Environmental portraits

We love the light, colour and narrative of this shot. The subtle tonality and fall off in focus allows us to focus on the subject, while taking in the surroundings. The frame is well balanced and detail is controlled, to allow for a clear journey through the scene. A great documentary style portrait shot.

This image is full of atmosphere. The choice to use monochrome helps us focus on texture and detail, while the steam adds to the ethereal feel of the scene. The direct eye contact with the subject instantly engages the viewer while the diffused background, through the steam, provides wonderful depth. A perfect example of successful environmental portraiture! Well done.

The lighting in this shot is gorgeous. The warmth and low angle suggest sunset or early morning and the raking style picks out key details of the background - a clever compositional device. The expression on the girl's face also makes us want to know more about the context of the shot - her wistful look makes it unclear if she is content or tired. A great, painterly photograph with lots of atmosphere!

The colour and detail in this shot are fantastic! Once again the use of composition helps guide us around the frame, taking in all of the background detail, but the contrasting warm light on the subject, against the cool blue of the background, focusses us on the man - the 'main event' if you will. Even with a lack of eye contact there is a scene of connection with him which adds to the overall story of the shot.

One of the common issues we saw in this round was a lack of eye contact from the subject. In this shot we have potential in the environment but we can't forget about the portrait part of the formula. We need to be engaged by the subject and that is missing here. The lighting is also a bit harsh, with many blown highlights, so remember to keep an eye on that histogram!