New Joiners - People #437

This is all about wanting a picture, putting the effort in and then most importantly having the skill and vision to make it work so well. The timing of the jump and the skill of the photographer to make it is perfect. The framing from within the cave to give additional focus around the main subject is very well considered as are the colors. The use of scale works well and overall this is a fantastic image that has been considered and made rather than just shot. Well done.

The light is superb and really draws us in to the image. We have to look around to get the most from this photograph. Yes its a lovely study of a portrait, very technical as it would have been easy to lose detail in the face but it's all in. What makes this image extra special for me are the lines and highlights. The lovely lines and patterns on the tattoo, the lines from smiling around the eyes, the lines going in different directions on the pillow and duvet and the wonderful lines from the hair. This is a sensitive portrait well seen and managed.

This is just stunning. The tight crop really adds to the viewer coming close to the girls. The poses and facial gestures are from a high end fashion campaign from the 90s and the cool colors from the clothes they wear to the background blues works very well. It's incredible sharp and well composed. It reminds me of the sisters project by Nicholas Nixon in which he took a close up picture of 4 sisters every year. This has that quality. Wonderful.

A really powerful controlled photograph. The quality of light is very well controlled and perfect for what is a strong close up portrait. If we took away the snake it would be a very good beauty photograph, the snake adds this additional story that we all know about. The pose of the model is classic and works very well. My only consideration would have been to maybe take the hand or arm away from the bottom right hand corner so that we would have had more grey background to frame the face with. Just a thought but still a great photograph.

This image has a real sense of the 1970s especially in relation to the muted colors of the background. It reminds me of a film still and all the better for that. The composition is first rate as is the timing from the photographer to sync up with the skateboarder doing the tricks. We the viewer feel we have front row seats to what is happening. Technically it's very good with the focus on the main person and board itself that really draws us in. Great capture.

This is a classic documentary photograph. The use of Black & White adds to this idea and the sharp focus on the woman's face brings all the tension to us the viewer, using window light is also a classic touch from this genre. It allows the viewer to spend the time looking at what is important - which in this case is the woman threading the material. The detail on her face is wonderful as is the quality of light. You can imagine the conversation between the sitter and photographer taking place in order to make this image. We the viewers are rewarded with a powerful image to admire.

This is such a fun photograph. It was so close to my top 10. The poses are great and the tight crop works very well as it focuses our attention straight onto the two children. The complete out of focus background works very well and is in many ways the center of attention as we view the wonderful snow droplets and would be a great picture in its own right. Combined and we have a lovely image of children having so much fun in the snow.

Street photography is great. You can wait for hours and get nothing then all of a sudden something presents itself. That's the challenge for the photographer to be able to see a potential image then have the speed of mind to make it. The photographer this time has shown great skill in making this image. It is like a fashion show with two strangers both performing for the camera in different ways and both unaware of the camera looking at them. Its very sharp where it needs to be with the background blurred. The hand gestures from both people are in sync. That's why we love the street. Its so random but can yield the greatest images. Maybe the out of focus object in the bottom right would be better not being in shot but then if the photographer had tried to clear it - this wonderful scene would not exist. That's the split second nature of this type of photography. Great image.

Great light, great composition and wonderful background story all add to this lovely photograph. The soft dappled light that dances over the entire frame is wonderful as it creates pockets of light and dark and gives a real sense of space between the foreground and background. His pose is great and fits in to the rustic charm of the image with him holding the long envelope. My only consideration is that it could be a little sharper on the face and body. something to consider moving forward but a great image all the same.

Classic framing and wonderful use of colors really add to this dream like photograph. The sharp focus on the subject with the soft blur of the background really puts the emphasis on the woman perching on the edge of the tree roots. The branches above her head curve round to give a sense of framing and also give a sense of scale that she is surrounded by this larger wilderness. Lovely.

Great technique from catching the moment in front of you to the quality of the exposure which is spot on. It would have been so easy to lose detail in the young girls face with all the light behind her but the control the photographer shows is excellent. The detail in the rocks, the way the clouds stand out and the pose of the girl just add up to make a great photograph. Well done.

This is a lovely warm photograph that shows the trust the sitter has in the photographer. This is another image that was close to my top 10. The ability to go so close is not easy and this really adds to the power of this image. The quality of light is excellent and the sharp focus around the eyes and face really draws us the into the image. The use of Black & White fits well into the traditions of this genre of photography of which this is a classic example of its type. Well done.

This is a fantastic shot. The exposure under difficult conditions is spot on as are the poses of the two people in shot. We get a real sense of joy from the expressions on both faces and a sense of scale in relation to the distant background. I love the difference in clothing between the two girls, the doc martins against the trainers gives a sense of an athlete with her friend just hanging out on the city limits. Super shot.

The use of tilting the camera does a few things, firstly it makes the image stand out from the crowd, it gives a sense of a lower camera angle and it adds triangles to the image. It creates space that would not be there if it was taken straight on. The use of Black & White adds to the power of the photograph as it fits in with the traditions of documentary photography. The darkened clouds add drama as does both the animal and person looking straight into camera. Overall a great picture.