Portrait Photography For Sale

The emergence of photography in the 19th century changed the representation of portraiture in the art world. Photography enabled artists to instantly capture their models’ likeness, as opposed to completing several sittings for a painting. Today, portrait photography continues to develop in contemporary art, through a range of new technologies, techniques and subjects. As the French art critic, Charles Baudelaire, said: “A portrait! What could be more simple and more complex, more obvious and more profound.”

Traditional Portrait Photography

In traditional portrait photography, the subject will typically look directly at the camera. Often shot in a studio, this type of portrait photography is posed, and the composition tends to focus on the head and shoulders. This genre is still popular within contemporary fine art photography, although artists often give it a modern twist. For example, Dutch artist Jenny Boot plays with the timeless aesthetic of portrait photography. Having started her career as painter, her photography demonstrates an interest in light and capturing human emotion. Her strong female models combine classical and contemporary elements, both in their costumes and pose. She re-works traditional paintings and characters in photographs such as Black Girl with Pearl.

Self-portraits

Artists frequently use self-portrait photography to explore their identity. Cody Choi first started to take photographs whilst he was on tour as a dancer in Matthew Bourne’s production of Swan Lake. Over the course of the three-year tour, Cody photographed his fellow dancers and their performance spaces. Most frequently in his practice, he captures the movement of himself dancing, in works such as Self Portrait #30.

Surreal Photography

Vikram Kushwah is a London-based art and fashion photographer whose work has a romantic, and often surreal quality. His images have a strong sense of narrative, with stories inspired by memory and dreams. Often found in enchanted forest-like settings, his figures appear as fairytale characters.

Black and White Photography

Black and white photography can create a timeless feel. Ian Hoskin photographs everyday subjects which draw him in. As he explains, they “involve the viewer in a moment which might have otherwise been overlooked, and in subject matter that could be seen as mundane”. By using black and white photography, his images focus on shape, texture and movement. For example, he might highlight the folds of a woman’s blouse, or the space between a couple sitting in a café.

Photo Montage

Canadian fine art photographer, Peter Horvath, is inspired by Dada artists, including John Heartfield and Hannah Hoch, whose work was created using photo-montage. Peter’s portrait photography is produced through digital collage, and explores narrative, abstraction and the illogical. He displaces the familiar and nostalgic with unique, surreal touches.

Travel Photography

The travel photography of award-winning photographer Andrew Lever has been featured in publications such as the National Geographic, Rough Guides, and the Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine. From surfers on the beaches of Dorset, to cyclists in Vietnam, he captures people within specific environments and locations.

Portraits in Photojournalism

Photojournalism tells news stories through powerful photography. Some of the most notable photojournalists have captured people and communities affected by wars, famine and natural disasters around the globe. For example, British photographer Don McCullin is recognised for his iconic war photographs – including images from Vietnam, Northern Ireland and, more recently, Syria. He has also recorded scenes of poverty and working class life in London’s East End and the industrial North.