Body art

A powerful and understated portrayal of body art. I love the way the light has been used to portray shape and form. The tight composition is very effective and the juxtaposition of traditional tribal scarification with a modern silver chain tells a contemporary story of the lives of others, going beyond a straightforward record shot.

This is a very enjoyable and subtle interpretation of body art. Your viewpoint, focus point and use of depth of field have all contributed to a very well balanced composition with lots of impact. Our attention is immediately drawn to the sharply defined, reflected face. The only thing that I felt spoilt this image was the inclusion of your signature; it is a little distracting and I would recommend leaving it out of competition pictures.

Body art takes many forms and has great significance in many cultures. This low key portrait is precisely focussed on her eyes and we are drawn to her through her expression. The dark and obscured background hints at her house and environment without taking any attention away from the extensive inkwork across her face.

The juxtaposition of the body art and the background artwork illustrates an innovative and thoughtful approach, which lifts the picture out of the mainstream approach many have taken in this competition. The composition makes strong use of lines and is well balanced.

A great photo and interesting to read that it is part of a conceptual series, but sadly I feel the hint of a tattoo on her shoulder is far too subtle for the competition brief, but good luck with this image elsewhere.

A very stylish image that has been skilfully taken and processed. It is very worthy of commendation, but with tough competition I am afraid it didn't make it to my Top 10 because I think a pose that put more emphasis on the artwork would have suited the brief. Nevertheless well done for an excellent shot!

The full sleeve of artwork is a prominent and important feature, set within the context of a dynamic image. Your (unavoidable) low viewpoint has simplified the background, whilst you have captured a great expression, all of which shows us the link between the singer and his body art.