Blog #214   7/18/17

The pure beauty of Brooke Shields required no additional dramatization.
I felt the presence of her hands made that ethereal beauty more human.

Truth – validity, veracity – in a really effective portrait generally is revealed by the subject’s face. But sometimes hands tell an important part of the story, whether they are at rest, or actively engaged in the composition. Poses, lighting, and clothing do effect the image, of course. But the presence, placement, grace or even clumsiness of the hands can be a dramatic addition to what a portrait tells the viewer about the subject of the photograph.

The following portraits, drawn from many years and many highly interactive sittings, show what I think are the expressive possibilities of the human hand.

Michel Douglas communicated what might seem to be the ever-present, underlying intensity of many great actors.

In his role as Tyrion Lannister in “Game of Thrones,” the remarkable character actor Peter Dinklage is always looking over his shoulder for danger; a hand on that shoulder was a natural and evocative pose.

Prima ballerina Katita Waldo; a dancer’s hands, a central part of her art.

The hands and arms of this prisoner told a story that his face alone might not have: a story open to vast interpretation.

The renowned dancer and choreographer, David Parsons knew exactly what to do with his hands to make this portrait “live.“

Zsolt Erdei, a champion boxer, used his hands to burst a water balloon.
Though his fists are covered, this gesture illustrates what he does with them.

The hands of heavyweight champion Joe Frazier seemed to echo the hard journey of his remarkable face.

With her poised hands, the actress Robin Wright could easily pass for a dancer.

Ricky Gervais. Seems appropriate for a comedian to use his hands to “make a face.”

I asked the actor Raymond J. Barry to create something with his hands that
was consistent with the foreboding “feel” of his face.

The reflective surface let me double the effect of Terrence Howard’s face and hands.

Taraji P. Henson did something very close to choreography with her beautiful hands.

Taraji P. Henson did something very close to choreography with her beautiful hands.

Former NFL running back Ray Rice still looks ready, though the NFL has ended his professional life because hi hit his girlfriend and knocked her out with one of those fists.

When a sitter’s hands are used to rest the head, a portrait can lose energy.
In Sissy Spacek’s case, though, it seems thoughtful as was the interview with her.