(Press release from  Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, www.sites.si.edu) Portraits are, literally and figuratively, reflections of ourselves, and the memorable ones have a simple, yet profound universal appeal—as evocative to a teenage girl in Brooklyn as to an elderly Bushman in South Africa. Powerful portraits can reflect the continuity of human experience over time or emphasize the physical and cultural differences that distinguish human beings from one another. Such remarkable images reveal our deep-rooted connections to national identities, gender roles, cultural preferences, and our surroundings. They reveal the historical context of the moment while shedding light on larger world views that have been molded and recast over the centuries. An unforgettable portrait does all of these things, but most importantly, it echoes the spirit of the sitter.  Created by National Geographic and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, In Focus reveals that it is possible to portray the essence of people and places in two dimensions.  The exhibition was on view at Hometown Perry, Iowa's Carnegie Library Museum November 13 through December 30, 2007. For well over 100 years, the name National Geographic has been synonymous with compelling photography. In Focus brings together a rare collection of expressive portraits and scenes from around the world and here at home. This collection of outstanding images, shot from the early 20th century to the late 1990s, not only parallels the Society’s interest in the ethnographic study of “exotic” lands, but also reveals the magazine’s idealized view of domestic life in the United States during the Great Depression and World War II. From Steve McCurry’s haunting image of the green-eyed Afghan girl to lesser known scenes of tribal leaders, fishermen, and American workers, In Focus takes viewers around the globe and through the heights and depths of human emotion.   Visit the Smithsonian's website and view images from the exhibition here.