Portraits

You’d be forgiven for thinking this month’s winner was a painting. The chiaroscuro-style lighting was a favourite among renaissance artists and the soft textures – formed via the shallow depth of field – are reminiscent of oil on canvas. The girl’s neutral expression and period-style clothing only add to the archaic aesthetic. Every part of this image appears deliberate and expertly executed.

Usually leading lines direct the viewer towards the main subject, but the wall in this street portrait points towards the bokeh in the background. Positioning the main subject on the right portion of the frame was a good choice because the background is less busy, making the figure stand out more.

We really like the unique perspective of this documentary portrait. Not only is it a frame within a frame, but it obscures any clutter that might otherwise exist throughout the workshop. The rim lighting is another great addition, clearly separating the subject from the dark background.

Only window light was used to illuminate this dancer during a photo shoot in an old Italian villa. We like how the delicate lighting and soft tones echo the graceful nature of ballet, and how the cutout in the wall and subsequent shadows create frames within a frame, leading the viewer’s eye towards the subject.

This image was taken in the Japanese city of Kyoto and depicts a maiko – apprentice geisha – surrounded by vibrant red maple trees. The shallow depth of field allows the subject to pop against the otherwise busy background, while blending together the red and orange hues. We like how the subject’s blue robes amplify her presence by contrasting against the largely warm palette.

This image depicts a Mundari man as he applies cow urine to clean and dye his hair. Like all great travel portraits, this image provides an insight into the subject’s life by capturing a moment in time that conveys a narrative. A stunning image!

This image is a great example of how a simple concept can create an enthralling narrative and visually interesting portrait. The green clothing and background complement the red hair and the tight crop prevents the viewer’s eye from wandering, forcing them to ponder the subject.

Blustery conditions and blue powder combined to form this enticing outdoor portrait, captured in the German city of Wiesbaden. A lightning-fast 1/1600 sec shutter speed was used to freeze the tiny particles and flying strands of hair. The otherwise subdued colour palette adds punch to the blue powder – complemented by the model’s blue eyes.

We were immediately drawn to the surreal subject matter, but beneath this alluring avant-garde image is an expertly crafted portrait in its own right. The moody lighting frames the subject beautifully and the complementary red and green colour palette grabs the viewer’s attention. We particularly like the model’s enigmatic expression, which only adds to the outlandish narrative.

We like the moody low-key lighting of this classic-looking image. The use of negative space and the subject’s bottom-left positioning creates an aesthetically pleasing composition that gently pushes the viewer’s gaze towards the subject and her enigmatic expression. A great portrait!

This is an interesting fine art concept. The semi-transparent sheet abstracts the human form, yet cleverly, the subject’s left eye is visible, serving to anchor the viewer’s gaze. The soft lighting complements the gentle folds of plastic. A compelling and creative image!

The clay-like substance and neutral facial features suggest an inability to move, while the clasped hands and piercing eyes convey discomfort. This is amplified by the tilted frame and top-down position, which diminishes the subject and places the viewer in a position of power. The high-key lighting was a clever choice, it’s often used to convey a joyful aesthetic, but in this case it serves to highlight the cracked texture.

This self portrait is a clever concept and proof that anybody can capture stunning portraits at home, even without a dedicated model. The LED light has been put to great use, providing depth and definition and the pop of colour was a brush stroke of genius!

This stunning travel portrait was captured in India on one of Varanasi’s famous Ghats (riverside steps). The viewer is immediately drawn to the man’s vibrant orange clothing, which pops against the blue sky. We particularly like the portrait’s sense of intimacy, in part, due to the 35mm (52mm in full-frame terms) focal length requiring the camera and lens to be relatively close for the subject to fill the frame.

This portrait represents a blend of post-processing and artificial lighting techniques. The result is a fantastic image with a compelling weather narrative. It would appear the rain and plumes of smoke were added in post, while the hat is cleverly used to represent a cloud. The warm lighting and yellow top allow the subject to stand out against the cool blue hues of the background.