Portraits can convey many different tones, ranging from power to love, they have developed over the centuries. I think that portraits have come a long way, because so many great artists have 'pushed the envelope.' It's interesting to think of portraits as a role being played by the subject, instead of just another photo of a person. To me, a strong portrait can convey different tones and tell a story in some way. I did a little research, on August Sander's portraits and I can tell that his portraits captured the true identity of the subject. Sander's most recognized portrait called "Bricklayer" is my favorite because it uses simplicity and intensity. The light focused only on the man creates a mood of intensity, and him simply holding the pile of bricks like it weighs next to nothing is simplistic in its own way.
Diane Arbus on the other hand, added more of a sophisticated, high class feel to her portraits. Unlike Sander's work which was had more of an edge, Arbus's portraits seemed softer and more intricate. She also didn't play around with lighting as intensely as Sander did, which to me is something that differentiates the two brilliant photographers.
This article definitely helped me understand portraits better, so hopefully as a photographer, I can learn to experiment and broaden my range with portraits.
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