11 amazing portraits from MAD ABOUT PORTRAITS flickr group, vol. 6!

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by Lukasz Wierzbowski

"Taking bad photos is important." ... interview with DAN HAYON.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?
This photo was taken in 1967 or 1968. 

At that time I was a student at the Art Academy in Bucharest and, just because I had a camera, a friend of a friend of a friend, got me a summer job as a stage photographer during the shooting of a feature movie. One of the things I had to do, was to take the pictures of those who wanted to be hired as extras for the film. It was almost like a police procedure: they were brought to me, I put them in front of a black wall asked them to look at me and I pressed the button like a firing squad. One of them was the man in this photo. Didn't know his name, didn't know his story. I suppose that the expression on his face would have been the same if he had a real policeman in front of him. Later I was told that he was a Jew who wanted to emigrate to Israel and was waiting for years to get a visa. I wonder If he expected me to give him one.

Anyway, I didn't think then of my self as a real photographer. I still don't.

Amazing portraits from MAD ABOUT PORTRAITS flickr group, vol. 5!

We're back with another stunning portraits from our MaP flickr group- join us.

by Raelene Giffin

11 amazing portraits from MAD ABOUT PORTRAITS flickr group, vol. 4! Square formats of women!

We're waiting for your portraits! Join our Mad about Portraits flickr group!


by soulmining photography

"Camera otaku" ... interview with JON SIEGEL.

Jon is a creative director based out of Tokyo, Japan, running the creative agency Pikkles with his business partner Vitaly Dmitriev. He is an avid photographer who loves Japan and Japanese culture and hopes his photography will inspire others to visit this incredible country.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This is my dear friend Nurul, we met after I moved to Singapore with my wife Waki who is taking her MBA course here. That night was our first evening out together, we were enjoying a drink and a game of cards outside a popular bar. Waki and Nurul were getting serious with the game while I sat back and enjoyed my drink. Nurul lit up and I couldn't resist, I had to take a shot. From my point of view, the bokeh my 50 produces played nicely with Nurul's polka-dot dress, and the colored lights from the bar framed her nicely. Nurul was a good sport about me taking a few photos, often when people notice me taking shots they start to post but Nurul kept her cool and that's how I got this shot. It's one of my favorites.

11 amazing portraits from our MAD ABOUT PORTRAITS flickr group, vol. 3!

Join our MaP flickr group and be featured in the next collection of amazing portraits!

by Lulu Liu

"My photo bag is heavier than me!"... VALENTINA VALLONE.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago. I adore the seaside so i decided to go there with my friend Ludovica and shoot some pictures. I took her aback and just clicked! I love to improvise and it’s a very natural thing to do so with her … 

"Draw your ideas down!" ... interview with CATHLINE DICKENS.

Cathline Dickens is an eighteen year old surreal portrait photographer in Western New York. She is going to major in environmental studies in a college just outside New York City to reach her goal of her dream job - National Geographic or the World Wildlife Foundation. Her inspiration stems from novels, music, and movies. Each of her photographs tells a different story about her, and some usually dig deep into her soul if looked at in the right way. 

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This photograph was actually apart of a Harry Potter series I did back around November of 2010. It was in commemoration of the Deathy Hallows release and to pay a little respect to a peice of my childhood. It was a self-portrait so the model was me and it look a lot of prepping to get the lighting right and the water to glow. This is a pensieve, you'd store memories in it and then you could look back at them whenever you wanted

"Just do what feels right."... Interview with CHARLOTTE GAUCKLER.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

There's not really a story to tell. For most of my photos I just get inspired by something I see, in this case it was the shadows on my bedroom wall. And it has become really normal to me to take a self portrait whenever I feel inspired. It's just something I have to do and I can't explain why.

ALEXEY DEMIDOV... Interview with professional portrait photographer.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This was a warm day. We were out in the city walking with my wife, so this is spontaneous photography, without any planning.

LOOKING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Mad About Portraits blog is looking for talented artists! We're looking for highly talented photographers from all around the world. 

If your're interested just post your best portrait work to our flickr MaP group, post link to your portfolio under this post, or contact us directly.

We're looking forward to see your pictures!

JOANNA GALUSZKA... interview with talented Polish photographer.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

Photograph shows Martyna. She is very sensitive and beautiful person of incredible beauty. In the background there are stacks of the local power. I took this photo two years ago, in the early summer day.

Best portraits from MaP Flickr group, vol. 2!

Here's the second selection of best portraits from our Mad about Portraits Flickr group.
Thanks to all great photographers who are participating and submitting their portrait work.


by Neta Dror

Photographic arte povera... interview with ANDREA OLIVO.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

No real story, she's one of the girls that I have casted over the past 2 years and has become part of the casting couch. She was chewing gum so I got her to shout...

"Challenge yourself every chance you get!"... interview with SHANDI-LEE COX.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?
This is me, going through a huge personal transition in my life. I was incredibly upset about multiple things and I couldn't hold back having a complete meltdown. It was something like 4am, and I thought if I'm going to be up this late, this upset, I may as well make something out of it. So, I captured those painful moments, but was able to release and move on from it. It pains me to look at the photos from that night, but I smile when I think about where I am now, and how I am proud of all the decisions I've made to get to this place. I took it in my bedroom, in horrible tungsten lighting, with my tripod and remote, (I think it's hidden somewhere under the tissue).

"Some of my best images come from mistakes..." interview with MICHAEL PALACIOS.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

Last minute shoot for a local DJ. He wanted something simple, yet... eye popping. I was up for the challenge and shot in my backyard at night.

Interview with photographer and graphic designer JESSICA DALY.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This is a portrait I made by projecting my own photograph onto myself. I was interested in experimenting with projection, and also creating a self portrait that conceptually spoke about my "inner" and "outer " life. In it, my presentational self, basically my face and body are representing the outer parts of me, and my photograph that I projected is representing my preferences and aesthetic interests, things that are equally a part of me, but not quite as much on display.

To create it I set up a digital projector and a tripod in a dark room and put my camera on a ten second timer. Then I ran back and forth between pressing the timer on the camera and standing in front of the projection. 

Portrait of Katie Melua... interview with professional photographer PHIL SHARP.

I'm really happy to share with you this amazing portrait of my favorite singer Katie Melua. The photographer of this beautiful simple portrait is Phil Sharp who is working in London.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This shot was commissioned by a PR company, I forget the exact reason. Time was short though, I think I had about 45 minutes to get the shot.

Portrait of Dominguinhos... interview with professional photographer DARYAN DORNELLES.

Daryan Dornelles (also known as Fotonauta) is an outstanding professional photographer from Rio de Janeiro. He shared with us amazing portrait of famous musician Dominguinhos.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This guy is one of the best Brazilian musicians. His name is Dominguinhos. I took this photo for my book about Brazilian musicians.

"Experiences create who you are..." interview with ALLISON NEWBOLD.

1Q) Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?

This portrait was taken at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl in Mel's Diner. This shot was inspired by the 50s feel with a modern fashion twist.