Black and White Portraiture

Whitby Goth weekend has become something of a photographic event with many photographers going to the coastal town to make images of the goth gatherings. Out of all the images I have seen through the last few years from this event. This is the finest I have come across. The technique is flawless with the girl isolated from the backgound through use of a shallow depth of field plus the white skin just brings her to the foreground so well and the detail in the hair and wings like jacket is wonderful. With her eyes closed she feels like she is lost away from the setting of the street she is on. The photographer I assume has just approached this girl and to make such a powerful image and for her to give over so much trust is testament to this photographers skills. Fantastic capture.

Such a powerful character portrait showing such emotion. The high contrast works well with the subject and places it firmly within a documentary traditon of black and white photography. The square format again goes back to a period of nostalgia within the genre and the format works so well for tightly cropped portraits like this one. It reminds me of Avedons great images of his father. Jacob. Taken on a hassleblad many years ago. This has a similar feel. A picture of a loved one i'm sure. An image to be treasured. A very moving photograph. Well done.