Tag Archives: Portraiture

Following Richard Avedon’s death in 2004, the New York Times said that “…his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America’s image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century.” The difference between a Richard Avedon and the average portrait photographer can be summed up in the thoughtfulness of his approach to portraiture.

Henry Kissinger’s Portrait
by Richard Avedon

I once went to Washington for what they call a “photo opportunity” with Henry Kissinger. As I led him to the camera, he said a puzzling thing. He said, “Be kind to me.” I wish there had been time to ask him exactly what he meant, although it’s probably clear. Now, Kissinger knows a lot about manipulation, so to hear his concern about being manipulated really made me think. What did he mean? What does it really mean to “be kind” in a photograph? Did Kissinger want to look wiser, warmer, more sincere than he suspected he was?

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