Been looking at this photograph Richard Avedon shot of his father tonight. The straight forward honesty of the image gives it great power. Years ago I realized that the un true (pretty/flattering) pictures made by commercial portrait photographers was not the way I wanted to go with my work. A closer truth to what a person is can be seen when the attempts to prettify things are removed, truly good/great portraits come out of the artists honest interpretation of his subject along with the subject opening up and allowing their inner true self to be captured.
I must strive to show the humanity of my subjects, their individuality/intensity must be captured, the light that makes them who they are must be reflected in the picture. I owe it to the people that trust me to photograph them to be honest, it is important that they are remembered as the unique people they were.
