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
Hi, The photo of the Yazidiyan girl officially belongs to me, it's my copy right, and my name is Zmnako Ismael, so please, could you put it
kak zmnako i have read about this girl that her name is Runak Bapir Gharib , She is 14 years
Load More Replies...i think kutdish girls are very brave ..they war against stupid isis
کۆمەڵکوژی کوردانی ئێزیدی گەورەترین تاوانە لەسەدەی بیستویەکەم و پەڵەیەکی ڕەشە بەناوچاوانی عەرەب و جیھانەوە.
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.
Load More Replies...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/
A Boy Rescues His Sister From Underneath The Rubble Of Their Home In Syria
So tragically sad that a picture like this even came to be. This should never happen....
How can some humans be so Inhumane - as long as I live I can never fathom our capacity for cruelty what a warped and sad side to our nature
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)
Thank you for this info. I appreciate it when I get to learn the truth behind some of these pictures.
Load More Replies...Why his name and nationality is not mentioned?This is Zbigniew Religa - legendary Polish heart surgeon!
Diego Frazão Torquato, A 12-Year-Old Brazilian, Playing Violin At His Teacher’s Funeral
I searched to find, why this child is crying. That's what lead me here. His eyes..the tears..call out for someone to tell him he matters.
That's exactly what led me to this page, to see why this little boy was crying. Such touching and heartbraking picture.
Load More Replies...Sometimes I don't know how to feel about these pictures. AITAH for scrolling through the heartache of others for fun? Sometimes as a hardcore overthinker this feels so intrusive. Bless his little heart.
Little Guarani Girl Holds On Tight To A Dead Rat
I feel sick... who's poor in our Western world? I am! Because this is what matters: love...even for a dead rat
Its a beautiful photo, the girl shows her love and compassion for other living creature, thing wich many have forgotten.
Just want to hold her....this world can be so cruel and terrifying yet so much love and beauty surrounds us also....so confusing
Egyptian Woman Kisses A Policeman That Refused To Fire On Protestors
His eyes... They look so sad and haunted. Poor man, what a beautiful & honourable man. I hope he is still alive...
is this the modern day equivalent to the infamous daisy-in-the-barrel photograph?
Happy Couple In Thailand
This Girl Survived 11 Days In A Siberian Forest
Her puppy kept her alive for 11 days... Read more here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11031872/Four-year-old-su
Children are the most resilient beings on this planet, they survive things that other creatures could never. Dark forests, deserted islands, predators of all type, and the most nefarious thing of all-and im not being funny-.adult human beings.
Black Baby Holding An Albino Baby
You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one
One day, we will find this peace as adults... It starts with the children...
Boy From Sao Paulo
The most beautiful eyes. You can almost see his soul in them...
The face painting is brilliant but he has the most beautiful eyes. He is going tobreaks girls hearts!
A 13-Year-Old Eagle Huntress In Mongolia
When I was 13 I was the best skater in the block, that's totally NOTHING compared to this badass girl. Love it!!
Training and hunting rabbit and foxes with a eagle IS impressive. I think she should be proud..
Mongolian women are some of the most bad a*s and beautiful women in the world. I want to say this girl is like a.champion at this. They have competitions I do believe for their prey birds. It's a very big deal and I think I read somewhere that most girls do not do this. Or maybe it's the opposite and all the women do this. But I am like 83.6% sure that I'm sort of right.lol
Unknown Soldier On Duty In South Vietnam, 1965
His name was Larry Wayne Chaffin, and he sadly died at only 39 years old from diabetes complications. And yes, he was very handsome.
Load More Replies...He's not actually unidentified. His name is Larry Wayne Chaffin.
This is one of my favorite oldies! His eyes captivate me! And being a wife of a soldier, I hear what his eye's, smirk, and helmet really say
Says everything you need to know about war - innocence and beauty going to their death.
Two Women Who Were Finally Able To Marry After 72 Years Together
I appreciate that you wrote "God is love" thank you for saying loving things involving God instead of hateful things
Load More Replies...Blind Albino Students Stand In A Dorm At The Vivekananda Mission School In India
So are these children of Indian descent since they are located in India? Really interesting to hear their back story.
I just love that striking orange hair. What handsome young men! Does anyone know if this place soley take children with albinism or are the kids foundlings and just all happen to have albinism? I'm curious.
Shaolin Monks Training
These guys are no joke. This is a big tourist attraction and they're world famous partly bc of Hollywood but the temple is serious about the training and discipline. The guys get the c**p beat out of them ALL THE TIME. They are hardcore martial artists and also do performances for tourists. They display their extreme skill endurance and strength and they make it look effortless but it's anything BUT effortless. I worked at a private billiard club and there were a handful of young men that had been Shao Lin Monks...they would still go to their temple here in America once a year for several months and they'd come back bald and much healthier in mind body and soul. The rest of the time they dressed like rappers and had the most beautiful wives and girlfriends. Super sweet guys. Really fun and funny. They tipped well too!
They were crazy good dancers and drank more than any one else in the club by FAR.
Load More Replies...Rwandan Boy Left Scarred After Being Liberated From A Death Camp
This isn't an interracial issue. The Rwandan Genocide was Civil War. This was done by one tribe to another.Absolutely correct. Very very messed up. A lot of genocidal rape and mutilation. If his face looks like this then you can't imagine what was done to the rest of him. They would mutilate women so they couldn't give birth or breast feed. I mean probably some of the most grisly acts of warfare in modern history was done to the Tulsi.
Load More Replies...I'd like to see these cruel, heartless creatures that did this to him! Horrible people!
looks like an animal attacked him, either way it's heartwrenching :(
Girl And Baobabs In Madagascar
Those are some CHONKY bois! I'm an hebalista, and one of my favorite trees is the Baobab. Only beaten out by the Japanese Fire Maple and the Rainbow Eucalyptus. The girl is like an ant in comparison to these beautiful specimens 😍
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
A child is a strong word.. Let's say he was just young and scared!
Load More Replies...Bravery can only take place in the presence of fear........ With that said every single one of my mommy instincts want to snatch him up and protecc at all costs.
He may know that it will be far longer than recruits elsewhere in the world!
....War... Taking people from those they love, to protect those they love, when they haven't ... ...begun to love....
Omayra Trapped Under The Fallen Debris Of Her House. She Died Just Hours After This Photo Was Taken
More humane thing to do would have been to get in the water with her and hold her tight - can't imagine what it must have been like for her
No excuse or reason will ever "justify this photo - sorry
Load More Replies...It makes me feel so sad. What a beautiful and brave girl. Rest in peace.
The Migrant Mother - An Iconic Image Of The Great Depression
Journalists rarely capture the uncertainty of life like this Dorothea Lange photo does
This is a classic. It's one of the most jarring photos ever taken. There's never a time when this picture doesn't make you feel something.
Chief Of A Village In Brazil
An exotic, beautiful bird/s had to die to make him the main peacock!
Probably there have been animals whose lives can now be summed up in your wardrobe, too.
Load More Replies...A Malnourished Mother And Child At An Emergency Feeding Center In Tahoua, Niger
i dont f*****g get how it is that in some countries food is just throwing to trash and in others people doesnt have anything to eat at all
That skinny little hand makes me physically ill. Food is my love language. It was a big part of the dynamics between the women that raised me and it's a big deal in how I raise my children. As a mother you go hungry if that means your child eats. But what do you do when you have a child and you're not capable of any other method of feeding that child besides at your own breast. There's no bottles where your at. Let alone powdered formula. You haven't had a real meal in well over a year and you haven't had a scrap or a crumb in a week. Your milk dries up. You CAN NOT FEED YOUR BABY....this is the reality for some women and it breaks my heart into pieces.
And first world countries throw away good food because of surplus production and changing pricing?
Siberian Family Meal
I like that they're having this big, bloody meal...and drinking out of teacups.
The thing is, they are drinking blood straight from the corps.
Load More Replies...They have to eat meat raw because that's only way to get Vitamin C - there's little access to fruits/veggies -cooked meat has less vitamin c
Gives us room for thought when you consider how much food we waste and how spoilt we are when this is probably a luxury meal to them !!!!!!
the bloody teacup makes me think it's like a really "mad" tea party!
As a vegeterian, my dream of living in Siberian taiga just has to stay as a dream. I really appreciate their survival skills though.
They look happy, hey i eat raw fish, sushi. Whatever fills the tummies. Just hope they dont get parasites.
A Miner Takes A Break Inside An Unregulated Coalmine In Sabinas, Mexico
Those poor guys breathing all that c**p in. My god what a nasty dirty job
When will we stop, mining for these resources. There are better ways of energy...
He won't live long in those conditions. I was born and raised and live in Southern Ohio right where Ohio West Virginia and Kentucky meet. This is coal and steel country and I'm familiar with black lung. That's bad bad bad news.
The Eyes That Speak - A Muslim Woman Wearing A Hijab
I disagree. She looks powerful and determined
Load More Replies...Shes wearing hijab and niqab at the same time! Hijab to cover her hair.. and niqab to cover her face :)
Load More Replies...She is not terrified. We've all made "big eyes" in a photo. Only an American would see this as being "she looks terrified"
I wish Everybody would stay in their own country
Load More Replies...I love Steve Mccurry! Second inspiration for photojournalism!!!! His Afghan Girl is truly amazing.
This is not hijab, this is niqab. She isn't terrified, she chose to wear it and she's happy like this.
Shes wearing hijab and niqab at the same time! Hijab to cover her hair.. and niqab to cover her face :)
Load More Replies...Geisha In Subway
could you tell me the difference? I'm too lazy to Google :'/
Load More Replies...Not a Geisha. That's a Maiko-san. A Geisha wears a black Kimono and no makeup because she graduated from her Maiko-san position.
Really good to know.. I always thought Geisha's paint their faces white and wear colorful kimono's. Thank you
Load More Replies...I love the pattern made by the tiles in contrast with the majko's dress and the strip of yellow tiles.
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 :)
What a lovely comment, LuzHerrera. Imagine walking a day in this young woman's shoes. Feeling really blessed right now...
Load More Replies...I have heard of a medical procedure to treat the facial tissue to prevent further facial hair growth.
A Coal Miner Smokes A Cigarette After Finishing His Shift On The Outskirts Of Changzhi
Dying for dying, he may as well take some pleasure in it.
Load More Replies...Seen this many times, my x husband was from Hazard Ky, worked the mines & smoked before , during & after.....
Probably that cigarette is last satisfaction what is left in his life
I'll never understand why all miners smoke like chimneys. Also firefighters. I was in a house fire on Easter when I was in my freshman year of high-school and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE MEN that put my house out was chain smoking. 🤣
We need to get rid of mines... help those communities who are so dependent on it find new ways to make a living.
There lungs have already been destroyed before that cig went into his mouth. Look how black his hands are. My god those poor guys doing that
Ethiopian Girl From The Hamer Tribe
Someone put her in a Fenty ad....or better yet call Mother Pat Mcgrath!!!!!!!
A Girl From The Minority Yazidi Sect Rests At The Iraqi-Syrian Border
Her soul is now much older than it should be. She's been through too much that poor thing.
Yes her eyes look so old. My god. They can't even be children
Boy From The Suri Tribe
A Girl Covered In Traditional Body Paint Holds Her Puppy
A Final Embrace: The Most Haunting Photograph From Bangladesh
Strange that there is such beauty in such horror. I mean the live, that has dominion over death. It really gives one a perspective, makes me feel that maybe we are not all alone after all in our lives. My heart breaks, yes, of course, still there is something akin to light in the dark; knowing such love exists.
Literally crying looking at this picture. Such love. That can't be destroyed even in death. I hope they're at rest
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
Tea Time In Yamal, Russia
I have an actual phobia of being cold. So this freaks me put but I love that it's a family having tea no matter what climate or part of the world they're in! It's sweet.
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!
Rabari Tribal Elder, India
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 !
That must have been such an awesome experience!
Load More Replies...Village Elder In Sapa, Vietnam
She was really really sweet :). Can't imagine what she has been through.
Load More Replies...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.
it is sad... but at the same time i am happy that they are protecting him... though it should "NEED" to be done...
Load More Replies...A Girl Holds A Rifle As Fighters Of Al-quds Brigades, The Military Wing Of Islamic Jihad, Gather In Gaza City
Before attacking her family and saying that it's terrible, think about who did this to her country, her home?!!
Those children learn to protect themselves. It's Gaza. Israelis have been killing them off like dogs since the 60's
Load More Replies...India
Peace
There are still plenty of men, women & children who want our help in the world. God bless our troops!
She's so sweet to stop and give this kid a high five. I'm sure it's nice to see a smile and kindness when your in a place wracked by constant battle.
Minority Village Girls Selling Their Works, Sa Pa, Vietnam
Unjust... The majority of the world used to live like this, or worse, and we seemed to have survived this long.
Load More Replies...I'll take them all. The children I mean. I want to take them and wash their faces make sure they never have to be hungry or sell another bracelet ever again. But I'd settle for buying all of their wares.
These little girls working so hard to help their families for hardly anything, yet "influencers" get paid thousands upon thousands of dollars for their stupid likes or dislikes. Ugh.
ahh, they skip school to earn money :/ but at the same time they learn English very well that way!
Load More Replies...Woman In Traditional Costume, Maramures, Romania
A Man Pouring Tea In The Middle Of Desert, Jordany,
Always time for tea! No matter where you are in the world there's always tea.
Homeless Man On The Day Of The Summer Festival, Tirana, Albania.
Syrian Refugee At Turkey
Abdwla Ojalan
An Old Burmese Woman
Cusquenita / Child In Cusco / PerÚ
Old Muila Smile... Southern Angola.
She just looks like that friends momma that feeds you every time she sees you and may yell at you too but you love her anyways bc she kisses your cheek and give you a pet name.
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!
Icelandic Womens In The Country (1930-1940)
Purple Hands (hmong Of Vietnam)
Man Sleeping In A French Train, From Caen To Paris.
Korean Army Training
My dads karate sensei would make class do this side by side, then walk across. Fall? Jumping jacks or dojo laps. Hardcore in the snow!
Rice Farmer In Small Vietnamese Village
Coming Home From The Coal Mine - Near Datong, China
Tired but smiling just like any blue collar man in America. (Meaning a miner in America is a blue collar worker. Idk what miners in are considered to be)
An Old Romani Woman Sitting In Front Of Her House In Tirana, Albania
It looks old but well maintained. Its aged but not dirty and the yard and the walkway is swept clean. I'd say it's probably a very cozy little property. And if she's the one doing all the work I say she has a right to pop a squat wherever and whenever she feels like it.
Love Vs War
Cabo Verde
Woman Having A Beer In Barcelona.
Ah, the good ole' spanish-something-spanish dictionary for travelers
Reina Isabel From La Chureca A 31 Years Old Scavenger With Tuberculosis."
Girl Standing Near Her Home, Kenya
Cape Verde - Watching The Fishes
Actually it probably is fishes. Fish is a group of the same species while fishes refers to more than one species :)
Load More Replies...Female 'igorot' Elder Begging From Tourists - (baguio City, Philippines
Bataan Death March Survivor Relives A Moment In Time.
"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/
A Eldery Icelandic Woman Serving Sweets
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
A Very Long Journey - Vietnam
An Old Woman Sittng In The Afternoon Sun, Near Ponferrada, Spain.
Little Girl, Kenya
Capitana Grande Fidelia From Guaraní-izozog, Bolivia.
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.
yeah hilarious, a monkey chained with that thing around his neck, having to interact with tourists all day long.
Curiosity
In The House Gate / No Portão De Casa
Hand Rolling 6000 Incense Sticks Per Day - Mysore Southern India - Credit Ashley Calvert
Cape Verde - Two Kids Getting Ready To Jump
Peruvian Woman, Cuzco, Peru (by Gina Mako)
Malnutrition
This is the fight we all must instead of fighting for subjective stupidity.
Do not worry this child is being taken care of and is getting better I have met him he is a wonderful child
Zé Pretinho, A Sculptor Of Dolls In Brazil
Celtic Pavilion At The Annual Winnipeg Folklorama - Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Charcoal Master
Peshmerge Kurdistan
"i Think, Therefore I Am Free" - Young Manifesting In Bordeaux (france), For #jesuischarlie
Bite
Abhisumat, 12 Years Old In Thanjavur - India
On Holiday With Grandad In Slovenia
Brazilian Blue-eyed Boy
Brazilian Little Girl And Blue Dress / Menina Brasileira E O Vestido Azul
Indonesian Kids Playing Plastic Footbal On The Street.
In 1974 During The Troubles Of Northern Ireland: Gypsy Girl And Her Carton
Woman In Vigo, Spain
Olhar Ruivo - (catalão/go - Brasil)
Namibian Girl On The Roadside
Moroccan Worker Passing By The Imperial Palace Gardens
Chozhia Vellalar Woman "paambadam" (serpent Earring) In Tamilnadu, India
Monterrico Guatemala
Generational Head Gear
Awaiting Their Turn For Check Up.solala Medical Mission,guatemala.
Javanese Dance About A Knight Fights An Ogre.
Proud, Yet Weary Farmer, Alabama, United States
Patients In The Looted Al-rashad Mental, Saddam City, Baghdad, 2003 – Luis Costa
Cotton Picker In Costa Rica
Native Innu Elder And Her Grand Daughter
Muddy Smile
Tibetan Girl
Generation Love
Children At The 'festival Du Voyageur' In Winnipeg, Manitoba
Indian Woman, Oaxaca, Mexico 1978
Street Portrait Of Sculpturer Luis Antonio. Panama 2014.
A Parisian Police Nationale Officer Eyes An Approaching Mob.
Black Woman, Mexico City 1976
Grapes Of Wrath
Begging For Alms, Bodh Gaya, India.
Indian Girl From Jaipur, India, October 2014
Garilla. Kurdish Women
'i Want True Universal Suffrage'_a Hong Kong Protester During The Umbrella Movement
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.
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.
