Portrait Challenge – A selection

From the Mona Lisa and Che Guevara, all the way to the Afghan Girl, there are so many powerful and expressive portraits that have become famous the world over. There is no secret recipe for the perfect portrait, because working with people requires a great degree of empathy. There is virtually no other photographic genre where direct communication with the subject in front of the camera is so important, as in the case of portrait photography. Even though it is one of the most popular genres, there are still countless biographies to be shared; so that searching for interesting people will never be boring. It could be a neighbour’s child, a fishmonger, or a famous film star – all of them carry their own story within. And photography is one way to help tell those stories.

At the same time, the technical side of portrait photography can not be underestimated: questions of the ideal aperture, the perfect lighting or the best perspective, often lead to heated discussions among photographers. A harmonious interplay between all these factors – without forgetting the interplay between the person behind and the person in front of the camera – are decisive for a successful portrait. Over the last few weeks you have clearly demonstrated how this can be achieved. From among hundreds of Portrait Challenge submissions to the LFI.Gallery, we have selected the some of the best to present to you. Regardless of age, origins or gender, you will surely be impressed by the collection of expressive personalities. We hope you will enjoy these character studies, and take the opportunity to thank you all for the many submissions!