New Joiners - People #450

This is a great capture of a jazz procession and is made even better by the placement of the photographer and including the out of focus man in the foreground to the right. What really makes this image are the warm tones and the flare coming form the top left. It is well controlled and gives a sense of fun and vibrancy which is what this photograph is all about. A great candid street picture that really tells the story of the day.

The colors contrast so well in this image. The mainly black and white against the vibrancy of the blue background really adds to the quality and formal arrangements of this image. The space and full body within the frame works very well and the exposure is top quality. Not easy with the whites of the beach towels. I love the flow of the towel carried by the man and the small boats in the background. A fun and unique capture.

A small slice of calm and quietness whilst in London. The subtle tones add to that feeling and the use of a full depth of field mean that we get to see all that is happening and included within the picture. The balance of the photograph works very well as our eye is taken around the frame with each section carrying equal weight. A lovely portrait set within an urban environment.

A very topical photograph that has political undertones. Photography has through the decades provided many images that have discussed the complexities of human interactions and this works on a quieter level. This is a photograph that offers hope. There is a warmth to this image and it is beautifully constructed and the formal arrangements with the placement of the flag against the fading sun and sea work very well together. A powerful photograph that gets us to think. That is always a good thing.

This is a great example of a very well constructed portrait. We are not sure if it has been taken in a studio or it's a candid street portrait. I don't think it matters. It's great from the tight crop to the expression on the young girls face to the monochromatic color palate throughout the picture. The blurred background means all the attention goes onto the gaze of the young girl. A really lovely portrait regardless of how it was made. Well done.

This is an image that takes us back to the classic black and white photographs by the great French masters, Brassai, Cartier-Bresson and Doisneau. I love the candid capture and the moment the photographer has caught of this young couple kissing and maybe saying goodbye. It's well controlled and has a timeless quality about it. It is only the train that really gives away when the image could have been taken. A classic.

This is a great example of a strong documentary photograph. The framing is excellent as is the technique and use of B/W adds to the impact of the image. The lady looking direct at the camera again adds power and draws us the audience in to the scene. The depth of field works very well and the photographer gives us the information by stepping back to include as much of the scene as possible. A very good example of documentary candid photography.

This is such a lovely capture. The intense warm colors of the sky work so well against the silhouetted people going about their daily routines. Each person or group are doing something interesting and my eye scrolls over each of them and back again. It's a peaceful photograph to look at and whilst typing this text I wish I was there with them and feeling the breeze. The power of a great photograph takes you somewhere else and this is such an image,. Well done.

The framing is excellent as is the use of the low camera angle. The hair works so well against the blurred skies and those tattoos really do stand out against the background and they seem to echo the details in the hair and the sea. This was close to my top 10. The face on the shoulder adds a human presence and the use of black and white works so well and gives the image a graphic quality.I could easily live with this on my wall in a frame. Well done.

The sharpness around the young Geisha add to the drama of this image. The intentionally blurred edges mean our focus goes straight to the back of the wonderfully colored clothes. The blue of the garment stands out so vividly against the darkened and monochromatic background. The fact we cant see her face only adds to the drama. This is a surreal photograph and really one that draws our attention. I keep coming back to it and think about how it was made and each time it offers me something new to imagine. Stunning.

The sheer joy on the individuals faces means that when I look at this image I can't help but smile myself. The colors are amazing and the central figure really shines through which is not an easy thing to do in such a chaotic scene. The shallow depth of field really focuses our attention on the center and that incredible facial expression. This is a wonderful example of a photographer in control of all elements. The tight crop really draws our attention to the picture and we keep looking. It's a wonderful uplifting photograph and a worthy winner. Well done.

The intensity of the mans stare whilst reading the book to his daughter is delightful. The quality of light works really well in giving the scene that extra lift and the blurred background means all our attention focuses on the important part of the photograph. The little girl seems so engrossed in the book as does her father and I'd like to think he got dressed for the occasion with that shirt which mimics the cover of the book. Regardless of age we are all little adventurers. A lovely keepsake for any family album.