Street Portrait (for and of Adrian), 2013
This was taken last week on the Strand, London. Adrian was on his lunch break, but very generously agreed to a couple of shots. I tried taking full-length portraits, but fluffed the angle and the lighting, so there was much messing about (on one of the coldest days of the year), before I got a shot I was happy with. Thanks very much, Adrian – for the shot and for your patience! Hope you like your picture.
* * *
If you want to see all the street portraits to date in one place, go here: http://tfipmremix.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/london-faces-remix/
epic beard on this guy
Yes, extremely impressive – I’ve never managed more than a long stubble.
I guess he’s just lucky, I can get a good weeks growth in and its in good shape myself.
This is a wonderful portrait. It’s very dramatic and complex. Reminds me of a good painting.
Thanks so much, Jennifer. I really like Adrian’s gaze – and I really liked Adrian.
off the charts you really captured his spirit, his essence.
Thank you so much, John – that’s really great to hear.
Oh my god! This is awesome! Revolution personified…. Does he know he has a face like that? 🙂 Great one, Richard!
I hadn’t noticed the similarity at all – just goes to show how observant I am (not). Thanks very much, MJ!
I love Adrian’s eye contact. I love his hat and beard, too. Yes, it’s a wonderful portrait, Richard! T.
Hey, T! Thank you so much! Yes, I love Adrian’s gaze in this shot. He was a really nice man.
Another great portrait. I’m sure I’ve seen Adrian around as I work in that area.
Thank you so much, Alison. It’s a really interesting area, I think – lots of stuff going on – courts, churches, abandoned offices. It’s not so great for portraits, but this time I got lucky.
Please, this is Santa Claus. You just made him wear a beanie. What a lovely man and a lovely portrait! 🙂
Yes, Adrian was a lovely man! Thanks very much for the compliment.
Excellent model! 😀 He’s a character it would be good to know more about! Nice work, Richard!
Thank you, Richard! 🙂 Yes, I wish I’d had more time with Adrian – it’s quite often the way that I spot someone when I’m running out of time.
Hobbit?
If I were a man, I would like to look like him…
I find myself in all your portraits; wonderful eye, wonderful mirror!
Thanks very much, Marga! That’s a great compliment. Love your blog.
He is hidden away in hat and hair, yet… what wonderful character.
Very nice portrait – I sense he is on the verge of storytelling…
Thanks so much, Karen. Yes, I wish I’d had more time with Adrian…
Great portrait, Richard – really well captured… 🙂
Thank you very much, Drake!
Fantastic portrait.
Thank you, Cardinal. I take that as a big compliment.
Oh I love his hat and beard! Good one Richard.
Thanks very much, Ashley!
He looks interesting. I think you caught something here.
Yes, indeed. Thanks very much, Shimon – I think it’s one of my better shots.
¡Que buena!, parece un lobo de mar antiguo! me encanta!!
What a great portrait. A face which looks like it has lived many fascinating stories… he looks a little guarded though.
Thanks very much, Emily. Yes, indeed. I’m not surprised he looks a bit guarded in a way – I fair bounded up to him when he was trying to eat his lunch.:)
Great! Particularly love the color!
Thanks very much, Elena! The colour’s as close to natural as I could get it. I’m really glad you said that, because I ummed and ahhed about posting in B&W, but the colour won me over in the end – I think in this shot it’s a big part of what I’m trying to say.
Another great character photograph, I can tell this was a very cold day!
Thanks very much, Cheryl – that day it was like walking around in a freezer – I really liked it.:)
I’d imagine it changed how people were photographed?
Yes, it was generally a lot quicker 🙂
I bet it was! 😀
Fabulous portrait Richard! You have caught Adrain’s frozen warmth and character so beautifully!
Thanks so much, Patti! I’m quite pleased with it – one of my better ones, and Adrian was really engaging, which I think comes across.
Is Adrian really Father Christmas in disguise? I love the angle of his hat!
This and the last one are just great – I love the line of the hat/hair..and there really are stories in his face – I think colour was a good choice – you needed his skin tone I think..
Thanks so much, Cath! Yes, there’s a lot to read in Adrian’s gaze, I think. And, yes I’m convinced now that the shot would not “work” without the skin tone. That’s the main story, right there.
Santa in disguise.
Very striking portrait, something deeply heart-wrenching about it.
Yes, I think it’s in Adrian’s gaze.
Richard, as ever, your work is fabulous! Love it!
Thank you so much, Sarah! That’s a great compliment coming from you!