Portraiture is about the Photographer - Source Material?

[Frank Petronio]

I've often heard and somewhere I've read that "portraits are really more about the photographer than the subject."

I've seen that sentiment written multiple times - perhaps in one of the Richard Avedon book's foreword?

Does anyone know where this notion originated and where it has been expressed most clearly and effectively?

[Steve Smith]

I don't know, but it sounds like pretentious nonsense to me.


Steve.

[Mark Sawyer]

"Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me. My concern is...the human predicament; only what I consider the human predicament may simply be my own."

~ Richard Avedon
(quoted by Peter Weiermair in his book, Americans: The Social Landscape from 1940 Until 2006.)

[Ari]

"Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me. My concern is...the human predicament; only what I consider the human predicament may simply be my own."

~ Richard Avedon
(quoted by Peter Weiermair in his book, Americans: The Social Landscape from 1940 Until 2006.)

Well Avedon sure knew how to schmooze, that's for sure; and he usually had a good quotable on hand, because he really thought about what he was doing, all the time.
I forgive him his occasional self-absorbed lapses because he was so wonderful, talented and unique.
My favourite quote of his, though, and a humbler one:
"All photographs are accurate; none are the truth."

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I had cause.

[Emil Schildt]

I don't know, but it sounds like pretentious nonsense to me.


Steve.

why?

[mdm]

http://www.richardavedon.com/#mi=1&p...=-1&a=-1&at=-1

In the article titled Borowed Dogs. (perhaps not exactly what you are after, the egoiste interview is more like it)

There's nowhere to hide Frank. You have already spilled your guts and peed on the carpet.

[cjbecker]

I think portraits are pictures of the photographer. He is the one provoking the feeling of the subject to what wants/feeling. It is a beautiful dance between the photographer and the subject with the photographer leading.

[Walter Calahan]

It dates much further back then photography. The same can be said about painting. I'm sure Socrates had a few words about the arts, but don't remember him mentioning portraiture in Plato's "The Republic." Grin.

The idea does make me wonder about my own portraits. HA!

http://www.foundfolios.com/Walter-Calahan/Portraits/L

[mdm]

Love the lady with the fish.

[Alan Gales]

Love the lady with the fish.

I love it too!

I wonder if it's more about Walter or more about the lady. Perhaps, it's more about the fish?