Inspired by... Diane Arbus

This stunning graphic portrait has its origins in the surrealist movement as it does in the world of Arbus and that mixture only adds to the visual delight of this photograph. We the viewers are denied what the person looks like through the placement of the arms and hands and it is this deliberate movement that adds the tension to the scene. The arm band only adds to that and the use of black and white works so well with the subject and complexities of the background. The detailing in the hands could describe what the person does, how old they are, maybe and the type of work they do. Like reading palms we get our information in looking and wondering what if. A really unique and powerful portrait.

A truly stunning image that really works on the theme. Arbus often worked with children and somehow showed another side of their personality. Times have moved on and this beautifully rendered portrait has so much to like about it. The relationship between the girl and the forest seems out of sync and the stunning contemporary post production rendering around the face and mask is something I;m sure would have interested photographers from a previous time. The soft subtle black and white tones give a modern interpretation and take some of the menace out of the image though the crossed arms and straight to camera stare adds a feeling of unease on the viewer. The framing, quality of light and positioning of the different elements work together perfectly in what is a stunning reimagining on the work of one of Photography's most important and difficult artists. Congratulations. Very well done.

This is pure spectacle. The drama is wonderful in this image which has many of Arbus's traits within it. The low camera angle, the use of square format and subject matter all add to this working very well with the theme of the competition. The technique is spot on and cannot be faulted with very good highlights and shadow details. The relationship between the two individuals as they get made up really works well as does the composition and image in general. Great capture. Well done.

I was really drawn to this image because of its great use of technique and flash which works beautifully in this instance. The relationship between the subjects and camera is very interesting and interactive and the tonal range is excellent. I found the text added to the image rather distracting and I understand why photographers include this but I personally think it is a distraction form the amazing photograph. Something to maybe consider in what is a great capture. Well done.

We will never know what the young child is thinking or looking at with those eyes but we can start to imagine and build our own story around what is a visually powerful portrait. Like Arbus who sought people within their own homes, this dark and brooding photograph really draws us in. The small details like the highlighted detailing on the side of the chair, the stunning rim light around the bent knees and the arm raised to the head titled slightly all add drama to the photograph. The use of black and white adds to the feel of a scene from a film Noir in what is a stunning capture. Very well done.

This has that quality tonally and expression on the young face as Arbus's classic close up of the crying baby with tears. It reminds me of that image with the photographers ability in this instance to make a stunning image of a young boy just turning his head to see or chat to the person behind him. What they have created is so much more., the tension on the face, the way the soft shadow from the hood moves in the same curved direction as the path ahead and the out of focus environment they are placed within. Technically this is excellent with the highlights and shadows very well controlled and in what is no doubt a really happy moment. Photography has the power to create a tension that maybe never was there. That is it's skill and burden. Very well done.

Arbus often made subjects more than their parts. She did not always seek out the unusual or strange, Many times she made incredible images from just walking around. This image taken in New York where Arbus herself made most of her images is a great case in point. The stunning detailed black and white tones work superbly in this well constructed image. The soft creamy whites against the darker well controlled shadow details are lovely as is the inclusion of the city in the background in this unusual gathering of individuals all looking through protective eye wear at an eclipse. Its only real nod to the modern world is the individual looking through a mobile phone in what is a stunning and complex image. Superbly constructed.

I love the formal arrangement of this image with all the components perfectly placed within the frame. The interior and quality of light does have that Arbus feel as does the contrast and tonal range. The patterns and swirls on the furniture really work with the creases in the clothes and create a really interesting visual dynamic. Lovely image. Well done.

The precision in this stunning street scene is what really elevates this image. All these elements combine to make an almost perfect composition. The tight crop, the highlights on the two panels in the bottom right of the frame, the light on the main subject and how it then creates this lovely highlight/shadow on the two individuals in the background walking in the opposite direction. The confidence of the individual striding forward, eyes hidden by the sunglasses and that pinstripe suit is immaculate. The detailing in the hand soaked in light is so technically good I cannot fault it in anyway. A surreal and strange beautiful image. I could look at it all day and see new things that interest me.

This photographs beauty lies in its simplicity. Technically it's stunning with great use of depth of field to throw out the background, superb tonal range and the detailing on the main individuals outfit could not be bettered. What really draws me to this photograph is how at ease the person looks within the setting and the relationship visually between them and the woman in the background looking towards them. It really makes the picture. This could be a fashion shoot given the pose and in which they adopt, something Arbus with her husband started out doing. A lovely capture of something that you may just come across whilst walking. Well done.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of this image and the engagement between the sitter to the camera. It's a contemporary image that has it's roots set within the 1980s photography tradition of sub-cultures which Arbus was very much about within an earlier period. The use of black and white elevates the intensity of the stare in what is a powerful portrait of youth. Do have a look at the work of British photographer Derek Ridgers if you do not know the work. Well done.

Nothing more natural than a baby crawling around. This image could be seen in a different context. Firstly the converging lines of the railings somehow remind me of the scene of the two girls in the hallway of the film the shinning. The lovely highlights on the babies hair and left arm are stunning and work with the highlights on the railings. The leaves which seem to have been placed so precisely which I'm sure the child is after especially the one in the foreground. The shallow depth of field again adds to the sense of surrealism in what I'm sure is just a lovely image of a young baby. Photography especially when we use black and white changes how we see pictures. We are so used to seeing images of babies in color in albums that the sight of a child in a darker scene in black and white changes how we could interpret the image. A stunning technically great capture. Well done.

The depth of emotion can be seen in the eyes of these two young individuals who already seem bonded together in life. The way they pose and the clothes they wear including the mickey mouse top suggests the children they are but as mentioned the eyes looking directly to camera make it difficult at times to meet them. The tight crop brings emotion directly back into the frame and the quality of the exposure and gritty contrast works well with the subject. The inclusion of the puppy adds softness to the picture in what is a beautiful image of two girls together. Haunting and an image that will stay with me. Well done.

The low camera angle looking up at the elevated subject has many of the traits that Arbus herself would incorporate to make an image and viewer feel uneasy when looking at her work. This stunning portrait works on a similar level. The relationship between the individual and background works well together both visually and technically and the wild stare from the person out of the frame only adds to the tension and unease we feel when looking at this image. A stunning capture.