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The ongoing debates regarding the use photo's or other mechanical devices will continue long after we have all gone to Portrait Artist's heaven. The beginner and the pro alike have good reason to use photography but the old advice remains true that the artist does not have command of his medium until he learns to transform what he sees through his eyes or recorded information into a convincing portrait. On the occasions when I have taught portraiture I have stressed the ongoing need to draw and like to show that drawing and likeness does not mean being a slave to proportions, values and colors but finding those elements that give form, personality, and composition to the finished work. I recently sent the enclosed images to several young students as a demonstration of kind of results that can be acheived by use of photography by an accomplished artist. The artist is one of my favorite, Nicolai Fechin. I have no reason to believe he used photography often but found this drawing with his photo reference and thought it a good example of drawing skill overcoming the shortcomings of the camera. He is among the very best draughtsmen ever and his impressionistic painting style does not hide the evidence that beneath the paint is flesh and bone as convincing as anyone might ever hope to achieve. Notice how he recreates the form, light and gesture (the arm/hand).
Jim
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