On Portraiture and Presence
An artist's statement on what it means to truly see a subject — and to be seen in return.
Alistair Henworth
Founder & Lead Photographer
Alistair Henworth has spent the better part of two decades refining an approach to portraiture that privileges stillness, character, and the unguarded moment. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, his early career in fashion editorial gave way to what he describes as "a lifelong fascination with avian portraiture and classical composition."
His work with roosters began, as these things often do, by accident — a weekend in the Cotswolds, a borrowed Hasselblad, and a particularly self-possessed Orpington who refused to break eye contact with the lens. That image, "The Patriarch," would go on to win the International Photography Awards gold medal and redirect the course of his career entirely.
Alistair's influences range from Irving Penn's studio precision to the quiet observation of Rineke Dijkstra. He shoots exclusively on medium format and insists on natural light whenever the subject's temperament allows.