this camera could never lie: Portrait Photography + Tom Barnes

Portrait photography is when photographs are taken of a person or people instead of being drawn or painted. They can be shot inside or outside, in a studio or anywhere else. A fast shutter speed is often used to capture these images to compensate for changes in facial expression or fidgeting. The practice of taking portraits was popularised with the invention of daguerreotypes - photographs created through a chemical process involving mercury vapour - in 1839 by Louis Daguerre. This meant that the lower classes could afford to have a picture taken too.

A portrait by Tom Barnes

The National Portrait Gallery in London is dedicated to portraits of people of historical importance to the UK. It houses more than 250,000 photographs.

An example of a portrait photographer is Tom Barnes, an England-based photographer who works internationally shooting bands, models, animals, and ordinary people. He has shot for as diverse a range of clients as Rock Sound, Channel Four, Q Magazine, Drop Dead, and Roadrunner Records. He also shoots people and things he finds interesting for himself, posting them on his website.

Self-taught while doing an urban land economics degree at university, he has been taking photographs since around the age of four. Now, having spent over £25,000 on his camera equipment, he is a renowned portrait photographer sought out for press, editorial and advertising. I discovered him originally through his close relationship with the band You Me At Six and by seeing his photographs in publications such as Kerrang!. I like what he does with his surroundings and light to take engaging photographs.

He shot all the individual
portraits here except
for Oli Sykes. (RS194)

As a photographer, he relies heavily on artificial light over natural. His signature style uses this lighting to create a sombre effect. He has an impressive array of photographic techniques and methods and all of his images are engaging and interesting.

An example of Tom Barnes' work

Moreover, he uses his online presence as a way to show his equipment (including his awesome workspace he made himself!), tips and tricks etc.

With portrait photography, the subject(s) can be photographed close up or from a distance. They are usually shot with either half the body in view or just a head shot. Portraits are good for school photos, baby pictures, and photographs where you are trying to capture a mood or expression.

Young Guns, by Tom Barnes

This portrait of Daniel Mays is nice because all the colours tie in together, with the brown of the suit and the walls, and the similar colour of the Scrabble tiles and the windows. I like how it was set up so it seems as if the subject has been interrupted in his game. The way it includes around half of his

Daniel Mays (Tom Barnes)

body as well as the surrounding area makes the photo more inclusive, like the viewer is seated opposite him. The photo has a warm atmosphere and I really like it, along with the rest of Barnes' work.