Every portrait tells a story : a study of the transposition of traditional portrait values into contemporary portrait photography

Abstract

This dissertation offers an insight into the photographic techniques utilised by the portrait photographer to convey the intended meaning through his/her subject. The underlying argument of the dissertation is based on the idea that the photographer's message will generate the intended effect on viewers who share a similar cultural background with the photographer. In order to test the link between the photographer's intended meaning and the viewer's interpretation of the portrait in a shared cultural context, a photographic project with an experimental theme is carried out. The project involves a rework of three portrait paintings in a photography studio using contemporary portrait techniques. Three iconic portraits from different periods are chosen and their cultural background analysed. The values and meanings conveyed in these works of art are extracted and transmitted to contemporary portrait photography. Thus the photographer's intention in this project is to recreate and test the effect of the values of the original portraits in a contemporary portrait setup. The qualitative research method used to assess the results of this project involves semi-structured interviews with individuals who are substantially knowledgeable in the fields of art and portrait photography. An analysis of the comments obtained during the interviews suggests that while it is possible for the photographer to achieve similarity in terms of visuals and mood, the portrait is likely to carry a different meaning in a contemporary context.