Inspiring Photos and an (Almost) Run in with Twiggy, Day 26

Back during the Christmas of 2007, I went to the National Portrait Gallery to see the Photographic Prize show, a show that inspired me immensely when I was in grade 11 and just starting photography. Portraits were my passion back then, and I was reminded of this when I went to see the 2009 show on Friday. I had decided to go to the National Portrait Gallery with no idea that the show was on, or that Twiggy (!!) was going to be there signing a book composed of photographs documenting her life so I was really excited to say the least.

I got completely lost, as I did in 2007, in all the amazing photographs in the Photographic Prize show. What’s astounding is that the show is composed of photographs taken by young photographers, professional photographers, photography students and even photographers with absolutely no experience, just a remarkable gift. It was incredible that their photos all united together to create an inspiring show, despite all of the photographer’s different levels of experience.

The show reminded me that it was portraits that awakened my passion for photography. Back in grade 11 I began to observe the way I was able to capture faces in true and unaltered honesty. I began to see the ability photography had to enable us to look past the flaws of a subject, things we so often get preoccupied with, and instead see the beauty these imperfections hold. It is these imperfections that I still thrive on when photographing- the abnormal curl of a tree branch, the crinkly lines of an old person’s face or the moles on a body.

I wandered into the Twiggy show, composed as a tribute to her 60th birthday. Photos of her life lined the walls in chronological order and it was amazing to see how she seemed to grow up subtly in each shot. She is absolutely stunningly gorgeous! I began to notice “Meet Twiggy” signs and, looking around, realized that I was standing in the room Twiggy herself had just been standing in! I was disappointed that I just missed her. It would have been amazing to meet her; she is a huge British icon.

I can’t believe it has been almost a month since I arrived here! It has flown by. Before I know it I will be flying back home though I don’t ever want to leave!