The empty portrait : encounters with a photographer : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Fine Arts, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

The Empty Portrait forefronts a new experience of the portrait for all participants involved: the photographer, the subject, and the viewer. Breaking away from the camera, the materiality of the photograph, and the portrait as a locus of identity are central aspects of this new experience. As it challenges the relationship between photography and temporality, The Empty Portrait attempts to blur the boundary between the photographic and cinematic image, asking the viewer to look and contemplate further.