New Joiners - People #598

This stunning fairytale-esque portrait wows with its vibrant colors and clarity within the dresses the two people are wearing. The soft shallow depth of field rendering parts of the lake and background vista out of focus only add to where our attention is focused. The subtle vignetting around the edges again concentrates our focus on the two girls centered within the frame. We wonder what they are staring out at. Is it a memory of a familiar place or maybe just the stunning view. Either way, it is a beautifully controlled and presented photograph. Very well done.

This beautifully seen moment has been perfectly captured by the photographer. The tight crop on the group of people in shot really draws us into the scene. The main individual who is elevated from the others within the group because of the golden bag and elaborate sunglasses is wonderful at the head of the group. The vibrant colors and exposure are perfectly balanced in what is a stunning capture. Very well done.

This powerful and emotive portrait is wonderful just to look at. The vibrant saturation really makes the muted colors leap off the screen and the strong directional light really draws our attention to the face and expression The light hitting the eyes and slightly open mouth suggest a vulnerability which maybe just a photographic trait. The dark background and tight crop allows us to focus on the person in this stunning portrait. Just lovely. Well done.

This slightly otherworldly portrait works because it stands out from all the other entries. The casual blank expression, almost inquisitive stare back to camera is lovely and the tight crop allows us to look into those deep eyes. The reflections and lines really add to the Science - Fiction feel to the photograph and the blue hues only add to that feeling. A really unique portrait that works so well. Lovely.

This was so close to my top ten and if there was a little more light on the couple then it would have been in, regardless it's a lovely and unique image of a special moment between two people. The almost surreal positioning of the couple next to a circus claw machine is wonderful and works so well. The capturing of the kiss is very well timed and the light and details of the prizes you can win are great. Lovely capture. I could see this as part of a larger series of David Lynch like images. Well done.

This vibrant and beautifully captured portrait is incredibly well done. The timing is perfect to capture the moment and movement of the pink powder hitting the mans face, whilst his expression direct to camera again could not be bettered. The tight crop works very well against the plain background and colors shine off the screen. A well conceived and taken photograph. Very well done.

This stunning capture is very well controlled from the exposure which is perfect to the soft light with the sun burning through what looks like early morning fog. The soft colors really complement the image as we follow the path into the distance and wonder what journey the individual is on. I can't fault the photograph in any way, my only slight issue is with the stamping into the picture, This could be done in a more subtle way as not to impose into the wonderful image. Just something to consider. Great capture, well done.

This detailed environmental portrait works so well on many levels from the positioning of the person in the frame to the high key lighting and exposure. Our eye is taken around the frame and each time i view the image i see something else to spend time on. The wonderful sewing machine is a delight as are the bottles of water that echo the same color palette across the entire frame. Just a lovely portrait. Well done.

What constitutes a portrait? To some it is likeness. to me this abstract image qualifies as it showcases the essence of a person or persons and the space in which they inhabit at the time a photograph is taken. I love the the relationship between the two shadows placed within the lined linen or blanket against the warm light. It suggests a passing of time. Photography is all about time. A unique and interesting take on the brief. Well done.

This almost casual looking image is anything but. The pose is very well judged, showing a confidence and knowledge of posing within the person in shot, The positioning of the head and body towards the warm and even balanced light shows that both the photographer and the model know what they are doing. The tight crop works well whilst just giving us enough information of the background to know the type of setting it is. Really well done. A well crafted and controlled portrait.

A beautifully different image to many others submitted and one that really stood out. It was very close to my top 10 and if the focus was in the pupil and not the eyebrow It would have made it in. Regardless it's a wonderful emotive and unique photograph. The quality of light hitting the face is really well done and not easy to do. The exposure is perfect and their is so much to like about this image. Well done.

A classic image of the silhouetted single figure against the larger background. This very well seen and then judged image works really well from the use of black and white which places this within the documentary genre to the formal qualities of our eye being taken from foreground to background with clever framing. A cracking image. Really well judged and taken.

This stunning 'Behind the Scenes' view from a film set is very well captured. The exposure is perfect and the overall lighting has that set feel about it and that is elevated through the use of black and white. The single central figure who out of type references the camera works really well in this atmospheric shot. I could really see it as a larger series of work on behind the scenes sets. Lovely.

This carefully composed black and white group portrait is classically put together and works so well because of the attention to detail the photographer has placed within the setting up of the children. Each one has a individual and unique look and each one seems to play there part perfectly in how they pose and interact with each other which could not be bettered. It's a stunning example of a group picture. It's excellent. Well done.