Ritva really makes us work hard this week – Portraits! I don’t do portraits, I’m not comfortable with it… but after scrolling for half an hour to find something to post, I remembered my old students. I used to make portraits of them their last term. So, I’m using a couple of those taken so many years ago that they hardly will recognize themselves should they happen to read my blog. (I know they don’t…)
The art of freezing moments…and yes, I was so proud over my students that day!
There should be a selfie too I guess, Ritva sent one – but as I don’t do selfies either, this photo was taken by one of my students. And it’s a side portrait! The real side portraits though, all reside in ancient Egypt. (Last immersive visit in the header)
Knobbed hornbill – indeed an interesting side portrait!
In fact, my first thought reading the challenge was to use some of the bird portraits I have, or maybe my dogs? Ritva is the master of portraits, so I really had to try. Fortunately I found some more people, and in B&W, as I believe portraits are best made there.
This elderly man was sitting at the other end of my coffee table, (I remember him, but I no longer remember where it was…) reading about a Welcome into this world. I believe we all need more of this every day since this world is becoming less welcoming by the minute.
So, here comes some students I know wouldn’t mind me posting. They belonged to two of my most lovely classes from the science program. Then the distinguished, but very humourous, father of an old friend of mine when he turned 90. And, the last one – a colourful lady I met in Lodz – I have posted this photo a couple of times before.
Some years ago, I attended a gathering at a restaurant where I met this old biker that I totally loved! His white beard and expressive face just convinced me to ask for a photo – which he gladly let me take. The other biker posing with his vehicle was a happy guy, so for his portrait the bike itself was essential. These bikers were very easily approached and I felt at ease asking them – a big step forward for a shy person like me.
Every portrait tells a story...
The only person I really have some portraits of is my daughter. She always let me take her photo and loves posing for me. The left three of these were taken at Stora Hotellet in Umeå, when she graduated as a dentist. The first one through a very special mirror which made the portrait almost look broken. The right one was taken in my garden when Emma was going to one of the many masquerades she attended in her late teens.
Turning moments into eternal memories...
I am so glad I found more portraits than I knew I had, but I am afraid I haven’t followed one of Ritva’s main tips – concentrating on the eyes. I will better myself as soon as I get another opportunity! Thank you again for a great and challenging challenge!
Thank you also to Anne for Life’s Changes, that really let us know a great deal more about each other. Next week, Tina is back to host with a new inspiration. Go to her beautiful site to find another exciting challenge.
Please link your post to Ritva’s original post, and add the “lens-artists” hashtag so we can easily find you in the Reader. Until then – stay kind and creative.
Leya 
Beautiful, beautiful Ann-Christine.
Thank you!
😍
Loved all these photographs! Great post.
Thank you, Joanne!
Great photos. I love the vintage look of the last group.
For a photographer who professes to not ‘do portraits’, these are wonderful.
Thank you kindly!
Your portraits are excellent, Ann-Christine. I like the candid one better, although your daughter’s have a special quality to them. The man reading the newspaper is my favourite this week.
Thank you, Sofia! I am happy to have found something to post for this one!
They’re all wonderful Ann-Christine and you’ve really caught the spirit of those two bikers ☺️
♥
I like the lady walting with the stick, it could almost be me, although I have a walker. I am also a little uncomfortable taking portraints of people I do not know, some could get quite annoyed, but a good choice.
♥ Thanks!
Your portraits are well done, Ann-Christine. My favorite is the gentleman reading the paper. Black-and-white truly adds to portraits.
Thanks, John – I agree on B&W
I agree with others, it seems you do rather well with portraits. I especially like the portraits of the bikers and your daughter.
Thank you so much! A difficult challenge indeed…
For someone who doesn’t do portraits, you’ve found a lot of great ones to share! I especially like the two B&W student ones, the man reading the newspaper and the portrait of your daughter in the old mirror 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! A tough challenge! At least for me…
So….you don’t do portraits, eh? I think the monochrome ones are pretty good! Love those bikers, the one of Emma reading a book in front of the window, and the man reading the paper…. And I remember Lodz woman!
Thank you, Sue! Yes, that Lodz woman is a favourite of mine.
Excellent!
Dear Ann-Christine
We like best the two bikers. They are great 👍
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you – so do I!
These are lovely and I agree black and white images are the best for portraits, it captures the essence without distractions. And I have to say they are the ones that spoke to me the most. And your daughter is beautiful and she makes a lovely muse that you bring to life. My favorite still is the man reading the paper. I appreciate the time you tooks to find these. You do this style as well as the others.
Thank you for this positive comment, Ritva! And I guess as a Finn you are not as shy as I am! Your portraits are magnificent.
For someone who’s not-a-portraitist, this is a fabulous collection. And yes – apart from the hornbill who requires colour, I think – monochrome wins, hands down.
Thank you, Margaret! Maybe I should do more monochromes!
👍
So many wonderful portraits Ann-Christine. I love your Daughters photos not just because my daughters name is Emma 😀
Thanks! Well, you have a daughter named Emma too! I didn’t know! Lovely name…♥
Wow, I think they’re great portraits!
Thank you so much, Rebecca!
These are wonderful. So many of the lens artists think they don’t take portraits, but the ones they show are really beautiful
Thank you for the kind praise, I.J. I guess some of us feel it is not our forte – asking either…
Wow! You raised the bar here, Ann-Christine. I fell in love with the monochrome portraits. Excellent!
Thank you, Egidio – not my forte, but I try when I feel it is a kind person to ask!
These are fantastic Ann-Christine, I can’t believe you had trouble with this challenge, you have shown us some wonderful portraits. I do love the one of the biker, I would be too scared to ask. They certainly have character, from afar.
Thank you, Leanne, so glad you liked them! I have always difficulties with asking – so my portraits are very few. But I try to overcome that feeling, and ask people that look nice and kind only…
Beautiful!Love the lady with a walking stick. First I thought she had this eye patch. On zooming I realised that it’s her unique spectacles!
Thank you! I love her too – very special. Long afterwards I was thinking…maybe it’s her other glass lying on the ground? There is a shadow that might be the dropped eye glass!
Agree.
Well Ann-Christine, you may not do portraits as a rule but I am not the least surprised that those you DO make are wonderful. I loved your images of your daughter, especially the first one, and the bearded biker is priceless. I also loved the guy with the newspaper and agree with your thoughts about the world on that one.
Thank you so much, Tina! I too felt I didn’t have any portraits – but found some in the end.
You have some wonderful examples!
Thank you, Nora!
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That’s a nice one
Thank you!
Beautiful portraits, Anne-Christine! A nice variety. I love the one of the elderly woman with the missing sunglasses lens!
Thank you – she is really a favourite of mine!