Untitled

In spite of the focal point being a nipple in sharp focus -- with

model's face acting as a blurry backdrop to it -- I still believe this

photograph to be first and foremost a portrait. Your thoughts?

Tomek,

I will answer your question rather than do a critique.

I'm sure that you are correct. This is first and foremost a portrait. There is not question in my mind that this girl, her friends and relatives will want copies to display on their walls and on their desks in their offices.

Maybe we need some guidelines as to what constitutes a portrait. I am sure this could be considered a portrait under certain circumstances. It is all in how you look at it.

Nice skin tones (couldn't resist),

Mark

I'm not into rules and regulations, but building on your sarcasm, it seems your guideline as to what constitutes a portrait would be a picture of a person that s/he as well as her/his friends and relatives will want copies of to display on their walls and on their desks in their offices; indeed, for the vast majority of people concerned, my picture would have failed that test.

However, not being fully satisfied with the qualifying criteria you hinted, I've done a quick research, the results of which are provided below. Please feel free to draw on them should you still see the need to formulate the guidelines:

Having said that, they actually did come up with a couple of definitions, which I have taken the liberty to cite below in full as they may be of interest:

Tomek,

To me the purpose of a portrait is to display the likeness of a person (or more than one person - who are connected in some way) in the most complimentary way possible. It is meant for display by the person, or people in the image, their friends or their relatives. To me this is a given unless there is some other purpose that is stated to the viewer. There are times when a portrait may be displayed by people who don't even know the person in the portrait. There could be a variety of reasons for this. The person could be famous or it could be an emotion that a viewer feels by looking at the picture. Depending on the skill or intentions of the photographer that portrait can be described by others in various ways. It is personal viewpoint - there is no right or wrong - there is only opinion.

The photographer decides how they want to portray the likeness of a person. It may be literal, inner, spiritual or any other meaningful or not meaningful interpretation of "likeness". They may decide that the person they are photographing is just a vehicle for an idea that they want to convey. In an ideal world the message the photographer is trying to convey to the viewer will be the same that the viewer receives. I am sure that this doesn't often happen.

If someone puts a photograph up for display they should not be surprised that someone may wish to make a comment as to whether they like or dislike the photograph. They may even tell you why they like or dislike it and/or how to fix it so that it will look better (to them).

Perhaps it would not be a bad idea for a photographer to inform viewers what they are trying to say with their portrait if it is something than other trying to make an image that shows the likeness of a person to the best of their ability. It is much more realistic to have someone judge a photograph if that person understands the purpose of the photograph. There are just some things that many of us take for granted because of our past education and experience. Until we are told differently, that is how it is.

Of course, what many photographers seek is a paycheck and couldn't care less about what the portrait says other than how it relates to profit. This is another story for another time. The never ending story...

Mark