Why might a portrait represent both the subject and the photographer? How does a photographer's presence manifest in a portrait?
Computers and Technology · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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A portrait can represent both the subject (the person being photographed) and the photographer for several reasons:
1. Artistic Vision: The photographer brings their own artistic vision to the portrait. They make choices about composition, lighting, posing, and framing, all of which reflect their personal style and perspective. This means that the portrait is not just a depiction of the subject, but also an expression of the photographer's artistry.
2. Interaction with the Subject: The photographer's presence and interaction with the subject can influence the mood and expression captured in the portrait. The subject might respond to the photographer's direction, mood, or personality, which can be evident in their demeanor or expression in the photo.
3. Selection and Emphasis: Photographers often choose what to emphasize or downplay in a portrait, such as focusing on certain facial features or expressions. This choice reflects the photographer's interpretation of the subject's personality or the message they want to convey.
4. Post-Processing: The way a photographer chooses to edit and process a photograph can also reflect their presence in the work. Choices in color grading, cropping, retouching, and other manipulations showcase the photographer’s stylistic preferences and contribute to the overall representation of the subject and the photographer.
Photo credits, captions, and context provided by the photographer also shape how the portrait is perceived, linking it to the creator's narrative or intention.
Extra: The concept of a portrait extending beyond the simple capture of a person's likeness is rooted in the art of photography itself. Photography is not an objective medium, and every choice a photographer makes — from the technical settings on their camera to the relationship they build with their subject — affects the outcome of the portrait.
Understanding that a photograph reflects the artist's choices can give students deeper insight into both the technical and creative aspects of photography. For example, the technical decisions regarding aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings influence the depth of field, motion blur, and grain in the image, respectively. Creatively, the choice of a black-and-white or color palette can dramatically change the mood and feeling of the portrait.
Moreover, photographers might utilize different lenses to achieve various perspectives or effects — a wide-angle lens might exaggerate features, while a telephoto lens compresses them, each reflecting a different artistic choice.
When examining or creating portraits, students should consider what the photographer is communicating through these numerous choices and how those decisions connect the subject, the viewer, and the photographer in a shared visual experience. This understanding enriches the appreciation of the work and informs the viewer about the layers of meaning behind a seemingly straightforward portrait.