A true portrait should, today and a hundred years from today, the Testimony of how this person looked and what kind of human being he was
Philippe HalsmanThe word "photography" can be interpreted as "writing with light" or "drawing with light." Some photographers are producing beautiful photographs by drawing with light.. Some other photographers are trying to tell something with their photographs. They are writing with light.
Philippe HalsmanA good portrait is incredibly hard to create, there is too much temptation to pander to the individual rather than portray them as they really were
Philippe HalsmanI make the woman look at the camera as a symbol of all the eyes that will see the picture I am making.
Philippe HalsmanWith a woman I try to photograph her beauty; with a man I try to show his character. Once I photographed a man with a big nose (Jimmy Durante), and emphasized his nose, and he was very pleased with the picture. That could not happen with a woman. The most intelligent woman will reject a portrait if it doesn't flatter her.
Philippe Halsman[Revealing character] can't be done by pushing the person into position or arranging his head at a certain angle. It must be accomplished by provoking the victim, amusing him with jokes, lulling him with silence, or asking impertinent questions which his best friend would be afraid to voice.
Philippe Halsman