo's, they are expertly crafted, but I guess photographers, like any professional, go down the route of producing what they're paid to produce.
I'm not a big Avedon fan but I think his portrait of Marilyn Monroe is possibly the greatest shot of Monroe ever taken; even though Eve Arnold took many more, in my opinion, that are nearly on par.
Hi Iain They are not my favourites - you can see from my selection what I really like.
I am autistic. As is common with autistics, I am always misunderstood, and I have no idea of what others think about anything. I am well able to offend others, even family who should know me well.
I see a woman staring into the camera, but nothing more. A bloke standing crookedly. My back is like that, even without particular posing, an equivalent portrait of me would show a crooked spine.
I prefer to photograph people, if I do, doing something. Chessplayers are good, they don't move much and their faces are often full of distress, puzzlement, sometimes triumph. People talking. I couple close in the other's personal space, reinforce with striking street furniture.
If you find a story in my photos, it's not what Intended.
If you think a portrait tells something about a person's character, you have some explaining to do to convince me.
Hi John I found your response really interesting and have given it some thought.I realise that you are probably thinking that I was entering 'woo-woo' territory - as they say - during this video. I am no expert on autism, but I understand that within the spectrum, people experience different degrees of separation from emotion. I can only talk from my viewpoint and that is - when I see certain portraits I feel a deep sense of connection. What may be interesting to consider, is that you produce a set of portraits exploring at which point you perceive something beyond the 'face value' . It is so difficult to put myself in your shoes, so I hope that I am not out of line. All the best.
@@PhotoConversations it's not possible for you to put yourself in my shoes. The best we autistics can hope for is for you to understand that we are different, and that often our brains are physically different.
It's not an illness, it's not curable and we're autistic from birth.
We're often gifted, often have ADHD and other disorders, and often bullied.
If you want to learn more, books by Temple Grandin and videos featuring her, YT channels Autism from the Inside, Chloe Hayden.
Hi John Thanks so much for passing on that information. I wish you everything of the best.
Thanks for an interesting video but it was too advanced a course for me as I am not a portrait photographer
only a woodland amatour photographer. Do the portraits also tell a story about the photographers personallity due to the desitions they have to make?
Hi Thomas It is more about the type of emotions that they are trying to expose.
Even given your focus on formal portraiture, I substantially disagree. I have no interest in seeing the photographer reflected in the subject. I want an insight into the subject, and the deeper the insight the better. I've rarely done formal portraiture as I find that nearly impossible to do. Candid portraiture affords me the opportunity for what I really want --- the true character of the subject. I best do this by trying for what I call the ephemeral moment --- that portion of a second when you are between thoughts/emotions and all that is left is YOU, not your reaction to something or anything, least of all me the photographer. As movie director John Cassavetes said: "The greatest location in the world is the human face."
Hi SR I bet even your candid portraiture has a lot to say about you as well as the subject.
No doubt, but that is ancillary to my intention. That's art for you!!@@PhotoConversations
The Walker Evans/Wright Morris rule of photography: The subject is in front of the camera, not behind the camera.