Typography is not just about choosing a nice typeface, actually it's much more than that, it's how we arrange the types in the layout choosing the right size, weight and type of font to transmit the message in the easiest and more understandable way. Now, imagine some designers take that to a next step, mixing typography with portraits.
http://www.artmag.gr/art-articles/arts/about-art/464-typographyandportrait
http://abduzeedo.com/45-amazing-type-faces-typographic-portraits