Friend & Family Portraits

Portraits can reveal feelings the subject never even knew it felt. I find a portrait interesting when the subject’s personality or state of mind comes through- when the shot seizes not the instant but the moments or years preceding it resulting in either the subject’s state of mind or the subject’s spirit. A good portrait is difficult to take and it is a photography field I would like to develop further. I find that my 70-300mm zoom is my best ally as it allows me to take shots from far away without the subject realizing that he is being photographed, thereby allowing me to take “natural” shots.

I believe that the older we get, the more our lives and character can be read on the lines of our face. Each line, each wrinkle, tells a story. When we are young our faces may be more or less attractive but they are rarely soul-exposing, as we- more or less gracefully- age however, I believe, the type of person we are, the type of life we have led becomes more and more apparent. Old people’s lines can be generous or strict, their eyes laughing or empty, their smile spontaneous or bitter, their tone benevolent or acrimonious, their style modestly elegant or tacky, their expression witty or dry, their aura comforting or repelling- but seldom neutral. You will find in this gallery portraits of individuals of varying age and I hope you will see the beauty animating every one of them.