Selections by =Tachy-on















One of the most popular photographic themes on DA must be the category of Emotive portraits.

The one added value of the work in this category is that if in good conceptual or photojournalism you feel symbolic emotion, in Emotive portraits the emotion you feel is very personal. The idea is that the portrait reveals something very personal. The look in the eyes, the wrinkles, or the eyelashes, the smile, the soul as it reveals itself in the expression. When it’s done right, the connection is immediate. You feel something - It could be affection, or despise, but you feel it, and that’s effective.

The secret to a good Emotive portrait work is not as commonly considered, the model.

Of course the model is important, but I believe that a good photographer can tell a touching story about every one of us, if he does it right. Emotive portraits have to do a lot with technique – Light, angles, composition, and focus. But, not technique is the secret either. IMHO the secret is in the answer to the question: “What is it that I want to tell you about this man (or woman)?” After you answered that question, all you have to do is use all you got to show that special emotion. When it’s done right, it’s hard to find something as touching a face with a story.

Before getting to my favorite in this category, let me digress for a second and say that Emotive portraits are even a little too much popular in DA. Not because this is not a worthy theme, it is. Because it seems to me (in my humble opinion) that even average and banal portraits are considered Emotive and getting much too much attention and popularity. I would like to see higher standards in that theme. We would only get better by challenging ourselves to do the best we can, right?



Now, this is what I’m talking about.

You can see so much in this.

Basically, this is minimal and simple. But when you concentrate enough, the spirit runs wild. The body tone and look in the eyes. Nothing else needed to be said.

Enjoy.