New Joiners - People #413

This excellent shot captures the steely determination of a cyclist which you can see in their eyes. In the background, a cyclist in hot pursuit adds to the story, creates tensions and is skillfully blurred. The black and white conversion is the icing on the cake. Good work!

Fantastic use of colour in this bold and confident portrait. The striking contrast and beautiful harmonies vibing between the intense red and blue hues are a visual delight. The composition is simple but highly effective too and I love the way the subject is slightly off centre - nicely balanced. Good work.

People at work often make very interesting portraits. I like the fact that this weaver seems so engrossed in their work that they're oblivious to the camera's presence. Most of all I love the red vibing off the subject's hair and yarn behind them.

The composition is really strong, and I like the way the subject is looking out of the frame to the left with the negative space to the right. This creates a good sense of tension. Being niggly there is a little bit of banding in the top right which is a shame, it is, however, an easy fix, and one that would have put this in the top ten. Otherwise, great work, keep it up!

Stunning capture of what appears to be an unposed moment. Capturing little vignettes like this with a subject deep in thought and unaware of the camera can often add lovely layers of depth. Great black and white conversion that complements the subject. Good work!

Excellent use of available light to help tell the story behind this portrait. Taken in a technically challenging situation, it is a credit to the photographer to have captured a poignant atmosphere. I love how the stripes of light hit the subject's face. The balance of tonality in the rest of the environment has been skillfully captured with just enough detail. Good work.

A strong and confident portrait that has been skillfully considered and shot. The composition is strong and bold. The lighting which artfully captures a range of textures, and a lovely catch light is excellent. And finally, the black and white conversion is exemplary revealing a wide range of tones that feel very natural Good work.

A good concept that has been skillfully realised. The use of light and dark tones and artful control of contrast all add to the carefully considered narrative of the scene. Great use of negative space and awareness of composition which also add to the sense of story.

Excellent use of light to create a strong portrait. It is not easy controlling light in a situation like this so the photographer should be applauded for their skilful control. I like the way the subject's eyes are closed adding layers of meaning.

Wow, this image is packed with dynamic energy. At first, it feels quite chaotic, but actually through the chaos seeps a sense of balance and harmony. The composition is strong with lots of lines, leading toward the subject. Colour and light play a crucial role too, along with the cool attitude of the subject.

There's a lovely, visceral, carefree energy to this image. The camera angle and position of the subject add a dynamic twist while the light streaming into the picture creates a beautiful sense of place, especially with the lens flare at the bottom of the shot.

I love the use of the pumpkin as a mask. For me, there is something (the mask) that echos the great American photographer, Ralph Eugene Meatyrad, who frequently used them in his staged photos. There is a haunting sense of mystery. Good work.

Super shot of a clam digger. The light streaming into the image is inspired and adds to the vibe. Being a little niggly I feel in this instance the horizon would benefit from being level (which is an easy fix). otherwise top-notch work, well done.

I really like this image of a Beodin and pole in the Wadi Rum desert, it has a surreal vibe, that comes together artfully. I enjoy the playful way the creator has cunningly used the letters 'dpb' which are all the same shape to describe the image literally. However, it is on a more metaphorical level that I love this image.

Shooting into the light (contre jour) and also capturing snow are some of the most challenging situations for photographers, both have been skillfully handled in this shot. The lens flare adds depth and energy and the beautiful bokeh in the background is sublime.