The main differences and similarities of portraits between the early days of photography and now are as follows. Back when photography was new it took hours of work to take one photo. Only the elite, the rich and powerful had the opportunity to have their photo taken. But now anyone who wants to have their portrait taken can do so, and they do not necessarily need to have a professional photographer to do so, and it can be done within a matter of minutes as apposed to hours. Back in the early days of photography the quality of the photos were much poorer then they are today. They were taken with film, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it was a lower grade film then what we use today. Now we have superior digital photography which makes for a better quality photo. They photos from back in the early days were also black and white because it was all that was available, but now we have the option of colour. We still use black and white but the quality of a black and white has greatly been improved. Another important difference is emotion. Back when the first portraits were being taken there was no emotion or expression on the faces being captured. It was a serious and important transaction to have your portrait taken. Now portraits can be captured instantly including the emotion being felt.
The two portraits below show the contrast of portraits in the early days of photography and now.
"Julia Margaret Cameron. Tomas Carlyle. 1867. Albumen print. The National Portrait Gallery, London."
"Carlyle, on receiving this portrait, wrote Mrs. Cameron: “It is as if it suddenly began to speak, terrifically ugly and woe-begone.”"
Martin Schoeller photographs Jack Nicholson, 2002.
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The photographer back in the early days of photography would have been commissioned, people with money and in high class society on whatever level when decided that they wanted to have their photo taken. They would hire a photographer who knew how to work a camera and have their photo taken the way they wanted to be depicted. There was little to no creative expression by the photographer, they were only hired to do a job. In contrast, currently photographers have all the creative expression they want and are encouraged to do so. When people decided they want their portrait taken they find a photographer who’s work they admire to take the portrait. Instead of hiring any photographer to take the photo, it is not common now to hire a photographer and tell them what you want done. Photographers have a portfolio of the work that they create and if you like it you choose that photographer.
The portrait below shows a lack of creativity by the photographer, it is simply a profile of a woman.
"Julia Margaret Cameron. Mrs. Herbert Duckworth. (later Mrs. Leslie Stephan), Mother of Virginia Woolf. 1867. Albumen print. Collection Beaumont Newhall, Santa Fe."
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Thanks to the advancements in technology photography has become much more accessible to everyone. You do not necessarily have to be a educated photographer to capture an important moment. A photo can be taken in a second instead of it being a planned and extending event. The quality of the photos themselves have been greatly improved, there is now colour and in immaculate digital conditions. There are still black and white images being taken but even black and white photos have been improved, they are clearer and sharper. Film is still used but improved on all levels, and digital photography is the norm because of it’s simplicity and user friendly system.
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