On Photography - I love to make portraits - Kirk Tuck (Fri 07 Dec 2012)

Grandpa (Eric) [1] - John Sharman (*) Gallery / Mogo (Sun 07 Dec 2003)
Kirk Tuck (*) writes about the beauty the wonderful relationship he has with photography in (*):

I love to make portraits.

I love that not all of my subjects are required to smile.

I love that we can spend time talking about life while we're making portraits.

I love to work in black and white but I don't fear color.

I love light that can be both dramatic and flattering.

I love the contrast of dark shirts against light skin.

I love longish lenses and continuous lights.

I love going back and looking at old contact sheets to look at the "paths" not taken and then re-scanning and reprinting to see if my tastes have grown or changed since we last peeked into the contact sheets and made our choices.

Another amazing piece of writing about photography by a professional photographer. Got to love that. Thanks Kirk.

[1] Random Recollection - This is a photo of my Grandfather (my Father's Father). My brother, along with my Aunt took him on a drive and at my Aunt's suggestion we ended up at John Sharman's Art Gallery. My Aunt knows him well and she has a few of his paintings. John had also made some paintings from the cliff on the edge of my Grandfathers property at Malua Bay. One of the paintings is the unframed painting behind my Grandfather. This is a nice reminder of my childhood days spend at Malua Bay with my Grandparents.

I have a few more portraits from that day which I will publish here at some stage.

Portraits - You can't ask more of any portrait - Reciprocity Failure (Mon 09 Jul 2013)

portrait - Deng Adut - Archibald Prize / Art Gallery of NSW (Fri 22 Jul 2016)

Reciprocity Failure on Portraits:

[portraits] gives us reason to pause, focus and reflect at the wonder and challenges of their lives... as well as our own. You can't ask more of any portrait. [previously here]

via Russell Frederick by Reciprocity Failure.

Entered this photo in the Art and About 2016, Australian Life Competition. A great quote about portraits and it is what inspired me to enter a portrait this year.

Portraits - Del Kathryn Barton / Nick Galvin (Sat 09 Jul 2016)

Skippy Girls - Wilson Street / Redfern (Tue 05 Jul 2016)

Del Kathryn Barton on Portraits:

There has to be a really tangible, palpable connection between you and the sitter. The best portraits are about sincerity and connection.

via Archibald Prize: six winners on what it has meant for them and how to paint a contender by Nick Galvin.

Nicky - Zest / Sawtell (Fri 20 Mar 2015)

Nicky and her Zebra Canvas from Chelmsford Markets - Zest / Sawtell (Fri 20 Mar 2015)

Sophia Phan on James Brickwood and Portrait Phtography:

When it comes to taking portraits, James says it's all about the conversation.

"You're sitting there, you're having a dialogue, you're usually talking to the subject longer because you're trying to show the private side of them – as much that's accessible."

James shoots with a 50mm lens on a lot of his portraiture. Because of its focal length, you get the feeling that you're standing with the person to some extent.

via Spectrum Now: photographer James Brickwood captures Ed Sheeran's softer side by Sophia Phan.

Just using my iPhone for these portraits. Not sure of the focal length, but you need to get fairly close to get these kinds of portraits. Nicky is English and bought the Zebra Canvas at Chelmsford Markets and it is certainly the focal point for her Coffee Shop which is full of great art from near and far. Nice chatting to you Nicky. You have a great place and we will be back for sure.

Details - Zest / Sawtell (Fri 20 Mar 2015)

Street Portraits (3 of 3) - Hvar / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)

Street Portraits (3 of 3) - I'm your Super Hero - Hvar / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)

Street Portraits (1 of 3) - Hvar / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)

Street Portraits (1 of 3) - Hvar Ferry Terminal / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)
Love watching people. Easy to capture these moments. Cameras everywhere, so no one seems to really be too concerned, even if they realise they are being photographed. These were taken as we disembarked our Ferry which took us to Hvar from Split. The light and colour in Croatia is amazing - even during the midday sun. A few more to follow.

On Knowing the Unknown - Jorg Colberg (Fri 14 Feb 2014)

Street Portraits - Madrid / Spain (Sun Aug 11 Aug 2013)
Jorg Colberg (*) writes:

There is comfort in being told what you already know: It essentially tells you that you are right after all (even if you’re not). But there also is a strange kind of comfort in being told what you don’t know (*). You’re challenged (*), it is true, but you’re also being made aware that there are other ways to see the world, that, provided you’re a little open, there is space to grow.

via Review: Beautiful by Loredana Nemes (*) by Jorg Colberg (*).



Street Portraits - Madrid / Spain (Sun Aug 11 Aug 2013)

Street Portraits (1 of 4) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Street Portraits - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Portraits - Burren St / Macdonaldtown (Sat 29 Sep 2012)

Portraits - Burren St / Macdonaldtown (Sat 29 Sep 2012)
From the gallery walls of the Macdonaldtown Railway Underpass.

Street Art Portraits - Barr St / Camperdown (Sat 15 Dec 2012)

Street Art Portraits - Barr St / Camperdown (Sat 14 Dec 2012)

Street Portraits (4 of 4) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Street Portraits - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Street Portraits (2 of 3) - Hvar / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)

Street Portraits (2 of 3) - this photo is a little over exposed but I like it - Hvar / Hvar / Croatia (Wed 31 Jul 2013)

Street Portraits (3 of 4) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Street Portraits - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Pasteup Portraits - Fintan Magee - Church Street / Newtown (Sat 17 Nov 2012)

Pasteups Portraits - Fintan Magee (*) - Church Street / Newtown (Sat 17 Nov 2012)
Pasteups - Fintan Magee (*) - Church Street / Newtown (Sat 17 Nov 2012)
Needless to say, but I think they are fantastic. More on Fintan Magee (*) here (*)

Street Portrait - Dark Tranquilli - Barcelona (Tue 06 Aug 2013)

Street Portrait - Dark Tranquilli (*) - Barcelona (Tue 06 Aug 2013)
StreetSooter (*) writes On Photography (*), Life (*) and Light (*):

I felt like THE LORD was shining a light (*) for me to make a photo….Oh man, what a feeling…it was like an experience that one should remember for eternity. I raised the Leica with the 35cron and just as I put it to my eye….

I kinda heard a voice in my head and I thought it was THE LORD as he said….Schmuck, your shooting TRI-X.

Those are the kind of experiences (*) that effect your life…or not! For me things like that leave me open to the possibilities of what ever life throws at me.

via Fuji XP1 & 35mm Find The Light … and Some Other Things (*) by StreetSooter (*).

The light (*) in this beautiful old passageway, a couple of blocks off the more touristy boulevards, had lined up to be directly along its path. I remember standing to the side and quietly taking a few candid Street Portraits (*) that day (*).

On Photography - Garry Winogrand and People Photography - Blake Andrews (Tue 12 Mar 2013)

Hands - Park Street / Sydney (Tue 12 Mar 2013)
Blake Andrews (*) writes about Garry Winogrand (*):

I think Winogrand's attraction to photographing people was psychological. He liked to play with figures as compositional figures, but more importantly he liked to get inside their heads. Many of his photos are like X-Ray visions. They burrow right into the thoughts of the characters. It's not easy to make photos like that without bogging down in sentimentality, without the thoughts becoming the primary subject. I see a lot of portraits nowadays concerned with that penetration, but they often leave the rest of life behind. Winogrand somehow combined X-Rays with surface level reality in a way that I think is rare. I know I can't do it.

via More thoughts on Winogrand (*) by Blake Andrews (*).

On Gifts and Photography - Jorg Colberg (Fri 28 Feb 2014)

Street Portrait - Harris Street / Ultimo (Mon 24 Feb 2014)
Jorg Colberg (*) writes On Photography (*):

There are gifts (*) everywhere, and you “just” need to be able to spot them, accept (*) them, work with them.

via Review: Emile Hyperion Dubuisson’s Far (*) by Jorg Colberg (*).

End of the first week in our new Office. A new stomping ground for my Street Portraits (*). The area is vibrant and I know it well from my time at UTS doing my Postgraduate Degree in Data Processing (what an old fashion term). Love it here already and I could not help but snap this photo of a building site worker out on his lunch hour with a nice balloon in tow.

An aside and thanks: Jorg Colberg (*) is my favourite writer on photography. He is able to abstract the essence of an experience, a book or whatever; and write so clearly and succinctly about it. He always gives you something to think about and I eagerly await his next post. Thanks Jorg.

On Self Belief - Amy Lombard / Freddy Martinez (Wed 14 Jul 2014)

Untitled - George Street / Sydney (Wed 03 Jun 2015)

Amy Lombard on Self Belief:

I don’t believe in giving up. [..] Believe in yourself and what you’re doing, and success will follow.

via Amy Lombard Interview: Flashy Portraits of Unordinary People by Freddy Martinez.

Carolina - Casp / Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)

Carolina - Casp / Barcelona (Wed 07 Aug 2013)
Trying my hand at portrait photography. Just capturing a face however they want to look at the camera, which by the way, is right in their face.

Carolina was on the front desk at the Apartment we stayed at in Barcelona. She was very helpful and she was kind enough to agree to a few photos. Carolina had a beautiful smile and I think it showed through here. Thanks Carolina.

I have a few more portraits to follow over the next few days. Every day I see two or three people that I wish I had the courage to ask for their photo. I will get there one day.

Street Portraits (2 of 4) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)

Street Portrait (Hands) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)