Portrait photography and photojournalism are two potentially intense and powerful art forms that don't always get the recognition they deserve, so we thought we should show you some of the most powerful and diverse portraits of people around the world that we've ever seen.
Both the faces of the people in these photos and their contexts speak volumes about the people pictured and the worlds they live in. Some can be unimaginably and even horrifically different from ours, while other once-exotic worlds seem to grow closer and more interconnected with our own. Though they are only photos, looking into their eyes can still give us a feeling of connection.
If you have a powerful portrait that you think should be added to this collection, please don't hesitate to add it and vote for your favorites as well.
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Yezidi Girl Carries An Assault Rifle To Protect Her Family Against ISIS
Somayeh Mehri (29) And Her Daughter Rana Afghanipour (3) Give Each Other A Kiss. After Being Disfigured In An Acid Attack, They Say Others Don’t Like To Kiss Them
She's such a good mommy. Sweet child, too. Bless their hearts.
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Sick of seeing the damage inflicted by males on women and children. These criminals should be executed. They are sub-intelligent monsters.
I would kiss them both, and give them a long loving hug. I am sorry this happened to them, it's so wrong.
The person who did this, does not deserve this life. Recycle him and let him try better in the next.But this does show love can conquer all.
Their cruelty will not erase your courage and real beauty. shame on him. love for you. keep strong. Help them! http://www.acidviolence.org/
This is hauntingly beautiful! Love in its purest form, but at the same time so sad!
Considering it was done by the father/husband is just beyond words..:'(
OMG, why do humans do this to each other? I would kiss both of them, it's not face value but what is underneath the skin that matters
I think these two young ladies are the most beautiful I have ever seen.
This makes me so sad, they are both so brave. I would give them both big hugs.
It is pure evil that allows men to justify doing that to women and girls!
If you'd like to help by donating or at least spread the word about it: http://www.gofundme.com/m3p1ug We're in the process of establishing
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It dusgusts me that Muslims seem to thing doing this to another person is acceptable.
Like they say, beauty is only skin deep, they are beautiful from the inside out.....
How can anyone be so disgusting and hateful to do the things they do to these beautiful innocent people. There must be a special place in hell for them. Maybe they'll get a little acid treatment too.
It's horrible that something like that happens to anyone, I am glad they have each other to look to... especially the little girl.
No words! My heart is breaking for them. I want to think the person who threw the acid was drawn and quartered...but I know better. I'm so glad they have each other.
They are still mother & child no matter what life throws at them, beautiful, I would like to send them akiss from me & my little girl.xx
Bless the beauty of the embrace and their love for each other; this photo speaks volumes ♡♡
This is so sad. They were attacked by having acid thrown on them. I wish I could meet them I would hug them and kiss them
this is so sad. If I was near them I would hug them and kiss them to prove to them there are good people out there.
Time for women to rise up against injustice as Women's Suffrage did but then, civilized men don't throw acid because of a woman's beliefs
Something wrong with the world today when women in 3rd world countries have no rights & it is legal - commonly accepted to do this & worse.
What a beautiful and poignant photograph, I am so deeply moved by the love that radiates between mother and child.
I HAD A VIOLENT CHILDHOOD WHICH PALES TO ZERO HAVING SEEN THIS! I SEE THERE IS AN ADDRESS ABOVE TO GIVE HELP, I SHALL SEND CASH TO HELP.
Load More Replies... Such a beautiful poignant photograph, I am so deeply moved by the love that radiates from mother and child.
Acid attack: vicious and indefensible! I don't care what "religion" calls upon someone to carry out such an act - this is heinous.
Omg that's heartbreaking. These ladies are still beautiful and people need to stop being judgemental and arrogant. A
Хүний үйлээр хүн хүнийгээ жигшинэ. Хүний үйлээр хүн хүнийгээ хайрлана.
I still think there beautiful and I would gladly put that little one on my lap and give her a cuddle and a kiss on the cheek
I feel so bad for them. I would hug + kiss them. they must feel so isolated + ashamed. my heart hurts for them :'(
Their cruelty will not erase your courage and real beauty. shame on him. love for you. keep strong.
They are beautiful. It's sad there's people capable of doing that to another, and those are the ones I avoid kissing.
It's beautiful. It's sad there are people in this world that could do that to another, and those are the ones I tend to avoid kissing...
Beauty is only skin deep. Real love is expressed in this picture. Bless then both
Beauty is only skin deep. old saying but very true. this is a sign of real love. Bless them both.
this is what exposure to radiation does to a human being...unspeakable!
This makes me so sad, they are both so brave. I would like to hug them both.
A Boy Rescues His Sister From Underneath The Rubble Of Their Home In Syria
Heart Surgeon After 23-Hour-Long (Successful) Heart Transplant. His Assistant Is Sleeping
This is Zbigniew Religa - legendary Polish heart surgeon. He died in 2009. There is a movie about his life made last year - 'Bogowie' (Gods)
Diego Frazão Torquato, A 12-Year-Old Brazilian, Playing Violin At His Teacher’s Funeral
Little Guarani Girl Holds On Tight To A Dead Rat
Egyptian Woman Kisses A Policeman That Refused To Fire On Protestors
This Girl Survived 11 Days In A Siberian Forest
Black Baby Holding An Albino Baby
A 13-Year-Old Eagle Huntress In Mongolia
Unknown Soldier On Duty In South Vietnam, 1965
Two Women Who Were Finally Able To Marry After 72 Years Together
Blind Albino Students Stand In A Dorm At The Vivekananda Mission School In India
Shaolin Monks Training
Rwandan Boy Left Scarred After Being Liberated From A Death Camp
Girl And Baobabs In Madagascar
A 106-Year-Old Armenian Woman Guards Her Home
There are many Armenian women both young and old,who protect their homes like this in nowadays.
A Chinese Paramilitary Police Recruit Breaks Into Tears Before Shipping Off For Service
Omayra Trapped Under The Fallen Debris Of Her House. She Died Just Hours After This Photo Was Taken
The Migrant Mother - An Iconic Image Of The Great Depression
Chief Of A Village In Brazil
A Malnourished Mother And Child At An Emergency Feeding Center In Tahoua, Niger
Siberian Family Meal
A Miner Takes A Break Inside An Unregulated Coalmine In Sabinas, Mexico
The Eyes That Speak - A Muslim Woman Wearing A Hijab
Geisha In Subway
A Woman With Ambras Syndrome. In The Middle Ages, These People Were Called Werewolves
I think the hair on her face must be soft and silky. in fact it makes me wanna hug her and kiss her on her cheeks :)
A Coal Miner Smokes A Cigarette After Finishing His Shift On The Outskirts Of Changzhi
Ethiopian Girl From The Hamer Tribe
A Girl From The Minority Yazidi Sect Rests At The Iraqi-Syrian Border
A Final Embrace: The Most Haunting Photograph From Bangladesh
Stilt Fishermen
This is so cool. I can't imagine the skill (not to mention strength) it takes to do this.
Rabari Shepherd
A Man Cries While Flipping Through A Family Album He Found In The Rubble Of His Old House
Portrait Photographer in Afghanistan
Cuban Woman Smoking A Cigar And Holding A Ring Flash
An 18 Year Old IDF Soldier Pauses After A Long Run In Full Gear And Battle Paint
I think this is my favourite of the entire series. Very beautiful photograph!
Toshimana, A Maiko In Kyoto, Japan
Papua New Guinea Woman During A Singsing Celebration In Mount Hagen
I've been to a sing sing in Mt Hagen when I was 13 years old- crazy with cassowary races, insane bungee jumping & pet tree kangaroos !
One Of The Last Four White Rhino's In The World (kenya)
Sad he must live with bodyguards instead of being free and happy... Hope they'll be able to save him and the three other ones.
A Girl Holds A Rifle As Fighters Of Al-quds Brigades, The Military Wing Of Islamic Jihad, Gather In Gaza City
India
Minority Village Girls Selling Their Works, Sa Pa, Vietnam
Homeless Man On The Day Of The Summer Festival, Tirana, Albania.
Abdwla Ojalan
Cusquenita / Child In Cusco / PerÚ
Old Muila Smile... Southern Angola.
Memorial
Loyalty
Kathakali Dancer From Kerela
Taking A Break At Burning Man
Burning Man is one of the best experiences I have had. The people are amazing, there's no judgement and you can just be yourself. I believe
Taghi The Carpenter!
Man Sleeping In A French Train, From Caen To Paris.
Korean Army Training
Coming Home From The Coal Mine - Near Datong, China
An Old Romani Woman Sitting In Front Of Her House In Tirana, Albania
Love Vs War
Woman Having A Beer In Barcelona.
Reina Isabel From La Chureca A 31 Years Old Scavenger With Tuberculosis."
Female 'igorot' Elder Begging From Tourists - (baguio City, Philippines
"la Jeune Fille A La Fleur"
“La Jeune Fille À La Fleur”... http://lesensdesimages.com/2012/06/05/analyse-dun-photographie-la-fille-a-la-fleur-de-marc-riboud-1967/
Child In Baia Mare Ghetto, Romania. (c) Gus Palmer
How great a contrast between this picture and the joyous old thai man on the next picture.... So sad
An Old Woman Sittng In The Afternoon Sun, Near Ponferrada, Spain.
Little Girl, Kenya
Children Performing Traditional Japanese Dance: Sendai, Japan
Old Thai Man With His Monkey
Horrid man. Yeah, it's very cute that you have a monkey chained up and with that heavy ring around his neck.
Curiosity
Hand Rolling 6000 Incense Sticks Per Day - Mysore Southern India - Credit Ashley Calvert
Malnutrition
This is the fight we all must instead of fighting for subjective stupidity.
Celtic Pavilion At The Annual Winnipeg Folklorama - Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Charcoal Master
Voladores De Papantla (mexico)
"i Think, Therefore I Am Free" - Young Manifesting In Bordeaux (france), For #jesuischarlie
Brazilian Little Girl And Blue Dress / Menina Brasileira E O Vestido Azul
In 1974 During The Troubles Of Northern Ireland: Gypsy Girl And Her Carton
Chozhia Vellalar Woman "paambadam" (serpent Earring) In Tamilnadu, India
Green Eyes
Awaiting Their Turn For Check Up.solala Medical Mission,guatemala.
Patients In The Looted Al-rashad Mental, Saddam City, Baghdad, 2003 – Luis Costa
Muddy Smile
Generation Love
Children At The 'festival Du Voyageur' In Winnipeg, Manitoba
Black Woman, Mexico City 1976
Indian Girl From Jaipur, India, October 2014
Amazing..funny how we get into our OWN world & forget the WORLD & it's people...
#21 It's Dr Zbigniew Religa. Polish surgeon, a pioneer of heart transplantation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbigniew_Religa
Stunning set of pictures... every single one has a tale to tell. Many brought tears to our eyes.
Think its a fantastic insightful must see site. Really feel I have had my eyes re-opened.
The most touching post I've ever seen... These pictures make me smile and cry... Thanks a lot!
I need to see these pictures, always, so I don't go back to complaining over NOTHING!
Pity people thought it would be a nice place to put their vacation pictures...
The most powerful set of images I have seen. They convey and speak a thousand words.
The most amazing photos I have ever seen. I pressed like on each picture even though some were so sad I was I felt guilty saying like,
All of them are stunning,amazing,eye opening,but most of all,they give a window into a world that we might never see.
Amazing..funny how we get into our OWN world & forget the WORLD & it's people...
#21 It's Dr Zbigniew Religa. Polish surgeon, a pioneer of heart transplantation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbigniew_Religa
Stunning set of pictures... every single one has a tale to tell. Many brought tears to our eyes.
Think its a fantastic insightful must see site. Really feel I have had my eyes re-opened.
The most touching post I've ever seen... These pictures make me smile and cry... Thanks a lot!
I need to see these pictures, always, so I don't go back to complaining over NOTHING!
Pity people thought it would be a nice place to put their vacation pictures...
The most powerful set of images I have seen. They convey and speak a thousand words.
The most amazing photos I have ever seen. I pressed like on each picture even though some were so sad I was I felt guilty saying like,
All of them are stunning,amazing,eye opening,but most of all,they give a window into a world that we might never see.
