New Joiners - People #496

This picture is full emotion. On the one hand we could say that it needs more elements in that are in focus, but it speaks about what it must be like to be there. Very few photographs do that. We feel we are in the room jumping to the music. We feel alive when we look at this picture. The colors work really great together from the darker foreground which is broken up so well with image in the phone. A stunning image that really gets you into the heart of the space.

This was so close to my top 10. I love the controlled light coming into the picture, the beads of water illuminated by the light that then hides the facial expression. The exposure is so well controlled given the difficult lighting conditions, so well done to the photographer for creating this great picture. A real keepsake into the family album. Stunning

The wonderful close up portrait fits in with the snap shot style of photography that is so popular in America. It may look like a snap but this is a very well constructed image. Controlling the depth of field. The highlights in the boys hair and the wave just behind his head are wonderfully seen and captured. A fantastic portrait. Well done

This is such an uplifting photograph. We feel the spirit of the woman as she is lost in thought in the heat of Florida. It would have been so easy to get the exposure wrong on her given the brightness of the background but the photographer has done an amazing job on the exposure which is perfect. The soft hues of blue and white in the sky work so well against the individual and the bird in the background is so well timed. I wish i was there. A great capture..

A great example of a controlled editorial style portrait. The attention to detail is excellent from choosing the right background with the similar colors running from the greens in the trees and sky to the wonderful patterned jumper. The close crop works very well and places our attention on the mans intense stare. The light is really nice on the face and the technique is flawless using a narrow depth of field to isolate him from the background. Great capture. Well done

The close crop is well controlled as is the exposure. The closeness has given this shallow depth of field which works perfectly focusing on the eye of the subject. The eye and lashes are sharp which is not easy to do when getting this close. The blue/grey pupil works well against the warm hair color. It's a great capture and would look fantastic on the wall in a frame at home. Really well done.

The sharpness and attention to detail is what really marks this photograph out from the crowd. The person is positioned perfectly in the center and the colors from the mosaic tiles in the background work so well with the mans shirt. The pop of bright orange/red in the t-shirt just lifts the entire image. The tight crop works so well that the attention goes to the face which is so expressive. A great portrait set within a wonderful space. Well done.

A fantastic example of a wonderful lifestyle photograph. This image really has it all. Wonderful formal composition with the couple positioned to the right of the frame, this allows us to see clearly the decor and surroundings. The lighting and color temperature are very well balanced to daylight and the couple interact really well together. This could easily be seen in a lifestyle magazine and works perfectly to either promote young love or interiors. A very well constructed photograph that cannot be faulted. Well done.

Another image which was so close to my top 10. It is a wonderfully controlled image. It talks about being young and the sanctuary of the bedroom. This great multiple exposure is well controlled with all the different areas well exposed. We start to get a sense of the young mans identity and what his interest are from the poster on the wall to the book he reads. Great capture.

This is a great example of a contemporary portrait. The stunning expression on the face of the woman works so well against the mans hand and the light on his shoulder is wonderful. The addition of the spotlights adds that extra stage like quality to the image and are very well controlled technically. The stare out of camera is wonderful. Great capture.

A stunning and tranquil photograph that allows us the viewer to get the best seat of this incredible vista. The subtle black and white tones work so well and the exposure is beautifully controlled with amazing details in the shadows and highlights. The extended ripples in the water draw us into the scene as we glimpse ahead of the boat to reveal this imposing landscape. A classic that reminds me of the work of Sebastiao Salgado. This is a stunning photograph. Well done.

This is technically a challenging photograph to get right but the photographer has risen very well to the challenge. The wonderful almost daylight illuminated face from the phone lifts the entire image and makes sure that all our attention is on the young boy. I want to know what game he is playing, but we never will. The warm colors of the lights are well controlled with no flair and the positioning of the photographer takes our eye to the young boy then straight down the line of the concrete seats. A stunning and technically great photograph.

The near silhouette with the young girls head slightly bowed is perfectly placed within this atmospheric scene. The stunning colors and wonderful highlights within the water make this such an evocative photograph. We wonder what she is thinking about, we will never know. The close crop works so well and the warm evening light is perfect. Such a wonderful capture with the beads of light dancing on the water seen also around the neck. Lovely.

Beautifully composed and framed. Great technique with the shallow depth of field allowing us the viewer to really take in the couple and the way they walk together. The soft black and white tones work really well in this case and showcases the photographers eye for a great picture. Superb setting and formal picture making skills. Well done.