Portraiture not only requires a relationship between the subject and the photographer in the moment, but ultimately, portraiture transcends this relationship and moment on to physical print. This collection of photographs... [ view full abstract ]
Portraiture not only requires a relationship between the subject and the photographer in the moment, but ultimately, portraiture transcends this relationship and moment on to physical print. This collection of photographs explores the complexity of human experience within personal relationships through portraiture. The ability for portraits to express intangible qualities of human relationships are also present in this work. These works of portraits in its very own nature automatically resonates with the viewer by virtue that the subject is a person, the viewer is a person, and the photographer is a person. Photographer Robin Gillanders explain these entangled relationships when he states, “It's through faces that we know each other; that we are given our identity” (Gillanders, 2004). The duality of light--lightness vs darkness, shadows vs highlights--constantly shows itself in the work. Light versus dark symbolizes the ambiguity and questions whether or not the portrait is “good” or “bad”, “happy” or “sad”. As no human being is only joy, warmth or light, they also hold experiences of pain and fear and darkness. Also, the lighting is luminous, presenting the people in the photographs as heavenly, or already gone. Already lost. In this sense, a portrait memorializes it’s subject, The moment shared on print honors their life. This collection of photographs are inspired by the relationship and surrounding experiences between the photographer and the subject; including, the ultimate loss of that person. Each portrait presenting in this work are mere memories or traces of the individual. This contrast between the gaze of the photographer, subject, and viewer and the contrast of light illuminate the complexities of human relation and mortality .These photographs invite the viewer to remember their moments of pain and share the space with the subject. We are brought together from the past and the present by memorializing these moments.
Gillanders, Robin. The Photographic Portrait: Techniques, Strategies and Thoughts on Creating Portraits with Meaning . David & Charles, 2004.
