If you’re going to learn from someone, you might as well learn from the best. That’s how we felt while looking back at some of our favorite portrait photographer profiles from Digital Photo Pro over the years. Today we’ve rounded up interviews with five master portrait photographers from DPP to inspire you to take more great pictures.
Our portrait photographer compilation includes profiles of Sandro Miller, who discusses his much lauded and highly circulated “Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters,” series (see his portrait of Malkovich as Andy Warhol above), along with interviews with portrait masters Albert Watson, Platon, Greg Gorman and Howard Schatz. Click on the headline or link below the excerpt to read the full photographer profile.
Sandro
Chicago-based Sandro Miller is a sculptor of sorts, using light as a chisel to bring out the essence of the sitters before his camera lens. His photography series “Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters,” exemplifies this mastery of advanced lighting techniques. Read the full interview here.
Albert Watson
Over the past four and a half decades, New York-based Scotland native Albert Watson has created close to 100 Vogue covers, dozens of commercials and music videos, and advertising campaigns for companies including Prada, Revlon and Chanel. At the same time, he’s pursued personal projects from Las Vegas to Cairo. Read the full interview here.
Platon
In his book, “Power: Portraits of World Leaders,” New York-based British photographer Platon gets up close and personal with more than 100 famous and infamous past and present heads of state. The resulting portraits are respectful, insightful and presented without judgment. He leaves that to the viewer and to history. Read the full interview here.
Greg Gorman
At what point does an advertising campaign transcend its goal of selling a product and become a piece of art? Perusing the pages of Greg Gorman’s book FRAMED, it’s obvious that the California-based photographer has the answer. Read the full interview here.
Howard Schatz
“You’re an icy interrogator,” Howard Schatz explains, “telling a captive that in exactly 60 seconds, if you don’t get the information you need, you’re to start removing body parts, starting with his ears.” With that, Schatz picks up his camera. He’s seated at a small table, and the person across from him—mere inches away—is John Malkovich. Read the full interview here.
