Mirror of Self: Portrait Photography
The observation of the human person, his character traits, facial expressions, body language and everything that characterizes a person draws a lot of attention to the lens. The first solo exhibition Mirror of Self, realized at the Gallery Gallery 78 in Belgrade in 2011, has just emerged from the great interest in portrait photography and several years of portrait studies.
At the very beginning of the project, the emphasis was on models that are part of everyday life. It is important to point out that the aim of this study was to present portraits of models that are not part of public life and not accustomed to exposing themselves to the cameras, which would see the result of working with them. Such conception of the project idea leads to the universal story of portrait photography.
Every individual, whether from public or private daily life, carries with it certain characteristics which determine and make his self. The self of the portrait model is the main motive of portrait photography. The starting point in working with models for exhibition Mirror of Self, as well as for any other portraiture, was communication between the model and the photographer. By getting to know, talking, drinking coffee, photographer comes to research and therefore the manifestation of all the features and characteristics of the portrayed. Sometimes through funny and joyful life stories from the life of a model and sometimes through imagined and sad moments that affect the release the self of portrayed model. Playing with character lines leads to special compositions that are packaged through the lens and memorized forever.
Photographing portraits in the exterior gave a special note to the compositions of portraits for the exhibition Mirror of Self. Daylight as an excellent light source for photographing portraits in conjunction with the image of the city, on this occasion the image of Belgrade, provided a more vivid expression of the personality of the portraited models who, despite the curiosity of passersby, very well established the game with the camera.
In addition to individual portraits, the self-personality of one personality is also expressed in group portraits. The manifestation of self in the society gathered for someone is an easy task while for another impossible mission. The task of the photographer is precisely to align each self in society so that no one is obscured and no one is overemphasized. Everyone presents themselves but in relation to each other. The wind in the back for the Mirror of Self project was certainly the fact that we gathered for group photography in the first proposed term. It was winter, cold and snowy day and there were no complaints. ☺
Portrait Photography is a mystical game that can lead to unfamiliar images. Observing how the character of portraited model changes in the specific situation and his reading is invaluable for portrait photography. Hundred stories are hundred faces of one person, hundred faces are hundred photographs of a portraited person and they are a mirror of his own self.
