Wikipedia definition of a portrait -
"A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait)
Wikipedia definition of portrait photography -
"Portrait photography or portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject. Like other types of portraiture, the focus of the photograph is the person's face, although the entire body and the background may be included. A portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the camera.
Unlike many other photography styles, the subjects of portrait photography are often non-professional models. Family portraits commemorating special occasions, such as graduations or weddings, may be professionally produced or may be vernacular and are most often intended for private viewing rather than for public exhibition.
However, many portraits are created for public display ranging from fine art portraiture, to commercial portraiture such as might be used to illustrate a company's annual report, to promotional portraiture such a might be found on a book jacket showing the author of the book." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_photography)
Recognised conventions include, but are not restricted to
- photographs being predominantly of the face
- focusing on the eyes
- taken in a studio
- not a snapshot
- without a moving subject
A portrait could in theory be stripped down to the criteria of being a photograph of a person, however this itself can be questioned. (is a picture of only a persons hands a portrait?)
The photos shown below are taken from Ryan McGinley's website, specifically the album titled "photographs". All of these pictures involve people but it is debatable as to wether or not they are portraits. Furthermore a lot of them could be deemed snapshots, does this alter the fact that they are a portrait or not?
Terry Richardson is known for being a fashion photographer with somewhat questionable interests, the images below are taken from various google image search results. Again they are all photographs of people but they could also be deemed as snapshots.
Context - The initially established conventions of portrait photography are being challenged in every way, is it truly possible to define what a portrait is or should be?
- "The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize showcases the work of the most talented emerging young photographers, photography students and gifted amateurs alongside that of established professionals"
Brief - Explore portrait photography in depth as a practice, resulting in submission of a portrait to the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
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