Character Portraits

We love the lighting in this shot. The strong contrast creates excellent drama while there is just enough detail to reveal the subject's character. The exposure is perfect and the photographer has done well to avoid clipping in the highlights. A great character portrait with lots of depth and intrigue.

They say the eyes are a gateway to the soul and this portrait shot seems to confirm this idea. The focus is superbly placed to focus our attention on the boy's eyes, which act like pools of light. The soft lighting enhances the skin tones and colours in the scene too, while the composition is ideal.

Sometimes grit and texture are all that a portrait shot needs. Flattering can mean something different to everyone and you have to match your photographic style to your subject. This image demonstrates that perfectly. We love the detail in the man's skin and the strong gaze into the lens. Like any good portrait shot, it makes us want to know his story.

Children make amazing subjects because their emotions are raw and unfiltered. This can range from joy to anger and, in the case of this boy, disinterest and vague annoyance. The choice to render the image in black and white is inspired too, allowing us to focus on the boy's expression.

Studio lighting can be tricky to master but here, the photographer has made superb use of directional light and a textured background. The shot is deceptively simple but the structure of the lighting and the sharply rendered detail give it emotion and mystery. Very nicely captured.

This image is as disorientating as it is intriguing! The environment is strange and unfamiliar but the strong gaze from the subject cuts through this and allows us to accept the background as a natural part of the scene. The processing is interesting too, with the grade matching the boy's eyes and clothing.

Backgrounds can make or break a portrait shot and this image makes great use of a simple prop. The parasol is both neutral and lends an interesting pattern behind the subject, creating depth without pulling our view away from the girl's eyes. The lighting is beautifully flattering too. Nicely done.

Not all portraits have to be of human subjects and this animal study has all of the relatable emotion of any of the other shots entered into this round. The lighting and focus on a single eye effectively convey the apparent emotion of the subject proving that, used well, negative space can be a powerful tool.

We saw a great range of image styles in this round, proving both high-key and low-key lighting can be ideal for portraiture. This image falls into the former category. The colours and soft light are gorgeous, making fabulous use of golden hour lighting. The depth-of-field is spot-on too, merely suggesting the environment.

Strong eye contact is a staple of successful portraiture. The boy's eyes fall neatly on the rule of thirds grid too, which gives his gaze additional power, drawing us in and holding our attention. Without seeing much of the background, we can confidently say what is going on around him and his determination is clearly reflected.

What a strong shot! The contrast is lovely and the composition allows us to immediately connect with the girl. It's a simple frame but is very well-proportioned, her eyes clearly falling on a third. meanwhile, the depth of field is just deep enough to reveal her surroundings without drawing us away from her face.

This is a very strong portrait image. The posing is inspired and the composition works to draw us in and connect with the boy. The lighting is excellent too, making great use of natural conditions which bring out the colours of the scene with subtlety. Very nicely captured.

What a strong shot! The contrast is lovely and the composition allows us to immediately connect with the man. It's a simple frame but is very well-proportioned, the environmental elements creating an effective balance. The lighting is well-managed too, with just enough detail on his skin and in the highlights.

There is of course a classic atmosphere in this image, the framing taking inspiration from that famous painting by Vermeer. The colours have a painterly feel to them but the shot still manages to look timeless. The contrast, saturation and sharpness are all brilliantly controlled too. Well done.