A portrait isn’t just a photo of someone, it’s more about capturing their feeling, identity, and presence. It’s not just about how a person looks, but also about the story behind them. Some portrait focus on a person’s face, while other ones use body language, shadows or even objects to express meaning. A portrait is suppose to show a connection between the subject and the viewer. It can be by eye contact, but also gestures, background, or even lighting can be powerful. For example, Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl is one of the most famous portrait because the girl’s green eyes really make you feel something. Another example is Yousuf Karsh’s Winston Churchill photo, where he looks strong and serious just because of the way light and shadow is used.
Selfies can be portrait, but they are not always deep or well thought out. A real portrait should have more planing behind it, like what kind of lighting or composition is used. Some selfies may be strong because they show emotion, but most of them is just about looking good in a picture instead of really telling a story. A powerful portrait makes the viewer feel something and reveals a person’s character. A good portrait usually have strong connection, revealing character. And emotional impact as well. A portrait can be abstract but if it loses too much connection with the person, then it’s not really a portrait anymore. If a image is blurred or ripped but still shows something about the subject, it can be a portrait. But if its just completely unrecognizable, it becomes more of an artistic experiment rather than a portrait.

Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl

Yousuf Karsh’s Winston Churchill photo