Journal Topic 1

The main differences between portraits in the past and today is that in the past social class determined the subject and the quality of the photograph is different because of technological advancement. The main similarities is that both in the past and today people are the main subject used in portraits.

The subject of photographers in the past depended upon one's social class. Originally, royalty and the upper class were the main subjects. This portrait below was taken in 1860 of Abraham Lincoln the photographer is unidentified which was common in the past.

Today,photography has no boundaries is available to everyone. Portraits today are also more creative people are not the only subjects being photographed. Below is a portrait of a women and a snake taken by Ricard Avedon.


The impact that technology has had on photography, portraits in particular has changed. The quality of the photographs have improved and is more faster then the past, where people had to wait hours to get their portrait taken. In the past daguerreotypes were popular for portraits it was a polished copper plate which an image was directly exposed. The technology today is much different, today images are printed onto paper from transparent negatives.