While searching through a collection of images I was struck by those where the subject was looking directly into the lens. Facing the camera head on. If there are any rules in photography, one of them is that looking into the lens is expected, and should be avoided. It’s cliché, simple, and boring. But as I’ve looked at these images I’m intrigued by their simplicity. I want to say that I’m drawn closer to each subject by the eye contact as I would be in real life. The awareness of each subject’s connection to his or her audience intrigues me.



Making photographs of people is different every time. You could photograph the same person two days in a row and each group of images would be different. Everyone reacts to the camera in different ways. Every sitting is a unique experience. Some people are really shy and some are used to being in front of an audience and it comes easy. Whether the images are for professional use or just snap shots doesn’t really matter in the end as to their ability to communicate. Both have different audiences and both are equally valid.