That's a very interesting difference in how we use the words. So, to give an example, you would not consider Arnold Newman's photograph of Krupp to be a portrait? If so, it goes very strongly against the way the word is understood in British English at the very least.
I have never noticed such a distinction in American or Canadian writing about photography. You can see Newman's picture of Krupp on the PDN page for Newman (http://www.pdngallery.com/legends/newman/). Under Portraits! ;o) Bob > > Around here, the meaning of portrait and character study are much > more like Bill has said. Perhaps it has meaning based on the intent. > In a character study, one is trying to bring out something more about > the person than just the exterior view. In a portrait one is trying > to show a pleasing view of the exterior. > > Perhaps another way to think of it is that portraits are regularly > asked for and paid for by the subject. Character studies may not be. > I'm sure in different parts of the world, there is a difference of > meaning of these words. And, at times, even with different meanings, > a single photograph could show both. One of the easiest tests of the > portrait success is if the subject is happy with the image. > > So Jostein, has the subject seen this image and what did he think? > > -- > Bruce > > > Friday, April 10, 2009, 4:23:39 AM, you wrote: > > >> 2009/4/9 William Robb <war...@gmail.com>: > >> > Had you called it a character study, then I would have commented > >> > differently. You called it a portrait, and that had a great > >> deal to do with > >> > my response to it. > >> > >> hmm... > >> That's interesting. Didn't cross my mind that the word "portrait" > >> primed people that much. Or maybe that my understanding of > the word is > >> that deviant... :-) > >> > >> Another lesson learned, hopefully. > >> > > >snip< > > BW> I always think of 'character study' and 'portrait' as > synonymous. To me the > BW> whole point of a portrait is to reveal something of the > person's character > BW> to the viewer. Otherwise it's just a mug shot, or a study > in texture or > BW> form. > > BW> Bob > > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly > above and follow the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
