Fashion and beauty

The choice of location is one of the elements that immediately stand out in this fashion image. I like the angle the image is shot from: symmetrical, lower to the ground and pointing towards the light and trees in the distance. The columns and side walls frame the model beautifully and add to the sense of movement and drama already conveyed through the pose, making the image extremely dynamic. This is definitely an eye-catching shot that is full of energy and potential.

I love the originality of this image. The contrast between the young woman, dressed in pink extravagant garments, and the old man, wearing comfortable clothes and focusing on his newspaper, is the strength of this shot. It may have helped if the position of the fashion model and that of the man were somehow inverted, so that the girl, the real subject of the image, could stand in a more prominent part of the frame, such as closer to the centre of the image or closer to the lens. I like the creativity and slight shock effect of this shot - it falls straight into my commended selection!

This shot is very captivating and it immediately invited me to a full-size view. The model is gorgeous and so is the barn owl next to her. Their colours are so similar, they almost look like two enchanted creatures spiritually connected to one another. They look right into the camera with a graceful and powerful stare that is fascinating. I like the earthy tones of the wardrobe and location and the use of a wide aperture that makes the subjects gently stand out against the busy leafy background.

Beautiful shot.

I love the idea behind the make-up and hair in this image and how every detail is well taken care of such as nails, eyelashes and various details in the hair. The symmetrical pose works, as well as the model tilting her head slightly down, which automatically makes her beautiful eyes the centre of attention of the image. A little boost in contrast and eye brightness would make this image reach the whole of its potential and make it an ever more interesting, creative beauty shot.

This image immediately caught my eye whilst I was going through the first selection process. Even at first sight it is clear how this shot has a certain awareness behind it, from the wardrobe and makeup, which is well chosen and applied, to the overall pastel tones and soft lighting that all match and give the right tone to the image.

I especially like how the body position creates a big 'S' going from the top of the headpiece to the model's back. A proper fashion/beauty image executed with style that, to my eye, certainly deserves a first place.

This shot is a very interesting fashion image that definitely differs from all the other entries. The model is beautiful, her outfit suits her perfectly and her pose looks very graceful (although most probably it is very uncomfortable!). I very much like the idea of mixing the fashion shoot with local life and passers-by. In this case, positioning the model in a more relevant part of the frame (closer to the centre or closer to the lens, for instance) would have made even clearer that she is the real subject of the shot, and easier for the viewer's eyes to engage with the subject immediately. Overall this is a lovely shot that definitely deserves to receive a commendation.

This image caught my attention straight away. I like the way the light only hits half of the face, instantly creating an intimate and mysterious atmosphere, enhanced by the intense expression on the subject's face. I like how the cushions (?) around the subject are perfectly framing him, and the black and white works extremely well in eliminating colour-distractions and drawing all the attention right onto the subject's face. Sadly, I could not award this image due to it being more of a portrait than a fashion or beauty image, but it still remains one of my favourites.

This image definitely caught my attention straight away. The dynamic pose and the contrast between the vibrant colours of the balloons and the much more muted tones of the location immediately catches the eye and draws the attention right onto the subject, where it should be. The composition of this shot, with the creative pose and the balloons covering the model's upper body, makes this image slightly more fine art/conceptual than pure fashion, but it is certainly a very memorable picture that definitely deserves a commendation.

I find this image very graceful, tasteful and beautifully framed. I like the model's look and the make-up and hair styling on her. I like the way the dark areas of the shot have been turned into blues, giving a different finish to the image and working well with the deep red of the dress and lipstick. I am usually a fan of subjects looking into the camera, but I have to admit that in this shot the lack of eye contact actually works well, bringing the viewer's attention right onto the cards (key to understanding the concept behind the image), whilst at the same time making the eye make-up completely visible.

The only reason this shot did not get a commendation is because it seems to be positioning itself right in between fashion and beauty, but not exactly in either of the two categories: it is not focused enough on the dress to be a fashion image and not enough on the face alone to be a beauty shot. Nonetheless, this beautiful image deserved a praise. Well done!

The contrast between the dramatic sky and the perfect white wedding dress makes this shot very captivating. The hard light contributes strength to the image, creating strong shadows and enhancing the detail in the dress whilst never blowing out the white. The dress may have probably looked more appealing if the gown was simply resting instead of being lifted by the model, but at the same time this pose also contributes to creating a certain movement in the image that adds character and dynamism to the shot.

I like the feminine and soft look of this image. The warm grey background is a clever choice and works very well with the pinks of the dress and flowers (a colder shade of grey or white wouldn't have worked as well). At the same time, the light, soft and diffused, enhances the overall intimate feel of the image even more. The use of flowers as props adds a point of interest in the image and the circle cleverly draws the viewer's attention onto the model. Seeing the whole length of the model's legs would have helped in making the body appear more lean and elegant, however the pose looks more than appropriate, being feminine and spontaneous. A very good shot!

The beauty of the model strikes me in this image. Her features are flawless and the attention gone into hair and makeup makes this a successful beauty shot. I like the way the skin and hair have been desaturated in post-production, and are now working together with the light blue background in giving the image an overall 'cold' feel. The only thing that could have improved this shot would have been having the model move her chin slightly lower, which would have automatically 'opened' the eyes more and revealed more of the black feather on the eye lid.

I very much like this image and I'm happy to include it in my Commended list.

I like how clean and tidy this image looks. The light is well positioned, brightening the eye and creating a subtle and non-invasive shadow under the nose, and the gradient in the background is pleasant and adds an interesting lighting point right behind the model. In terms of composition, it would have been nice to see more of the model's neck (an important feature in beauty shots) rather the length of her shoulders, but I still like how the model's face is positioned in the frame and how it is facing the negative space on the left side. The retouching is well executed (not a very easy job on a close up image) and certainly contributes to the professional feel of this image.

I find this image very interesting, starting from the extravagant hair and make-up to the beautiful model and the big white dress. All of the above caught my eye straight away. The only improvement I could see in this image is in the background: there is so much going on with the model's styling that I wish behind her was less busy, possibly made out of blue sky entirely, to avoid any distractions. I very much like the bright orange of the makeup against the pure white of the dress and the turquoise of the sky above. In my opinion it makes a beautiful combination and a beautiful shot.