The word I was using is "Forumulaic" very fifferent from formalistic.(posted 8702 days ago)After thinking about it, this is what I don't care for about his technique: It's indiginous people in imported light. The light in Tibet is different than the light in Somalia. They look like they were shot in the studio and comped into a stock landscape shot for the background. When the selective toning and coloring is added, I expect to see a boxed set in the airport titled "Indigenous Folk in Their Sunday Best".
Try the portraits that Irving Penn did it Paris, Peru, New Guniea, Scotland, and Manhatten (the art tribe). These are all shot in daylight studios, either rented or manufactured on location. The light is indigenous to the subject. Even the fashion models juxaposed with these location portraits (in the book "Passages") are shot with light indigenous to the fashion world (electronic).
Mr.Borges has made some beautiful portraits as I stated (and was ignored) above. But after veiwing 30 or 40 of them, the technique (equipment and finishing) becomes the overwhelming characteristic of the portfolio...t