INSPIRATION
About Presence
PORTRAITS
THE ART OF BEING PRESENT
“Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot
Have you ever looked at someone you love and realized you haven’t noticed them in a long time even, though you see each other all the time? It seems that we overlook details when in a very comfortable environment. We are mesmerized by images of celebrities and impressed by photographs of people from faraway territories, but often don’t really notice our partners, parents, friends, and even children. That’s until we take a picture of them. Portraiture can capture the present moment and reveal the journey the model undertook to arrive there. Portraiture can awaken us and make us realize that all we have is the present.
In the context of our current Portraits competition, we pause for a moment and look behind the curtain of one of the oldest and most exciting photographic genres. What does it take to create a beautiful portrait? Is it the model’s pose, their environment, or the selection of that perfect candid moment? Is it capturing the subject’s gaze or the artfulness of an anti-portrait? Is it the details, such as facial expressions, gestures, clothing, or objects that give clues to social status, age, occupation? An old proverb says, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, and in the context of portrait photography, it couldn’t be more correct.
So, let’s take a look at a handful of famous portrait photographers, and explore what makes their work impressive. Selecting them was a difficult task because portrait photography has been the preferred genre of a multitude of great artists since the beginning of photography. With a special interest in politics, fashion, music, celebrity, ordinary people, or even the self, these photographers showcase the endless possibilities of capturing a moment in someone’s life through a portrait.
Banner image by Mari Lezhava on Unsplash
PETER LINDBERGH – THE FASHION LIBERATOR
Peter Lindbergh (1944 – 2019) was a famous German fashion photographer who portrayed the rise of the supermodels and changed forever the face of fashion. In his words, “This should be the responsibility of photographers today to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection.”
Lindbergh’s photographs were published in the most prestigious fashion magazines. He did the famous Pirelli Calendar four times (the only photographer ever to be invited so many times to do it). Nevertheless, when at a photo shoot, he didn’t see the opportunity, his fame, or the exterior beauty of the women he photographed. Lindbergh saw their fragility and fears, their youthful exuberance and uncertainty, their long and difficult journeys to the supermodel statute. And he freed them by revealing the humanity behind their perfect (for the moment) exteriors.
Images © Peter Lindbergh Foundation from their Instagram grid. See more at @therealpeterlindbergh
CINDY SHERMAN – THE SELF-PORTRAIT ARTIST
Cindy Sherman (b. 1954) may not be a regular portrait photographer because she only photographs herself. Nevertheless, she imagines characters and contexts that cover a variety of social issues, concepts, and ideas. We already know that the photographer is part of their work, but in Sherman’s case, she is its entirety.
Her imagination has no limits and is fuelled by events that happens in the world. Carefully and intuitively curating each self-portrait, Sherman is fully invested in the process, delivering creativity beyond expectation. Furthermore, she proves that a photographer doesn’t need a broad range of subjects to achieve a diverse and inclusive portfolio. They only need to be present and open to the world.
Images © Cindy Sherman from her Instagram grid. See more at @cindysherman
LEE JEFFRIES – THE SPIRITUAL PHOTOGRAPHER
British portrait photographer Lee Jeffries (b. 1971) is known for his portraits of people experiencing homelessness and, since 2023, for making portraits for the artwork of Metallica’s 72 Seasons album. Going from extreme poverty to the electric scenes of Metallica’s concerts is impossible if you only survey the exterior. But Jeffries never stops there.
He shoots mostly in black and white but sometimes lets color in to emphasize skin tones and facial expressions. His portraits capture not only physical details and personality traits but also energy levels. And here, homeless people and famous rock stars are equal. One may say Jeffries is a vibration seeker, someone who sees the soul before anything else regardless of whether he is in a crowded concert hall or an empty back street.
Images © Lee Jeffries from his Instagram grid. See more at @lee_jeffries
CHRISTOPHER WARD – THE STRANGER GREETER
Originating from South Africa and now living in Ireland, Christopher Ward has a quite different approach to portrait photography. He asks strangers in the street to pose for an impromptu photo session. Why? As he says, “When I first came up with the idea to take portraits of strangers it was as a form of therapy. I have longed to break out of the tiny and tawdry theatre of my own little plot, and see the “splendid strangers” all around me.”
He takes time to ask questions and understand his model’s perception of life, emotions, and current mood. People might be busy, upset, happy, or simply not in the mood for a photo session, and this is fine by Ward. He asks politely to be granted the right to witness their presence and maybe immortalise it with a photograph. Not surprisingly, people are most willing to be seen.
Images © Christopher Ward from his Instagram grid. See more at @modelstrangers
GRACIELA ITURBIDE – THE ETHNOGRAPHER
Graciela Iturbide (b. 1942) is a Mexican photographer known for documenting Mexico’s indigenous population in artful portraits. She works in black and white, allowing contrast to take the stage and create dramatic appearances. Iturbide’s portraits are cultural and human, sometimes posed and sometimes candid. They are infused with cultural details and benefit from meaningful backgrounds that showcase people’s ways of life.
Even though her approach is unique and focused on documentary aspects, Iturbide’s work is essentially portraiture. But instead of concentrating on personal journeys, the photographer immortalises the presence of a community brought to life by its individuals.
Images © Graciela Iturbide from her Instagram grid. See more at @gracielaiturbide
Let the work of these photographers (and others) inspire and free you from misconceptions. Portraiture provides endless means to express yourself and capture the presence of your models. Pay attention to their stories, energies, emotions, and cultural heritage. Everyone is different, and that’s what’s so amazing about us collectively.
Created with ❤️
Words by Monica Radulescu
Photography © the author.
