What makes a particular photograph a portrait?

  • A photograph is a portrait if it focuses on showing the person’s face and personality. It usually captures their expressions and features to convey who they are.

Are Selfies Portraits?

  • selfies can be portraits because they show the person’s face. However, they are often more casual and spontaneous than traditional portraits.

What should or shouldn’t be included within a portrait?

  • Portraits focus on the face, but can also include the body or background to provide more context about the person. What’s included depends on the photographer’s style.

What makes a “good portrait?”

  • A good portrait captures the person’s personality and essence. It uses effective lighting, composition, and timing to convey a meaningful moment.

Can a portrait consist of a small detail only, such as a close-up of a hand?

  • Yes, a portrait can focus on a small detail like a hand if it tells something significant about the person.

When does a more abstracted representation cease to become a portrait – for example a blurred figure, or a photograph of a person that has been torn, ripped or faded?

  • A representation stops being a portrait when it becomes too abstract or distorted to clearly show the person’s identity or essence.

Is it possible to represent a person photographically without them being present in the image – for example, through a Still-life, an arrangement of inanimate objects? And if so, can this continue to be called a portrait?

  • Yes, you can represent someone through objects that reflect their personality or life. However, this might not be called a traditional portrait; it’s more symbolic.

Does a portrait have to be a single photograph? How about a sequence of images?

  • No, a portrait doesn’t have to be one photo. A series of images can also be a portrait if it collectively tells the person’s story or captures their essence.