Guest Post: Ben Kendall // @bendall

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My favorite portrait photographs capture an honest element of an individual. These moments inspire me because our true selves are rarely captured in photos. It’s rare to unlock these moments. But when you catch a subject’s real personality, you just know it. It’s not manufactured. It’s like they’re looking straight through your glass into your eyes.

This is one of my favorite photos from photographer Chris Weeks.  If you can’t tell, this is Ellen Page (circa 2005.)

This photographer has been particularly inspiring to me because he always has a story to tell about his frames (and rightfully so.)  I think we’ve bastardized photography with all our instantly gratifying ‘social photo documentation.’  Chris is invested in his subjects.  He analyzes their story.  This is what makes a photograph memorable.  It’s what makes a photograph.

He’s inspired me to be a better photographer.

Photo © Christopher Weeks.  See his work here: http://cweeks.deviantart.com/