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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