Beauty beyond symmetry...

The quest for faces, when nurtured can become the most engrossing hobby ever. Ever looked closely into an old woman’s eyes? If not, you’ve missed something really significant in life! Try doing so and you’ll find a striking ray of innocence and simplicity. This may sound strange to us because our senses are so very conditioned to the fake standards of beauty that we usually set for ourselves (read western standards). Sharp nose, dimple chin and pretty teeth don’t ‘necessarily’ make a beautiful face. On the contrary, it is the ridges, furrows, the hair jutting out of the nose, the gleaming eyes longing for love and the toothless grin which compile an ‘interesting’ and ‘beautiful’ face.

It is off late that I’ve developed this keen interest in faces, my inspirations towards this trait being T S Satyan. Portraiture is my area of focus. Photography is a sort of performing art. The photographer has to first put the person at ease by stirring up an involving conversation. This would be the foundation of producing a good portrait. Good photographers always take the help of another person during their photographic sessions. This is referred to as the “third person technique”. While the third person speaks to the person and comforts him, the photographer goes about his job conveniently. Good portraits have always mesmerized me which is why I’ve attempted to share it with others.

Lastly, the concept of a person being naturally photogenic is pure hogwash! Rather, it is unimportant because any person can be made to appear sharp in the hands of a good photographer. Good photos are never 'taken' or 'shot', but are 'made'. Also, the type of camera used and other high quality technology, am afraid, do not play a 'significant' role because, as already said, photography is a creative process which basically calls for the sharpness of the 'eye' more than any tool. So possibly, the only prerequisites required are a pair of sharp and sensitive eyes and, respect and love for the person whom you are photographing.

To sum up, the spirit of portraiture lies in bringing out the inner emotion of the person irrespective of  his/her physical dimensions. It may be happiness, pain, fear, delight, disgust….etc. I hope this would be clear from some of the portraits below. Finally, anything with life can be made “beautiful”.

PHOTOS: A N Mukund and T S Satyan

Prateek M
4th SEM, CSE