Initial theories about portraiture

I have began to collect together a variety of photographers opinions and theories about portraiture. I feel that researching into photographers ideas about portraiture has given me a chance to think more deeply into portraits and to discover what the real meaning is.

Paul Graham:

"One of the most profound things that one can do...to simply and truly see someone, and express their sentence. To reflect the inner self through external appearance".

William Ewing:

"Contemporary photographers contest this assumption and dismiss the belief that a portrait, or the face, reveals the inner soul of a person; rather a portrait is a credible likeness of an individual".

These statements are interesting and contrasting ideas. They make me think about the importance of representing physical appearances as well as addressing the inner personality of the model. I feel that some portraits can convey what someone is like on the inside. This can be identified through their physical emotions, body actions and even their style.

I belive that portaits can address a variety of ideas about the figures social aspects and lifestyle on the outside world. For example a photographer John Tagg has similar views about being able to identify peoples social qualities through portraits. I agree with John Tagg and feel that social aspects can be shown and identified through facial experssions, body language and even the background environment. For example some of Spencer Murphy's portraits in his project 'Urban Dirt Bikers' can create suggestions about the bikers social qualities.

John Tagg:

“The portrait is…a sign whose purpose is both the description of an individual and the inscription of social identity”.

#PortraitureProject