Street Portraiture: The Timeless Beauty

New York: Union Square 

Inspiration: My homework assignment is over and has been critiqued by my teacher and class. I am pleased to report that my portrait work was well received. The most popular series was this one. I also showed a few that I haven't yet posted on the blog. In any event, I am still inspired by the assignment. This week, our assignment is to choose the theme of a personal project on which we will work for the remainder of the semester. I am thinking of doing portraits as it will force me to ask more people for photographs.  Asking for the photo leads to a connection with the subject of the photo, which in turn leads to some really beautiful and interesting shots - ones that are much different from candid portraits (although, I will always love the candid moment). The other option is to continue doing street scenes like this one. What do you think? I am seriously considering the more challenging option - portraits. After all, isn't that why I am in the class in the first place?

In any event, I stopped Anna for her photo because I thought that she had a fabulous look. She's undeniably beautiful, but what interested me the most was the timelessness of her face. It's modern and 18th-century all at once. See The Photodiarist in Color for another photo.

Comments

[Biana]

Congrats on passing your assignment. I'd say do the portraits! It's a great opportunity to push yourself. And also the portraits you've made are so beautiful, you can only get better and better at it! I wouldn't choose the easy road, go ahead and challenge yourself! Goodluck!

[Nadine2point0.blogspot.com]

You took the words out of my thoughts on how timeless her features are. I think it's her mouth, or expression, something! Bit of a Bronte character there.
You clearly have a gift for photography and portraiture in particualr. Sky's the limit with natural talent like that.
I'm with Biana with this. I am always happier with choices when I challenge myself ;)

[Misanthropic Pulp]

Wow, she truly is beautiful, and what great shots.
love her glasses×D

http://misanthropicpulp.blogspot.com/

[thestreetfashion5xpro]

Amazing images!!!

[Eveline]

Personally I love your street scenes. but as you said it' probably better to go with portraits for the course.

And this pretty girl works so well in black and white.

[jill]

Beautiful shots, beautiful girl.

Came here to reply to your comment (answer: I forgot to ask the various friends I saw when I was out, to shoot me! Hah. Might ask husband when he's home but it would mean getting dressed all over again. Might just do it, tho).

I'm glad I saw this post with your question because until last year, my photography was either landscapes or nature, or if I shot people, it was without their 'permission'. I wasn't blogging, it was for myself, and I had found a way to become invisible, which I'm guessing is what you're like when you shoot. It's like deer stalking in a way.

In my experience, I've not just had wonderful experiences so far, doing 'portraits' (i.e. street style shooting), I've also formed, and continue to form, new friendships that have sprung from asking to take a stranger's photo. To think that these important friendships might not exist if I hadn't challenged myself.

It really goes against my nature, and I assume, yours. But that's the whole point of being an artist isn't it?

And you are an extraordinarily gifted artist. Thank you also for your wonderful, supportive comments last week. I also love the musician in the click thru post. xo

[Stephanie Clayton]

She has the face of an angel. You've captured her essence so beautifully.

[Gustav Liliequist]

Go on with the portraits! The first one of these is especially strong. You've managed a very nice classical look in that one. Outstanding.

[Liya]

She is beautiful! I love her portrait in B&W, I think you should go with Portraits for your project... it is one of the most powerful ways to tell a story of someone's life. Could you also may be do a short post about how you approach people and if you have any techniques on how to make them feel comfortable.. I took some shots of my friend the other day (her portrait is on my blog) and it was quite awkward..I had to wrap it up pretty quickly :(

[Lady M]

Her lip is so cute!She is beautiful.great photo!
I love your all photo.
It may be an improper expression,I love your street scenes photo.It's very natural and beautiful scenes.And very interesting.
There is depth in the photograph.
My favorite is a beautiful scene with the people are reflected in a photo.And a person's personality is reflected in your photo.
But your portrait is so great too.
I think that it is good to choose difficult one.
That's entirely up to you.Please keeping the faith. Because you are very talented.

[Carole]

beautiful yes of course!

go for the most challenging (also rewarding). You can always do the rest also when you feel like it.

[C.]

I love everything in these photos,
just gorgeous ! She is amazing . . .

Your photos are sublime, really, thus for your choices
between Street Scenes or Portraits, It's difficult to choose
because you excels in many domains .

In my opinion you should choose the one who inspires you most at the moment .

Just listen your feeling :)

[the nyanzi report]

i do think you should continue with potraits coz it gives your pictures so much soul.
you have that 'thing' that every good photographer posseses.
we are all in awe of them.
that said, i got nothing your against streetstyle.

[Marilynka]

she is gorgeous you really captured the beauty of this woman

[mary]

She is very beautiful, and your photos, especially the first one, are gorgeous!

[Don]

Love the first portrait- do more!

[martita]

Los puntitos en sus axilas...

[Cristi]

Really amazing. I am still so socially enept to be able to ask people for their photo. This class has really chainged your photography and perspective. I love it!

[Danny]

You have an awesome photo blog here, man :) And yes, her beauty is indeed both timeless with a modern twist. I myself have been shooting candids for about 2 years now and i just recently started to transition into portraits also by asking strangers. I agree that portraiture is even harder... but then, so is everything else that's worth doing, right? :)