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PORTRAIT SERIES 1

Portrait Series 2

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‘In Focus: People and Their Spaces’, The portrait series brings together a collection of photographs in which each person depicted is presented in a very particular way. Some look directly into the camera – a quiet, direct gaze that not only establishes contact with the viewer, but also reveals self-confidence, vulnerability or reserve. The gaze is unadorned, open, sometimes challenging. It acts as a bridge between subject and viewer, as an invitation, but also as a boundary. Other portraits show the subject from multiple perspectives, such as Rose from the side in 'Untitled' from Portrait Series 1, Clive from an oblique angle, or the Butcher of Brixton in motion. Indirect portraits do not depict the face, instead portraying the hands, as in Last Days with Mother's Hands, or a photograph, as in 'Untitled' in Portrait Series 2.
Each portrait is embedded in a background that is more than just a setting – it is an integral part of the narrative. The space, the objects, the colours, and the light tell us something about the activity, passion, or character of the person portrayed. The background is not merely context, but a mirror of inner states and social reality. Some portraits adhere to the tradition of classical portrait photography and remain largely unedited. Others have undergone significant post-production processing and take the form of digital compositions or collages, as demonstrated by the self-portrait, which showcases a blend of positive and negative elements.
This series does not focus on the pose, but on the presence. The direct gaze of the subjects creates a tension between self-staging and revelation. The spaces around them are not decorative elements – they are co-actors. Every glance, every background tells a story. Not loudly, but insistently. Not explanatory, but suggestive. At a time when self-image is often staged through media filters, this series offers a return to the essentials: to encounters on equal terms.