To produce an intimate portrait rather than a banal likeness, the result of mere chance, you must be in tune with the model, capture his thoughts and even his character. Nadar, 1856

(About PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY)

Some essential things never change, and still we seem to forget or not believe, go long distances to prove otherwise, only to return some day to find that it still is working the one way……How is this possible in a world of constant change? Well, all change, as already the old Buddhist teachers say, revolves around some stable center. This means, as I understand it, there is some unchangeable core around which all movement and change happens, but this change depends in the end on the stable core, on its existence, stability and deep significance. The change around it invents itself so to speak in always renewing cycles of new interpretations of the one same old core! This happens as unlimited and diversified as we nearly 7 billion human beings are. All different in our expressions of the same core feelings of joy, worry, or whatever it may be that moves us. A bit too deep? If you want to explore the true fascination and source of an authentic captivating portrait, there is no shortcut to this.
Tune in, as Nadar already found in 1856, and probably many artists before him and before the time of photography. Being in tune with your model needs compassion, understanding, love. The realization and awareness that we are all one beyond all surfacey differences also is very helpful. However your approach to this sort of knowing may be, that doesn't matter. What really matters is that you can connect on that deep level somehow, sometimes it doesn't even have to be conscious, it even could work unconsciously, if you are truly tuned in somehow. This is one of the most exciting journeys in photography and beyond, to discover and uncover the treasures which are there waiting in all of us to be found. Photography is such an amazing tool in revealing these individual treasures to the rest of the world.


Find out more about
Nadar

View my images
Maja Moritz Photography / Portrait Portfolio


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The tool in photography is not the camera, but the photographer. Eve Arnold

(About CONNECTION)

Photographic equipment is hugely overestimated in photography. Although it is nice to play around with the latest gear, this actually has not much to do with photography beyond the technical. No matter what camera you are using, your perception of what you see, your understanding of your subject and how you interpret it, is what counts. The visual translation of your interpretation into a photograph might depend on your equipment to a certain degree, but that is marginal in comparison with the input your very personal perception and impression of an experience has on your photography. Being connected does the magic, connected with yourself, with others, everything in the end. Your level of connectedness is of prime importance to this. It is mirrored in your photographs. There are many levels of interconnection and meaning to everything and I cannot recommend enough to dig as deep as you can! Your ability of doing this, however your way of doing it looks like, this is what will make your photography truly interesting and ideally timeless beautiful and meaningful. Start exploring this by digging deep within yourself - it might be enough to feel things, because your own photographs will make you understand, just keep open to it and you will surprise yourself ;)


Find out more about
Eve Arnold

Read more about criteria for a good photograph
Photography Challenges

It is so much more easy to see but to capture,
we all struggle with our equipment at times...
PHOTOGRAPHER IN ACTION


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Photography „will show more of the real truth of the affair to someone who was not there than the whole scene.“ Robert Capa

(About the BIGGER PICTURE)

I have found this to be very true, and, if you as a photographer are aware of what this means, then you have found a very powerful tool to lift your photography to the next level. It means not only being a visual witness, it means consciously adding meaning, meaningfulness to your selection of moments.
Obviously 10 different photographers might be able to give 10 different meanings to the same situation......what is your truth? What is the truth that you see? Truth in the end is sooo big that all our different truths have their place there. So what is truth when it can be everything? If your own truth resonate only within yourself, you probably will not reach many people with your visual interpretation of it, meaning your photographs - but if your own truth resonates with many people then you will be a successful photographer!


Find out more about
Robert Capa

Read more about criteria for a good photograph
Photography Challenges

View my images
Maja Moritz Photography / Sports Portfolio


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