Point of view is everything in this portrait. Using a 16-35mm lens at f/4 has allowed plenty of the net to be included, while throwing any potentially distracting details out of focus. The main subject is wonderfully sharp, and incredibly well balanced! A good portrait should tell us something about the individual, and by looking at the clothes, expression and surrounding environment we can tell a lot about this fisherman.
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This is a great travel picture, and all the more striking due to the limited colour palette. The composition is unusual, but surprisingly effective. The plastic bag in the top right-hand corner is distracting though. We can’t see the faces of any of the monks clearly, which works well if it’s a comment on their anonymity, but it doesn’t quite fit the brief for the portrait round.
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145,953 Ratings
It takes careful planning to create a portrait like this one, and it’s a great example of what can be achieved when you have an image in your mind’s eye, and very exacting standards! The exposure is spot on, the splash of red is perfectly positioned, and the diagonal lines created by the feathers frame the face wonderfully.
Brief
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**Portrait photography** is not the easiest thing to master. There are expectations attached to portraits that can be somewhat intimidating. Drawing out the hidden qualities and character of an individual is not always easy. There are a number of things to consider, such as ensuring the correct focus and making sure your images are not full of superfluous background detail that fights with your photograph’s subject for attention. Great portrait subjects can be found in all walks of life, from family and friends to your local shopkeeper and even strangers. There are no stipulations in this particular round as to how your images must be taken. You can employ both natural and artificial light, so if you’ve been avoiding getting to grips with your flashgun, this could be the round to get a little brave.
Taking a portrait in a subject’s working environment can provide the viewer with a wealth of information. This looks like a hot and steamy place to work, and allowing such a large piece of machinery to occupy the frame gives us some indication as to the scale of the operation. The colours are fantastic and the position of the main subject is ideal.
Our eyes are naturally drawn to symmetry, so the markings on the subject’s face refusing to satisfy this desire for balance unsettle us and hold our interest. Converting the shot to black & white helps to keep our attention on the lines (including the horizontal line of the fringe). It's a striking shot.
