Catching the soul

After 25 years working on commissioned portraits I have collected the photographs that had originally been intended to be used as a ‘script’ for portraits which were to have been painted subsequently. For some reason the choice had in the end fallen on other images than those presented in this project. This series of selected photographs is of particular significance to me as it demonstrates my fascination for the process of photography where the sitter looks into the camera whilst at the same time he (or she) is unconsciously reacting to me, the photographer. All faces in my portraits seem to look at the viewer directly, without reserve. This is to me the most favourable position for catching the ‘soul’ (the essence) of my subjects. Each of them has his (or her) own way of positioning themselves and an ‘aura’ which emanates from each individual. But most important is the glance from the eyes which illuminates the unique inner world of the person. |