The demand on most portraitists is
to record faithfully the physical and sometimes the psychological characteristics
of the person in front of the camera. The portraitist may or may not exert
overt influence on the surroundings—lighting, background, position of the
sitter—but his task ultimately is performed in the service of his client. In
rare instances, the artistic demands of the resulting image are ascendant, and
adherence to absolute representation is rejected.

During a three-month period, Helmar
Lerski produced a series of 175 photographic portraits of the same subject
which he called Metamorphosis Through Light. As the title suggests,
sunlight was reflected from mirrors positioned at various angles in diverse
intensities to transform radically the physical appearance of the man's face.
Photographed at extremely close range to eliminate extraneous material and to
emphasize the elements of graphic design, the resulting image is a distortion
rather than an elucidation of his features. Handwork was added to further heighten
and define the lines of the face.