New Joiners - People #448

The power in this photograph is what we don't see. We cannot see the firefighters facial expression. The background is blurred out and the crop is very tight. It is all these things that make this photograph so powerful. We have to make our own mind up what is happening. We have help in this from the text and from what we know of images of firefighters both in films and in real life. This is a classic study of a hero. What we don't see is why I love this photograph. Stunning.

I love the technical qualities in this image. This is not an easy subject to photograph and the photographer has to know about the elements involved to make such a powerful and technically correct picture. The attention to detail is first rate and the brightly colored background works well against the sparks of fire coming out of the scene. So close to my top 10. Great capture.

The high level viewpoint frames beautifully the sweeping vista in front of us. What seems like chaos to me is probably a very common scene most mornings in this wonderful place teaming with life. The orange colors really pop in the frame and the inclusion of the waters edge really gives a sense of place to the overall image. A fantastic slice of life captured beautifully by the photographer.

I love the text that goes alongside this photograph. Simple joy indeed. It's super sharp and the wonderful joy on the girls face is perfectly captured by the photographer. The movement in the hair and catch lights in the eyes work so well as does the tight crop. This is a great example of not over doing things. This is a technically accomplished studio portrait. I'm sure this will be a treasured portrait on the walls of the girls home.. Lovely

Street photography at it's best is about waiting. Find your spot, with the right light and then wait. This is a great candid photograph that fits so well into the tradition of the best street photographs. We have the narrow street that leads our eye all the way down the frame, the two people on bikes with wonderful shadows cast by the light. The black and white adds extra drama and a graphic quality to the photograph. Their is a lot to admire in this image. It's why street photography has an enduring appeal to us photographers as we never know what is coming round the corner. Well done.

This makes me smile. The whole scene is fun and so very cute. The little lion cub is beautiful and following in such a curious manner towards the person in front. The muted colors work well across the entire image. The sense of space given by the inclusion of the background allows us the viewers to understand we are not in a zoo. I would not want to be in this image in a couple of years time when the Lion is bigger. Very well photographed and fun.

A beautifully controlled composite that works very well as a single image.. The quality is there for all to see. The soft colors working very well together. The tight crops brings to focus the details in the face and made up hair and the addition of the flower works so well and is placed perfectly to complement the overall composition. Clever and not overstated. A classy image,

Having walked past this scene at Kings Cross Station in London hundreds of time, it's great to see a really vibrant image taken. With lines of people waiting to capture a picture from the famous platform from the Harry potter films there must be 1000s of images similar to this. This is a real beauty. The use of flash in capturing the movement works very well and we get a real sense of movement and joy in this photograph. So much so that it does seem magical. Well done.

This is such a fun image. You can't help but smile along with the couple in the photograph. It's also a strange image. Why are they covered in what looks like mud? The text tells us the reasons why and the image is a joyous support of the celebrations unfolding. This looks like an image taken at the end of the event? The quality of light on the bodies is excellent and the darkened foreground is really enhanced against the pale blue sky. Maybe if the photographer had moved around an extra step then the pole coming out of the shoulder in the background would have been away but that is such a small consideration. Great capture.

Focusing on the fire rather than the individual gives us the viewers a real sense of the power of the flame. We get to see all these minute particles against the fire and the darkened out of focus audience watching on gives the entire scene a sense of added drama. The timing is perfect as is the framing. A great capture.

A fantastic candid portrait of a young girl seemingly unhappy at what has been asked of her. The stunning warm colors add extra impact as do the vibrant colors of the flowers behind her. The way she clenches the fists and expressive facial movements really bring out the best in this capture. The plainness of the coat works so well against the vibrant background and the bow in the hair takes us the viewer into a scene that seems familiar to us. Maybe from a Roald Dahl movie. Wonderful.

This is a lovely candid portrait. The sharpness is perfect as is the composition. We don't need to see the persons face to know they are engrossed in the book they are reading, we know that because the photographer has made this image without been disturbed. The composition works very well as do the soft tones throughout. A well seen and technically perfect image.

Stunning capture. Great composition with the out of focus background detail really working well against the lines on the individuals top and braided hair. The high contrast works very well and gives the whites in the eyes a real point of focus for the viewer. The exposure is wonderful and the quality of light on the face really does make this photograph stand out from the competition. Excellent.

I admire the photographer for using film in this digital age.. The composition is lovely with the framing of the blurred head in the foreground really leading our eye to the central couple within the frame. We get a sense of drama from the scene unfolding and this is heightened with the use of black and white. It feels like a film still with so much going on in the picture. Focusing could be a little sharper but one of the qualities that film gives us is that it is simply not as sharp as digital. Keep going with the film and well done.

Vivid colors and a striking stare that we cant ever leave really draws all our attention into this photograph. The powerful deep reds that have a painterly quality against the blue eyes of the model work so well and keeping just the shadow detail in the hair makes this image stand out from the crowd. It is that good.. The word i would use is 'Intense' If I could change one very small detail would be to have straightened the models face within the frame but it does not detract from the quality of the overall photograph. Well done.