---
title: Faces I
date: 2026-06-22T14:23:00+01:00
author: John Henry Donovan
canonical_url: "https://johnhenry.ie/photography/2026/06/faces-i"
section: Photography
---
[](/photography)

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22nd June, 2026

# Faces I

Studio portraits made over the years. Tight framing, dark backgrounds, a mix of mono and colour. The aim was always the same: a real face, not a pose.

![A grayscale image shows a woman with closed eyes holding a young child. The child, wearing a sports jersey, has a somber expression. The woman's expression appears calm and comforting. The background is plain and dark.](data:image/png;base64,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)

![Black and white close-up portrait of a person with light-colored hair pulled back. They have a neutral expression, and their face is centrally framed against a dark background. Light and shadow accentuate the facial features. An earring is visible in the left ear.](data:image/png;base64,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)

![A man with short gray and black hair is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a dark-colored jacket and a brown scarf. The background is dark.](data:image/png;base64,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)

![A black-and-white portrait of a person with long hair and a slight smile. They are wearing a striped shirt and looking directly at the camera. The background is plain and out of focus.](data:image/png;base64,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)

![DSF5865 copy](data:image/png;base64,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)

X-T3· XF90mmF2 R LM WR· 90mm· f/4.0· ISO 160· 1/250s

![Aseal 2019 20 400088](data:image/png;base64,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)

X-T3· XF90mmF2 R LM WR· 90mm· f/8.0· ISO 160· 1/250s

![DSCF7454](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACAAAAAgCAIAAAD8GO2jAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAACcElEQVRIiY1WUbasIAwDLG5s9r+gEaj3IxpDcd55/ZjjIDRtmhbz5/NJKeWcSyn45UO67bzN3d0dzzln7jexbdvMrNxmSSzPhhX4cnduSP9h3PkCQHD6Os+zlOLu2MAk9Cz/hggMAdL7dptikBx3H2OMMQIGHhSDsRpWyTsYBJVYBEv03nsvpQAmJPFKtekqYjezWisx8Fa9996xqBiBoqf+fEE91Fr3fa+1MgkA9N51hdSp91DLnLMpMsMHAJIgRWbWWgtVYSX4oN6vDJiUAuz7TgBmAMbg/bXaqxqN4sP/bdtqrcoSARAUvRNvrUFUEVOjhIgB0uGUSPTObmKrr0KaAFSmwKCQxhgMH9XWgp9iUaYhNcWAIQM4Quyr98CSWsyApi2d7qHE5mCfawavXE2NFmYRYOhida0NEVh62mtV2KoE/uZ5FGaZayjPuZj94i7JXFwfwh716GLXLNJaBSpDyr9C4REkMQGENNdNeMXBsA5qDYIdPsaAOky9h6FP7ae7vzAbfl044fglPNSKseNd7x16TykhEPQXgf+BQQ9YeSjSKwWWc8YIwtbee2vtFSNkibPneY4xTJsFr1trbOAVgBhaIa0fvKd7PprOd4C31ngNsFZ4Voy12orn7nBiemchfE7QMQZHBaNrrbEYQbvaaIjskimLDACOT70jNUUYkwh6xTbG/dSA51FbjlLeKkEk1GtQUZDWpCJoS68U8JjnW54wq3e8Uq6mUYEz9P4615SK0ArUIQl090dFjCLPpnN0nSuh0VRsgHkAwlRJbzeE4r1ikN7jOI7j6L1bwFf60vwBQvnqJ+WagSbx/X7/AOX7x8jIY+7MAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC)

X-T3· XF90mmF2 R LM WR· 90mm· f/5.6· ISO 160· 1/250s